As outlined in our Constitution, the Board is made up of elected members. The Board is responsible for providing strategic leadership, setting the direction and performance of ACE Aotearoa. It provides oversight for funders, members and ACE sector stakeholders to ensure there is transparency and accountability in all activities undertaken by ACE Aotearoa.
Anne Troy
Anne has a deep knowledge of the ACE sector and has been involved for over a decade. She has a Masters in TESOL Leadership, a BSC and has completed the National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy (NCALNE). Anne is an ESOL tutor and funded course coordinator at Wellington High School Community Education Centre. Anne is also an accredited instructor of Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa with Te Pou.
David Do
David is a senior advisor with the New Zealand Treasury. With experience as an activist, elected leader, governor, and public servant he understands how to keep strategies on track, make things happen, and work with people in good faith to drive change.
David has more than eight years government, NGO, and education experience including working in the area of adult literacy and numeracy. He is passionate about improving people’s lives and expanding opportunities for everyone through education.
Dr Edmond Fehoko
Dr Feheko (Tongan) was born and raised in Aotearoa and is passionate about serving his community and Pacific people across New Zealand. Dr Feheko holds a PhD in Public Health from AUT University and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Human Nutrition and Associate Dean Pacific, in the Division of Sciences at the University of Otago. Dr Fehoko has extensive knowledge of the sector and organisation. He has presented at ACE workshops and was on the steering committee for Hui Fono for ACE Aotearoa. Dr Fehoko brings a Pacific lens and expertise to support the organisation engage with Pacific peoples and communities.
Jay Rupapera (Tangata Whenua Co-chair)
Ko Whangatautia toku maunga
Ko Karirikura te moana
Ko Wairoa te awa
Ko Tinana te waka
Ko Ngati Moroki te hapu
Ko Te Rarawa te Iwi
Ko au te mokopuna o te whenua o Ahipara
Ko Jennifer Rupapera ahau
ACE Aotearoa Board Co-chair, Tangata Whenua, Jay Rupapera has more than twenty years’ experience in the ACE sector. She has managed and delivered a wide range of programmes and is currently cluster manager for Literacy Aotearoa, Te Tai Tokerau. Jay has governance experience with school boards, community groups, and Far North REAP. She is a trustee and chair of Korou Kore Marae (local hapū).
Kathryn Hazlewood (Tangata Tiriti Co-chair)
Tēnā kōutou kātoa
Ko Tawatawa te Maunga
Ko Owhiro te Awa
Ko Tapu-te-ranga te Motu
Ko Te Whānganui-ā-Tara te kāinga
Ko Whitby me Rangitāne aku waka
Nō Marotiri ahau
Ko Gavin Mickell tōku Pāpa
Ko Veronica Mickell tōku Māma
E mahi ana ahau mo Adult Community Education Aotearoa
Kaipoari Tangata Tiriti
Ko Kathryn Hazlewood tāku īngoa
Kathryn loves being part of the Adult Community Education sector and understands the importance of the mahi and the difference this makes to people’s lives and the communities they live in. Both Kathryns parents worked in education, and they taught her the importance of community service and te Tiriti o Waitangi in Aotearoa. Kathryn is committed to the ACE Boards representation of both Tāngata Whenua and Tāngata Tiriti and acknowledges that this is one way the organisation demonstrates, and actualises, the intent of the te Tiriti. Kathryn is proud to be Co-chair Tangata Tiriti, alongside Jay Rupapera as Co-chair Tangata Whenua and to be part of the governance team that supports ACE Aotearoa to support the ACE community.
Tēnā kōutou, Tēnā kōutou, Tēnā kōutou kātoa
Lottie Vinson
Lottie is the Director of the Canterbury Workers Educational Association (CWEA) in Christchurch. She is passionate about community and the role of education in building inclusive, resilient communities for the future. She has more than ten years’ experience in leading charitable organisations both here in Aotearoa and in the UK where she is originally from, as well as three years working for parliamentary services. She believes in a strengths based, open and participatory approach and is excited to help support the amazing team of ACE Aotearoa.
Deleraine Puhara
Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Haua ki Taumarunui, Ngāti Awa
Deleraine's professional background is in education, Māori medium schooling, and more recently adult programme design and curriculum development. She has been teaching te reo Māori for the past nine years, both school-aged children and adult learners. Deleraine co-leads Te Ahu o te Reo Māori ki te Taiuru, one of 14 nationwide programme providers approved by the Ministry of Education to teach te reo Māori to the education workforce within the Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū regions, and heads the administrative team tasked with managing operational objectives and compliance.
Deleraine is a passionate bilingual practitioner who strives for excellence in all her professional and academic endeavours. She applies an inclusive approach and acceptance of diversity and equity and brings this experience to her teaching pedagogy and learning environments. Away from work commitments Deleraine likes to spend time with family and friends, she practices yoga and is a keen native bird watcher.
Our Governance documents
Constitution
Strategic Plan