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.
Charissa Waerea
Ngaati Rongomaiwahine, Ngaati Kahungunu, Taranaki ki Ngaaruahine
Charissa is a te reo and kaupapa Māori champion committed to the revitalisation of the Taranaki dialect and second chance education for all. She was ACE Aotearoa Board co-chair, Tangata Whenua until 2021 and in that role provided sector leadership and support for the ACE Aotearoa team at a huge range of events. She is a member of the Festival of Adult Learning steering group, the ACE Aotearoa Hui Fono steering group, the Taranaki Māori ACE Trust and Te Rōpu Māra Hāpori ki Parihaka.
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.
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)
ACE Aotearoa Board Co-chair, Kathryn Hazlewood has worked in the government social sector for over 20 years in various research, policy and evaluation roles. Kathryn lives in Owhiro Bay with Nick where they brought up her two gorgeous boys Ben and Sam. She was introduced to the ACE community through her work at the Tertiary Education Commission and fell in love with the intent and heart of the sector. She is proud to be on the Board of ACE Aotearoa and to be using her skills and knowledge of the machinery of government to support the important mahi of the sector.
Pale Sauni
Pale is a leading figure within the Pasifika community and the ACE sector. He is a consultant in community engagement and co-design with Pasifika and Māori communities and financial resilience building for communities and Pasifika business. He is a member of the ACE Aotearoa Hui Fono Steering Group, the ACE PD Grants Selection Panel, he is Pasifika cultural advisor to Ako Aotearoa and a member of the Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Education.
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
Statement of Intent