He Whatu Aho Rua ki te Kākahu o Hine Raraunga – Te Kāhui Raraunga Programme Lead, Te Mana Whakatipu Programme

Kateriina is a Programme Manager at Te Kāhui Raraunga, leading out the design and delivery of Te Mana Whakatipu – a work programme dedicated to enhancing iwi Māori data capability and capacity. This includes supporting the implementation of the 2023 Iwi-Led Census and managing the design and roll-out of seven data analytics-focused initiatives. Kateriina’s experience working with Māori organisations across a diverse portfolio of industries has allowed her to undertake mahi that focuses on empowering Māori, through the design of strategies embedded with iwi Māori knowledge and perspective, enhancing the wider ecosystem of Māori development. Alongside her mahi, Kateriina actively serves in various governance roles across iwi organisations and iwi commercial boards.

Dr. Kay-Lee Jones (Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Kai, Te Whakatōhea) is a Senior Lecturer in Teacher Education at the University of Canterbury and a loving mother of three Māori, Samoan tamariki. Navigating the Aotearoa NZ education system both professionally and personally, she teaches and researches in kaupapa Māori, bilingual education, and educational equity. Her work champions culturally sustaining practices, language revitalisation, and Indigenous leadership in education, grounded in kaupapa Māori methodologies

Cheryl navigates traditional practices by recognising and respecting the cultural foundations that inform leadership roles while also advocating for change and inclusion. She strategically integrates contemporary leadership principles with ancestral wisdom, creating a bridge that empowers women to step into waka leadership positions. Through this transformative approach she inspires a new generation of female leaders to embrace their mana as a wahine and serve their communities positively.