Te IkaroaIwi Māori Partnership Board Hui 2024

Rob is one of New Zealand’s leading professional directors, with more than 40 years’ experience in capital markets and as director and advisor to local and international businesses and organisations. He is committed to seeing Aotearoa take a leadership role in the field of emissions lowering energy innovation and commercialisation, and is passionate about improving diversity and inclusion, promoting sustainability as a core value, and creating equality in the organisations he is involved with. Trained as an economist and holding degrees of BA (Hons)(1st) and M.Phil. (Economics) Rob joined the union movement in the 1970s and became a member of the Federation of Labour and Labour Party executives. Rob is the Chancellor of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau (Auckland University of Technology), Chair of Ara Ake, Chair of NZ Rural Land Co, and Advisor to BBM. He has served as the Chair of various private companies and public organisations including Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd, Summerset Group Ltd, Tourism Holdings Ltd, and WEL Networks Ltd. In 2019, Rob was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors (CFinstD). He was recognised as a Distinguished Alumni of Victoria University (Te Herenga Waka) in 2019.

Linda Tuhiwai Smith CNZM FRSNZ (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou) is Distinguished Professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. She is a leading scholar and researcher in indigenous studies, indigenous education and kaupapa Māori research and has written many publications. She was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013 for her services to Māori and education. 

Last year, Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith was awarded the non-fiction award for the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement, making her the first wahine Māori to win this category in the 21-year history of the award.  

In 2023 she was awarded the Rutherford Medal by Royal Society Te Apārangi for her preeminent role in advancing education and research for Te Ao Māori. The award recognised her groundbreaking scholarship in decolonisation of research methodologies, and her pioneering contribution to transforming research for Indigenous Peoples globally. 

As a co-founder of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM), the Māori Centre of Research Excellence, and a distinguished professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi since 2021, Linda’s influence spans academia and Indigenous communities.

Kirikowhai is a leading Māori data and information specialist focused on harnessing information to empower iwi, hapū, whānau and community development. A consultant with over 15 years’ experience advising Ministers, government agencies, tribal, community and private sector organisations with practical statistical analysis and innovative place-based data solutions. 

With a bi-cultural education and upbringing, intensive technical training, and hands on experience with diverse communities, Kirikowhai brings a unique perspective to development opportunities. Kirikowhai is a technical advisor to the Iwi (Tribal) Chairs Forum – Data Leadership Group, a Future Director of the State Sector on the Te Mangai Paho Board, and a trustee for a Māori hauora provider Manaaki Ora Trust.