I was born in India and migrated to New Zealand in 1988, having spent a couple of years in Singapore en route. My career has been in IT, and has included managing major technology programmes, right through to founding a tech start-up.

For over 25 years, I’ve operated my own consulting practice in Wellington, providing project management services and digital transformation consultancy. I am currently the President of Wellington Chamber of Commerce, an independent director on the board of Copyright Licensing NZ and a board member of AngelHQ.

I’ve volunteered for ELPNZ’s Job Mentoring Service for several years, mentored small businesses, and assisted students enrolled in the IT Professionals TechHub programme.

I’m fluent in English, Hindi, Konkani, and Tamil, with basic skills in several other Indian languages.My recreational interests include tramping, cycling, skiing, travel, and the performing arts.

My educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Technology (Computer Science) and a Master of Business Administration degree, and I am a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.

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I work as a consultant for government agencies and educational organisations in New Zealand and internationally. Until 2015, I was Deputy Chief Executive, Quality Assurance, at NZQA, responsible for regulating the quality of tertiary and vocational education and the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. Prior to that, I led tertiary education policy at the Ministry of Education.

My government experience includes senior management, policy advice and research on gender, crime and justice, family violence, child protection, alcohol and drugs, climate change and natural resource management.

I volunteer as a mentor for the First Foundation, for the Women in National Security project and provide strategy advice to Zealandia wildlife sanctuary.

I’m a board member of the Primary ITO and sit on the Hong Kong Council for the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications.

I enjoy gardening, travel, tramping, reading, movies, conversation and ideas.

I have a Master of Psychology.

I am originally from the Philippines having migrated to New Zealand about 13 years ago. I’m now based in Auckland. Despite knowing English when I arrived in New Zealand, I struggled to understand New Zealand-accented English, so I understand the importance of learning another language including the dialect and colloquialisms. I also understand how it feels to re-establish oneself and family in a new country and to eventually consider it home.

I am a director at PwC's audit and assurance Practice and a Certified Public Accountant. I have a strong background in finance, audit and risk. As an auditor and director of PwC, I have significant experience reporting as the external auditor to Boards of large and small corporates, as well as closely working with chairs of audit committees of my clients.

I work as a consultant in research, monitoring frameworks and evaluation, and my work regularly extends into strategy, policy and planning.

I cover a range of sectors including sport and recreation, health, education, land and property information, and regulatory systems in not-for-profits and government agencies in New Zealand and internationally.

I’m a member of the Australian Evaluation Society New Zealand regional committee, and recently became the New Zealand Regional Convenor, representing New Zealand members with the Australian regional branches.

I am familiar with ELPNZ’s volunteer programme through my work as a refugee resettlement volunteer, and I’ve been a passionate side-line supporter of their work ever since. I’ve supported development of ELPNZ’s Outcomes Model and Evaluative Self-Assessment system and have been a national board member since 2015.

When I’m not tied-up with my work and voluntary commitments, my husband and I spend quality time with our two children. I also love trail running and getting out in our beautiful environment or sitting down doing absolutely nothing.

I have a PhD in International Development and Conservation, living and working in Cambodia for a period of time. Prior to this, I lived in Japan, teaching English.

I also have a Bachelor of Commerce and Science, and a Post-graduate Diploma of Environmental Science.

I have travelled extensively around the world and moved to New Zealand from the UK in 1995,finally settling in Southland in 1997. I developed a strong governance capability following a career as a veterinarian, growing our business from a six-vet local practice to an international veterinary company employing over 200 staff. Our business attracts significant immigrants: over half our employees are migrants, from around 15 countries.

For over 15 years I have been on the boards of not-for-profits and commercial organisations. I play an active role on the board of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. I am a member of the Institute of Directors and have completed their company directors’ and finance courses.

My wife, children and I live on a large sheep farm, which we farm with the help of our manager. I am also a keen skier, mountaineer, mountain biker and surfer.

I have a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, a Master of Veterinary Studies (Hons) and a MACVSc(Epidemiology).

I am the General Manager, People and Kōrako, at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), an organisation with people employed in 41 different countries. I lead a team that guides and supports all culture and people-related activities across the world. The team helps attract talented individuals and provide care, knowledge, and resources so the NZTE people can grow companies, grow New Zealand, and grow themselves. The team is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of NZTE’s organisation improvement programme, Kōrako. In my time at NZTE, I also led strategy and customer teams. Before joining NZTE, I worked in management consulting, government policy and Ministerial advisory roles. I hold an honours degree in applied economics from Massey University and a Master of Public Policy from Victoria University. I am also a volunteer tutor in my spare time.

I have held general management roles in large New Zealand organisations, with responsibilities across HR, planning and performance, communications and other corporate functions. I have also led a range of change initiatives, including major restructuring programmes and innovation processes. I apply my wide-ranging experience of corporate management, strategy and organisation development in my work as an independent contractor and in governance roles.

I hold a master’s degrees in history and management and have a post-graduate diploma in creative writing. I am a Fellow of HRINZ and a member of the Institute of Directors.

I’m also a keen tennis player and sea swimmer.

I am a public sector professional with a career portfolio that spans human development, policy implementation and stakeholder engagement. I have worked as a career development consultant for new migrants, held policy advisory and contract management roles at the Tertiary Education Commission, and was the Business Development Manager for regional organisations at Education New Zealand. I am currently a Principal Advisor at the Ministry of Education supporting the education workforce.

I am also a migrant with a Southeast Asian Chinese heritage who loves to write and connect with others whose lives and work resonate with my aspirations and experiences. The process of feeling and believing you belong in a new country can be challenging, and also depends on the reciprocal efforts of others. I’m still on that journey but want to share it with others.

I majored in English literature and sociolinguistics in my undergraduate study, and traversed a path of writing and communications related jobs before taking up a lecturer role in business communications. In 2013, I completed a Master of Arts in Teaching, specialising in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) which inspired me to consider a career in international education. I moved from Singapore with my young family to New Zealand in late 2014 to study for a PhD at the University of Waikato in Hamilton. My research was about understanding how international students engaged their peers for support for their academic learning. While I initially aspired to be an academic, the limited opportunities at that time led me to consider policy jobs. I moved to Wellington in mid-2019 for work and now consider the capital my home.

I’m Chief Executive of COMET Auckland; an organisation driving systems changes to make education and skills development more equitable. I’m a member of the Institute of Directors, with a long career in leadership roles across not-for-profit, government and corporate organisations.

Through COMET Auckland I have connections in Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond: in local and national government, education, employers and community organisations.

Formerly, I worked in schooling improvement in south Auckland and nationally with the Ministry of Education. In my current role, I maintain strong links with Māori and Pasifika communities. I lead the Auckland Languages Strategy Working Group.

I’m passionate about how lifelong learning empowers people to reach their own aspirations and contributes to the wellbeing of themselves and their families. I acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as our nation’s founding document, and practise and support a bicultural Aotearoa as a foundation for celebrating our multicultural and super-diverse community.

I appreciate the wisdom and connections ELPNZ’s board members bring and enjoy using my own governance and leadership experience to support organisations that are making a difference in Aotearoa.

I have a Diploma in Secondary Teaching, a Bachelor (Hons) in Biochemistry and Physiology, and a Master of Education.

Appointed July 2023

Bishnu is a social worker at Te Whatu Ora, Ōtautahi Christchurch.  He specialises in mental health support for migrants and people with a refugee background.

Bishnu is originally from Nepal and arrived in New Zealand in 2006 as a refugee.  His wide professional experience includes being a school principal in Nepal and working in a range of mental health roles in Christchurch supporting refugee background communities. He speaks Nepali, Hindi and English.  

“I am proud to be based in Christchurch, known as the garden city, and I am honoured to be a member of the Ethnic Advisory Group in English Language Partners. I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with all of you and contribute to our shared goals.”

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Appointed August 2020

Laura is currently studying for her PhD in Human Geography looking at the migratory legal status of Latin American Immigrants in New Zealand at Victoria University of Wellington. She also lived in Christchurch while completing a Master's in Policy and Governance at Canterbury University. 

Laura is from Colombia where she was a lawyer mainly working in criminal law.  She is currently based in Wellington. 

“Being a volunteer at ELP has been one of the most rewarding personal adventures in my life. This is an amazing journey of shared experiences of determination, collective work and resilience.”

Appointed August 2020

Ngozi is the co founder of the MELAA (Middle Eastern, Latin American and African) Advisory Group.  MELAA advises stakeholders in private or publicly funded organisations that want to engage with these diverse communities.   Ngozi is also involved in a wide range of other governance roles in adult education and volunteer management.  

Ngozi was born and raised in Nigeria and moved to New Zealand in 1988.  She has also lived in Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

Ngozi is based in Auckland.

Appointed August 2023

Raihana was a judge in Afghanistan before she came to New Zealand in 2021. Raihana is studying law at Auckland University so that she can practise law in New Zealand. She first connected with English Language Partners as a student and is now a member of our Ethnic Advisory Group.

Raihana is based in Auckland.

“I love New Zealand and the compassionate people of this beautiful land. It is my great pleasure to be a member of Ethnic Advisory Group.”

Appointed August 2023

Rizwaana’s background is nursing and midwifery and for the last ten years she has been working in community engagement in a range of public and private sector roles. Rizwaana is from South Africa and arrived in New Zealand over 23 years ago. She is based in the Hawkes Bay.

“I am passionate about building capability and resilience in our community for people to realise their full potential, to feel included and safe in our communities”

Appointed August 2023

Rula is the lead advisor for [refugee and migrant education] at the Ministry of Education.  She is a Palestinian Kiwi with a background in civil engineering and business administration. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Otago's National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies | Te Ao o Rongomaraeroa.  She is based in in Ōtepoti, Dunedin

“Serving on the Ethnic Advisory Committee for ELP combines two of my passions: languages and volunteering for community organisations that pave the way for social equity.”

Appointed August 2023

Shamsunnisa is originally from India and came to New Zealand in 2003.  She attended classes at English Language Partners Rotorua.   Shamsunnisa has run her own businesses including as a car dealer and is an active member of her Rotorua community.  She is a founding member of the Rotorua Islamic Womens’ Group.  She is based in Rotorua.

“I love living in Rotorua, its natural geothermal activity makes it a unique place for people in Rotorua and around the world. It's my pleasure to be a member of the Ethnic Advisory Group and I am looking forward to contributing.”