Anna-Jane Edwards is the Manukura for Amotai. She is driven by an unwavering belief that every child has the right to thrive in Aotearoa. This has led her to explore how economics, indigenous knowledge systems, co-design and systems thinking can be brought together to disrupt the conditions preventing all people from living full and prosperous lives.

Her roles in health and local government over the past 15 years have explored this concept, eventually leading her to co-found Amotai in 2018 where she has recently returned as Manukura.

Anna-Jane believes that supplier diversity, where organisations buy more goods and services from diverse suppliers, is one of the biggest opportunities to grow meaningful economic step-change for Māori and Pasifika.

Anna-Jane shares her home time between raising a resilient, happy, socially and environmentally conscious little boy and participating at a governance level on a number of organisations including the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Hawaiki Hou Sport New Zealand.

A dedicated professional with a proud Tongan heritage, holds an Executive MBA from Massey University. With a proven track record in Corporate Sales, Business Development, and Relationship Management, she has extensive experience in the private sector, particularly in the Aviation industry. Transitioning into diverse roles within the public sector, Hylda remains committed to community service.

Being born and raised in Central and West Auckland, Hylda values her connections and understands the significance of balancing personal and professional life. Her passion lies in driving positive outcomes for Māori and Pasifika communities in Aotearoa. Hylda credits her family for instilling these ideals and values in addition to her faith.

Guided by the Tongan proverb "Si'i pe kae hā - though we may be small, we possess greatness within us," Hylda recognises the power of leadership through service. She emphasises the importance of upholding Māori and Pasifika values in all endeavours.

Grounded in authenticity, Hylda believes that staying true to one's values is pivotal in addressing the inequities faced by Māori and Pasifika in Aotearoa. With a strong commitment to service and leadership, she aims to contribute to the advancement and enrichment of these communities.

Jenna has whakapapa to Muaūpoko and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Growing up and starting her career in the Hawkes Bay, Jenna and her whānau moved to Ōhope in 2014.

Jenna has worked in a variety of industries from Accounting to Construction and has gained a wealth of knowledge and skills along the way. Jenna's latest role as General Manager of the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce grew her passion for supporting businesses through education, connection, advocacy and support.

Jenna is married with three school-aged tamariki, two boys and a girl, who are very happy and active children with their own unique interests in various sports. From soccer, to basketball, netball, swimming and skateboarding.

Born and raised on the North Shore of Tamaki Makaurau, with deep ties to her whenua taurikura in Te Tai Tokerau, Kelsey is a proud and astute seed of Ngāti Kopaki-Te Ara, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi.

A mother to an energetic tama; a daughter, sister, aunty, cousin and friend, with strong and long tenured experience in leading human-centered initiatives, and in recent years, a specific focus on elevating Community Advocacy and Customer Experience.

Kelsey has carved out a decade strong reputation in creating and managing high performance customer service teams that ultimately landed her in roles at home and overseas that champion organizational development through customer experience and operational management practices.

Kelsey was called home in 2015 and strategically curated a professional development pathway to expose and leverage her skills to benefit Tech and Sports sectors, and is now in a season of service to her people - ensuring she is contributing to elevating intergenerational wealth for Māori, Pacific people and wahine.

She has dipped her toes in to Governance, currently serving as a Board Member and

Chairperson to her local Rumaki Reo, where she is passionately and effectively involved in community consultation, strategy formulation & building cultural capability. She also serves as a Trustee for the Aata Paora Parehuia Keretene Ahu-Whenua Trust.

Her current learning focus is on Agile Methodologies, and process improvement practices.

"Kua tawhiti kē tō haerenga mai kia kore e haere tonu. He nui rawa ō mahi e kore e mahi tonu".

"You have come too far to not go further; you have done too much to not do more"

Maree is of Āti Awa Ke Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa descent on her father’s side and Northern English whakapapa on her mother’s side.

Joining The Southern Initiative (TSI) as Programme Manager in early 2018, Maree works across TSI’s social innovation portfolio of activities bringing; project management, operational, funding, budget and risk management skills and know-how. Before joining TSI she held a Programme Manager role within the Council family at Auckland Transport. A decade working overseas in Australia, Belfast and Edinburgh saw her work in project and programme roles in both the private and public sectors. Maree returned home in 2012. A Bachelor of Design straight out of school saw her early career spent in the design industry.

Maree is passionate about women’s financial literacy and independence, creating home and storytelling.

(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Kaharau, Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whaoa)

Born and raised in Rotorua, Missy and her whānau relocated in 2016 to live in Whangarei.

Missy has a strong business background having worked in senior management roles in hospitality, the corporate sector and as an owner operator of Playtopia Playland & Cafe Ltd, Rotorua.

Missy is passionate about supporting and assisting business growth and development. Over the past 5 years she has worked as a business advisor with Poutama Trust providing direct assistance to Māori businesses via investments, business advice, and connections to key stakeholders and networks. Missy was also instrumental in designing and implementing new collaborations and initiatives to better support client business and to extend the Trust’s reach and impact.

Missy has been a strong advocate for Māori business in a range of roles. Over the past 10 years Missy has served as a Trustee on various Māori Business Networks and more recently helped to establish Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau - in partnership with Whāriki Tamaki Makaurau. She is a Wāhine Toa ambassador for Rugby World Cup New Zealand and looks forward to October 2022 when Auckland and Whangārei will host the ninth edition and first to be held Women’s Rugby World Cup in the southern hemisphere.

Nightingale (Gale) Kamoto is of Tongan heritage, from the villages of Fatai in Tongatapu and Makave in Vava’u. Gale was born in Otara and raised in South Auckland. Gale has 3 children Valenisia, and twins, Emily and Saili. Gale has completed a Diploma in Business and is working towards completing a Bachelors in Applied Management with Open Polytechnic. 

Gale has been with Auckland Council for 10 years and worked in the Customer Services department as a CSR and then a Business Coordinator providing administration support such as recruitment (on-boarding and off-boarding), uniform management and compliance and audit monitoring etc. 

Recently, Gale joined the Southern Initiative (TSI) team as a Business Liaison Officer for Amotai. Gale is proud to be part of this whānau, working with our Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses to deliver great outcomes.

(Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Kahungunu, Waikato Tainui)

Despite being brought up in Australia, Te Tai Rāwhiti and Kirikiriroa during his childhood, Paul calls Uawanui a Ruamatua his tūrangawaewae. It was in Uawa where he developed his identity as a "Hauitian" and a love for Te Ao Māori through kapa haka.

Paul is a husband to Chloe of Ngāti Toarangatira and father to five tamariki. He has recently worked in professional services, delivering business strategy and kaupapa Māori frameworks. He brings 15 years experience in training, facilitation and leadership in pastoral care. He is a co-founder of Tāwharautia Ahau, a by Māori for Māori property development pakihi.

Although he has recently moved to Tauranga from Porirua, he brings with him a network from both Private and Public sectors after studing and working in Wellington for the past 6 years. He is passionate, enthusiastic and keen to drive Māori and Pasifika success in Te Moana nui a Toi.

Taylor was born and raised in the Te Waipounamu. She made the move to Tāmaki Makaurau in her final year of study, leading her to complete a Bachelor of Science majoring in Supply Chain Management and Logistics.

Taylor is a part of the team at Amotai which supports the growth of entrepreneurship for Māori and Pasifika owned business.

From Te Tai Tokerau to Te Waipounamu, our team are here to support you

Meet the team

Anna-Jane Edwards

Hylda Bloomfield

Jenna Gray

Kai Lam

Kelsey Benefield

Maree Forbes

Missy Armstrong

Nightingale Kamoto

Paul Tukukino

Taylor Moses

Ngarina Wong