The Wise
Council
Abann Kamyay Ajak Yor
General Manager — Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition
Abann is a professional community advocate, educator, author and a visionary change-maker with clear objectives and well-developed strategic thinking that driven by human values and a human right approach. A fluent speaker of Cøllø (Shilluk), Arabic and English. He has worked with diverse ethnic communities and individuals at a local, regional and national level. He is a fellow of the New Zealand Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and a recipient of New Zealander of the Year 2016 “Honouring the best of us”, winner Local Hero Award. Furthermore, he twice represented refugees background communities of New Zealand at the Geneva- Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) with Immigration New Zealand officials. Heavily he has undertaken the academic study, achieving multiple qualifications includes; an Engineering Mechanics, Youth work, professional Mediation, a Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management, Post Graduate Certificate in Social Practice, Post Graduate Diploma in Bicultural Professional Supervision and Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge.
Fatumata Bah
Inspiring Youth Leader
"Fatumata Bah recently graduated from Auckland University of Technology where she studied a conjoint degree. A Bachelor of Health Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Business in Management. Fatumata is now a Strategy and Business Design Consulting Analyst with Deloitte. Prior to joining Deloitte, Fatumata was completing an internship at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General at the United Nations in New York.
Fatumata is passionate about advocating for women's rights, cultural Intelligence (CQ) and diversity and inclusion"
Maria Hayward
Lecturer — Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Maria Hayward is a Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and has worked in refugee education for over 30 years. She has been Director of the Refugee Education Centre (REC) for 18 years. This Centre, which operates under the auspices of the AUT, is situated at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre (MRRC) in Auckland. The Centre includes a pre-school, primary and secondary classes for compulsory-school-aged children as well as adult language, literacy and orientation classes.
Maria has research interests in refugee-centred education, rights-based provision, interpreting with former refugees and pedagogical approaches for learners who have experienced significant trauma and loss. Her key focus has been investigating post-critical and ecological approaches within these frameworks. Maria is a founding Trustee of the Auckland Refugee Family Trust, which supports family reunification for former refugees.
Nandita Mathur
Regional Engagement Manager — Office of Ethnic Communities
Nandita Mathur is the Regional Manager Community Engagement, Northern for the office of Ethnic Communities. The Northern region includes Tauranga, Hamilton, Auckland all the way to the Far North. Her most recent role before joining Office of Ethnic Communities in August 2019 was with Te Waipuna Puawai, a community development organisation based in Tamaki, Auckland. Nandita was the Programme Lead for HEART Movement, a community led response to build healthy relationships and prevent family violence in Tamaki.
Nandita has over 25 years of experience in social development. In this time, she has worked with national and international NGOs, United Nations, and with New Zealand Government in various roles. She has worked with Auckland Council for over 11 years, of which six years have been in senior leadership roles. She has extensive experience in change management as well as working in a policy and political environment.
Nandita has a passion for supporting and resourcing community-led development. Helping people belong and taking part in the community is central to identity and she is looking forward to offering her thoughts and questions to the process.
Kevin Prime
Kaumātua — Foundation North
Kevin Prime is the Foundation's Kaumātua and is of Ngātihine, Ngāti Whātua, Tainui and Welsh descent.
Kevin is a commissioner with the Environment Court, as well as being a beef farmer, forester, beekeeper and conservationist. Prior to his appointment to the Environment Court, Kevin worked with a variety of organisations in the profit and non-profit sector in the areas of philanthropy, health, conservation, justice, Māori development, education, environment, forestry, farming and sport. He is married to Margaret with 13 children and 19 grandchildren. His hobbies are family, sport, golf, bee keeping, learning new things, and his favourite holiday spot is at home on the farm in Motatau. In 2016, Kevin was recognised in the Queens birthday honours list receiving an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to conservation and Māori.
Naisi Chen
Trustee — Foundation North
Naisi Chen is the director of a business consultancy firm specialising in employment relations and HR matters and one event management and concert promotion company. She is the Vice President of the youth wing of the NZ Labour Party- Young Labour and also sits on the Advisory Board of the New Zealand China Council. After coming to New Zealand at the age of 5 she has been an active promoter of cultural diversity and conversation between all culturers. She founded the Chinese Committee at her High School before going on to the University of Auckland to study Law and Music. At university Naisi successfully organised the Public Meeting against Violence towards International Students which lead to the new International Students Well-being Strategy. Naisi is a choral conductor, former President of the New Zealand Chinese Students’ Association, an alumnus of the Office of Ethnic Communities Young Leaders Program, and recipient of the 2017 ANZ Community Spirit Award.