Equity in heart health outcomes for Māori, Pacific People and women can only be achieved if those that we want to have impact for are involved at all levels of Pūtahi Manawa.

Our People

We are proud of the diversity in our leadership which includes equitable representation of Māori, Pacific and women on the Board. Our Māori Leadership Team is integral to maintaining our connection and grounding in the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensuring our processes are tika and pono (righteous). Our Pacific Leadership Team guide us to ensure that Pacific diversity is acknowledged and that our intentions and actions support the aspirations of Pacific Peoples.

 

The strength of Pūtahi Manawa lies in our diverse and interdisciplinary partnerships.

 

Pūtahi Manawa’s co-directors and operational team report to our Board. The Board, co-directors and operational team are advised by our Māori Leadership Team and our Pacific Leadership Team. Our outreach and education initiative is organised by our OnE (Outreach and Education) Team and our Early Career Researcher (ECR) Rōpū (Group), Te ahi mō āpōpō (The Fire for Tomorrow), is coordinated by our Te ahi mō āpōpō Working Group.

 

Become a Member

Our People
Directorate
Karen Brewer
Dr Karen Brewer
Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director Māori, Māori Leadership Co-Chair, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Auckland
Whakatōhea, Ngaiterangi
Julian Paton
Professor Julian Paton
Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director, Professor, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
Soteria Ieremia
Ms Soteria Ieremia
Chair
Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director Pacific, Pacific Leadership Team Chair, CEO, The Kudos Science Trust. Director, Pacific-i Ltd
Vaie’e, Saoluafata, Lepea and Faleasiu, Samoa
Operational Team
Matua Joe Pihema
Matua Joe Pihema
Pou Tikanga Pūtahi Manawa, Trustee, Taumata-a-Iwi - Auckland Museum, Senior Tikanga Advisor, Ngāti Whātua ki Tāmaki
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Anuj Bhargava
Dr Anuj Bhargava
Pūtahi Manawa Outreach and Education Lead and Professional Teaching Fellow, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
Linda Fotherby
Linda Fotherby
Research Operations Manager
Nuseta Hope
Nuseta Hope
Research Operations Coordinator
Tracey Kellett
Tracey Kellett
Communications and Marketing Adviser
Ngā Puhi, Pakeha
Governance Board

“In business we speak of 'disruption'. That’s an innovation that radically and lastingly changes an industry. It’s exactly what we’re seeking here. It’s a ‘business not as usual’ approach. What’s the point of doing research if it doesn’t cause a radical and lasting shift? If it doesn’t impact people and their everyday lives? As a team we’re working together to bring balance back into health and academia.” 

Mr. Kent Gardner, Chair.

Kent Gardner
Mr Kent Gardner
(Chair)
CEO Evans Randall Investors
Frank Bloomfield
Professor Frank Bloomfield
(Ex officio)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, University of Auckland
Sue Crengle
Professor Sue Crengle
General Practitioner, Professor, Public Health Physician, University of Otago
Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha to Kāi Tahu
Palatasa (Tasa) Havea
Professor Palatasa (Tasa) Havea
ONZM
Dean Pacific, Pacific Success Office, Massey University.
Mataroria Lyndon
Dr Mataroria Lyndon
Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland, Co-Founder and Clinical Director - Tend Health, Deputy Chair - Te Hiringa Hauora Health Promotion Agency, Board Member - Māori Health Authority, Māori Leadership Co-Chair
Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato
Sharon Shea
Ms Sharon Shea
MNZM
Principal, Shea Pita & Associates Ltd. CEO, Manawaroa Ltd
Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hako
Māori Leadership Team

Our Māori Leadership Team is integral to maintaining our connection and grounding in the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensuring our processes are tika and pono.

Karen Brewer
Dr Karen Brewer
Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director Māori, Māori Leadership Co-Chair, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Auckland
Whakatōhea, Ngaiterangi
Mataroria Lyndon
Dr Mataroria Lyndon
Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland, Co-Founder and Clinical Director - Tend Health, Deputy Chair - Te Hiringa Hauora Health Promotion Agency, Board Member - Māori Health Authority, Māori Leadership Co-Chair
Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato
Anna Rolleston
Dr Anna Rolleston
Director, Centre for Health
Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga
Anthony Jordan
Dr Anthony Jordan
Clinical Immunologist, Auckland DHB
Ngāti Wai
Bren Tai-Rakena
Ms Bren Tai-Rakena
Practice Manager - Tu Tonu Hauora.
Tainui
Matua Joe Pihema
Matua Joe Pihema
Pou Tikanga Pūtahi Manawa, Trustee, Taumata-a-Iwi - Auckland Museum, Senior Tikanga Advisor, Ngāti Whātua ki Tāmaki
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Geremy Hema
Mr Geremy Hema
Kaiarahi, University of Auckland
Ngāti Paoa, Ngāpuhi
Justine Camp
Associate Professor Justine Camp
Associate Dean (Māori), University of Otago.
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha
Karaitiana Taiuru
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru
Director, Taiuru and Associates
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Kahungunu
Matire Harwood
Associate Professor Matire Harwood
Manukura Rua | Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland; General Practitioner, Papakura Marae Health Clinic,
Ngāpuhi
Rāwiri Keenan
Dr Rāwiri Keenan
GP, Senior Research Fellow, University of Otago, Wellington and Adjunct Senior Fellow, University of Otago
Te Atiawa, Taranaki
Takiwai Russell-Camp
Ms Takiwai Russell-Camp
Department of Medicine Kaiwhakatere, University of Otago
Ngāi Tahu
Wil Harrison
Dr Wil Harrison
Interventional Cardiologist, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau
Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata
Pacific Leadership Team

Our Pacific Leadership Team guide us to ensure that Pacific diversity is acknowledged and that our intentions and actions support the aspirations of Pacific people both here in Aotearoa and in the Pacific itself. Our mission is to protect, enhance and positively impact Pacific Peoples' heart health through research excellence.

Soteria Ieremia
Ms Soteria Ieremia
Chair
Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director Pacific, Pacific Leadership Team Chair, CEO, The Kudos Science Trust. Director, Pacific-i Ltd
Vaie’e, Saoluafata, Lepea and Faleasiu, Samoa
Allamanda Faatoese
Dr Allamanda Faatoese
Research Fellow, Christchurch Heart Institute; Associate Dean (Pacific) Strategic, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago
Samoa, Tuvalu
Daryl Schwenke
Professor Daryl Schwenke
Professor, Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago.
Alamagoto, Samoa
Joshua Agnew
Dr Joshua Agnew
Paediatrician, Tauranga Hospital
Oire Niako, Mangaia, Aiutaki, Cook Islands
Julie Winter-Smith
Dr Julie Winter-Smith
Professional Teaching Fellow, University of Auckland
V‘Alaki Fonua/Pelehake, Tongatapu
Monica Liva
Dr Monica Liva
General Practitioner, Turuki Health Care
Mali, Samoa and Vaea/Avatele, Nuie
Simone Watkins
Dr Simone Watkins
Paediatrician, Senior Lecturer, Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland. Senior Registrar, Health New Zealand, Te Tai Tokerau Northland.
Mo’ototua, Sāmoa
Tua Taueetia-Su'a
Dr Tua Taueetia-Su'a
Senior Research Fellow, Public policy & primary health care researcher, University of Auckland
Samoa
Collin Tukuitonga
Sir Associate Professor Collin Tukuitonga
KNZM (Advisor)
Associate Dean Pacific, Director, Centre for Pacific and Global Health, University of Auckland, Pacific Leadership Team advisor.
Alofi, Niue
Outreach and Education (OnE) Team

The OnE team is dedicated to the education and empowerment of young people, rangatahi/tupulaga talavou, whānau/aiga and communities. The team aims to raise heart health awareness and the importance of heart health research with communities of greatest need.  

Anuj Bhargava
Dr Anuj Bhargava
Pūtahi Manawa Outreach and Education Lead and Professional Teaching Fellow, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
Chris Bullen
Professor Chris Bullen
Professor, University of Auckland, Director of the National Institute for Health Innovation.
Allamanda Faatoese
Dr Allamanda Faatoese
Research Fellow, Christchurch Heart Institute; Associate Dean (Pacific) Strategic, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago
Samoa, Tuvalu
Susie Stevens
Dr Susie Stevens
Senior Lecturer, University of Canterbury, Director of Physical Education New Zealand
Lisa Wong
Ms Lisa Wong
Research Engagement Manager
Early Career Researcher Working Group
Sandra Hanchard
Dr Sandra Hanchard
Pūtahi Manawa and Heart Foundation Pacific Research Fellow, University of Auckland
Tongan
Saraya Hogan
Saraya Hogan
Medical Laboratory Sciences Student, Auckland University of Technology
Ngāti Hako
Michelle Munro
Dr Michelle Munro
Department of Physiology Lecturer, University of Otago, ECR representative, Pūtahi Manawa Board ECR representative
Stacey Neilson
Stacey Neilson
Cardiac Sonographer, Cardiac Physiologist, Team Leader Te Whatu Ora | Lakes
Elliott Pepper
Elliott Pepper
Bachelor of Nursing Student, Universal College of Learning Te Pūkenga
Takiwai Russell-Camp
Ms Takiwai Russell-Camp
Department of Medicine Kaiwhakatere, University of Otago
Ngāi Tahu
Kate Thomas
Dr Kate Thomas
Senior Lecturer, Dept of Surgical Sciences, Heart Otago Co-Director, University of Otago
Julie Winter-Smith
Dr Julie Winter-Smith
Professional Teaching Fellow, University of Auckland
V‘Alaki Fonua/Pelehake, Tongatapu
Our People