Our People
Everyone can be a leader for a healthier Aotearoa. Working together, we can create healthy communities now and for the future. Meet our people who are committed to supporting healthier environments in places where we spend our time.
Kerry Allan
Manager
With a background in nutrition and sport, Kerry brings knowledge and practical expertise leading the team at Healthy Families Waitākere, to improve the health and wellbeing of West Aucklanders. Email
Catherine Powell
Practice and Development Lead
Cathie has worked in Waitākere for over 30 years as a community developer, mediator and educator and is committed to interrupting colonisation, poverty and all forms of discrimination.
Her role focuses on developing and driving the innovation practice alongside the wider Healthy Families team. Cathie brings expert knowledge in both systems change theory and design methodology, as well as a strong social justice/human rights focus. She enjoys exploring the evolving role of systems innovation in improving health and wellbeing for those currently underserved in West Auckland and beyond. Email
MikeTipene
Rautaki Māori / Māori Systems Strategist
Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa
Mikes primary focus is improved Māori health outcomes, his knowledge of Te Ao Māori helps to inform our practice when working with and for our Māori communities.
Mike brings strategic direction and guidance that supports our team to work in a culturally appropriate manner, therefore improving the likelihood for successful Māori outcomes. Email
Repeka George-Koteka
Pacific Systems Strategist
Ngāti Ruatea, Ngāti Terei (Cook Islands)
Repeka has a priority focus on improved Pacific wellbeing, leadership, and health outcomes. A Masters of Applied Indigenous Knowledge and lived experience working within West Auckland, helps to inform her practice when working with and for our Pacific communities.
Repeka brings strategic direction and guidance that supports our team to work in a culturally appropriate manner, therefore improving the likelihood for successful Pasifika outcomes. Email
Grace Vujnovich
Strategic Communications Manager
With a background spanning corporate and consumer public relations, Grace brings theory and experience to her work. She most enjoys championiong stories of community innovation and action in West Auckland. Email
Caitlin MacColl
Governmental Systems Lead
Caitlin builds and manages relationships across a variety of settings to foster a collective leadership approach, including finding new opportunities and building alliances to influence systems change. Email.
Priscilla TuiSamoa
Māori Communications Innovator
Ngāti Maniapoto
Priscilla's role includes developing stories and content to support and promote kaupapa Māori in West Auckland. She also manages our online platforms and supports the team with digital content creation. Email
Louise Kirkwood
Data Insights and Evaluation Lead
As Data Insights and Evaluation Lead, Louises's role is to support the team to build robust evaluation practice into their day-to day work, so we can continuously refine and improve what we do to promote healthy lives. Email
Michele Eickstaedt
Systems Innovator
As a Food Systems Innovator and registered nutritionist, Michele's passion is to identify and support opportunities to improve the food/nutrition environment in places where people live, learn, work and play in West Auckland. Email
Rea Kenkel
Systems Innovator
Rea has a background in community development and food sovereignty movements and is passionate about working alongside the community to help influence system disruption, strategic innovations and strengthen community connection. Rea has an interest in how people relate to the spaces they occupy and the positive impacts that a sense of place can bring to our health and wellbeing. Email
Giuliana Sewell
Systems Innovator - Māori
Tūhourangi, Ngāti Porou
Giuliana brings experience in health prevention, rehabilitation and clinical teaching to the Healthy Families Waitākere team. Her role is to work alongside community groups to positively impact health across physical, learning, and work environments. She has a strong focus on equitable opportunities for Māori and developing innovations that support diversity and embrace mātauranga with authenticity. Email
Ruta Tai
Systems Innovator - Play & Physical Activity
Iva, Falelatai (Samoa)
Ruta has a background in athlete and coach development in the Pacific and Aotearoa. She is passionate about creating and fostering community connections and providing navigational support to access opportunities that strengthens the wellbeing of individuals and whānau, in order to achieve their goals and aspirations. Email
Ella Falakoa
Systems Innovator - Pacific
My focus is to weave a Pacific worldview that serves, nurtures, and strengthens the health and wellbeing of our Pacific community. I enjoy implementing strategic innovation that influences local cultural renewal and welcomes sustainable change to provide positive health outcomes. Email
Healthy Families Waitākere
Sport Waitākere
545 Don Buck Road, Massey, Auckland 0614