I’m a proud wahine Māori with Welsh and Scottish roots. My journey into learning about my whakapapa began at age 10, and by 13, I started reo classes. Initially, I felt disconnected and hesitant, but university and my exploration of Māori art and design through Toi Atea helped me understand my place in Te Ao Māori.

This part of the journey was both challenging and enlightening, fuelled by questions from lecturers, peers, and whānau. Over the years, these experiences deepened my desire to learn and connect with my identity.

Now, twenty something years later, my commitment to learning continues as I seek to honour my tīpuna and carve the way for future generations.

I grew up in Tauranga, studied and worked in Pōneke for eight years, and spent some time freelancing in Berlin. After founding and closing a design studio in Wānaka, which included an 8-month stint in the Australian Outback, I have now settled back in Tauranga to be closer to my whānau.

Raised by the ocean due to my parents' careers in the fishing industry, I developed strong sea legs and a deep connection to the outdoors. My childhood was filled with hunting, fishing, and diving, all grounded in a respect for nature and resource sharing.

My desire to explore the world took me to Pōneke and abroad. Traveling, both alone and with others, has been a journey of self-discovery and learning. As I grow older, I find that spending time in Te Taiao, the natural world—whether hunting, hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, or being on the ocean—grounds me and fuels my creativity.

I graduated from Massey University, Wellington in 2015 and soon started as a Junior Designer at Homegrown Creative. After 2.5 years, I moved to Berlin to begin freelancing. Returning to Aotearoa, I joined Trade Me, gaining extensive experience in corporate design, systems, and people management.

I then moved to Wānaka, where I worked remotely until facing redundancy. This pushed me into self-employment, leading me to establish my own business. After navigating two lockdowns, a challenging economy, and eventually building a team, I faced the highs and lows of business ownership.

Building a team was both my favourite and most challenging aspect of business ownership. Drawing from experiences with great leaders and insights from life and business coaches, I crafted an approach that worked well for me, my studio, and my team.

Despite the difficulties, including closing the studio after 3.5 years, the experience taught me invaluable lessons. Running a business wasn’t easy, but it was an incredible learning journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

My deepest growth came from three personal development programs: two with Briony McKenzie through Untapped and one with Tahi Spinks.

In late 2019, through 1:1 coaching with Bri, I reviewed my life, set clear goals, and learned reusable tools for my journey from employee to entrepreneur in months. Two years later, I continued with business coaching, enhancing my knowledge of systems, processes, and people leadership as I tested these in my own business.

After returning to Aotearoa from Australia, I joined a 6-week coaching program with Tahi to address childhood trauma and outdated belief systems. We replaced those with new ones and emphasised integration.

I am grateful for their guidance and the tools I've gained, which I frequently use as I evolve on my journey. I believe development of this kind not only enables us to be better versions of ourselves, it helps us to reflect and adapt to our ever changing environments through life.

At 24, I read Thrive by Arianna Huffington, which highlighted the benefits of volunteering and giving back. Inspired, I started volunteering my design skills to Good Bitches Baking, a not-for-profit I admired. Over five years, I contributed to their growth and found immense joy in the process. When my time there concluded, I shifted my focus to the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.

In May 2023, I began helping with their social media and quickly became passionate about their work protecting Fiordland’s unique environment. After experiencing their initiatives firsthand, I joined the Foundation as a committee member and female representative. I also sit on the board of the Three Lakes Cultural Trust, which supports arts and culture in the Queenstown Lakes region.

I’m fortunate to work with dedicated individuals and contribute to meaningful causes, continually learning and growing through these experiences.