Building strong futures, together.
Our Leaders
Mary Los'e
CEO
Mary is passionate about building enduring relationships with organisations which help develop solutions, capability and create a high performance culture. As a leader in partnering, communications, and service design, she has experience in Iwi and Pacific engagement with proven results to establish, embed and drive better outcomes for businesses and communities. Mary has led strategic transformational change and creating trusted partnerships internally and externally is her real area of expertise. Mary enjoys leading teams and has held a number of leadership roles across a variety of sectors. A communications and commerce specialist with an MBA from the University of Auckland, Mary is a proud West Aucklander from Kelston with whakapapa to Ngāti Rereahu ki Ngāti Maniapoto, Norfolk and the village of Utulau in Tonga.
Paul Retimanu
Chairman
Of Samoan descent, Paul has led many successful entities in the hospitality sector over the past 30 years. He has extensive board experience both in the private sector and community, and is focused on better outcomes for Pacific and Māori rangitahi in business entrepreneurship and education. Paul is also a member of the Treasury’s Talanoa Group, comprised of Pacific business leaders and employers.
Meet the Team
Izak van Niekerk
Director of Operations
Springbok, Titirangi
Emma Li
Director Finance and Shared Services
Liaoning Province
Aliitasi Patricia Lalu-Teo
Finance and Shared Services Lead
Matautu Falelatai, Salesatele Falealili, & Saipipi
Astralitta Suniula
Operations Lead
Magiagi, Mulifanua
Tuala Victor Vaauli
Community Engagement Lead
Vaiala, Auala, Faleasiu, Poutasi - Falealili
Naomi Letica
Executive Assistant
Vrgorac, Brač, Podgora
Tracey Alenepi
Service Design & Evaluation Lead
Lona-Fagaloa, Tafitoala, Siumu, Fusi-Safata
Mulipola Va'aelua Albert Pati
Service Designer
Sālua/Faleū Manono Tai, Leauva’a, Malie, Falefa
Nancy Lauifata
Business Partner
Nasalia, Kadavu vasu Salia, Nayau
Aufa’i Laufou James Aufa’i
Business Partner
Puipa’a Faleata, Satupa’itea, Saleaula, Leauva’a
Lana Afu
Business Partner
Kolovai Hihifo, Leimatu’a Vava’u
Epenesa Taufa
Business Partner
Faletagaloa Safune, Sapo’e Falealili, Sa’anapu Safata, Faleula
Steve Tewrie Kimbu
Community Engagement Lead
Lende, Yaro, Pangia
Lesley Fifita Vehekite
Business Partner
Kolomotu’a, Sopu-‘o Taufa’ahau, Taoa Vava’u, Fākakai Ha’apai
Karen Batangantang-Mutya
Front of House Coordinator
Manila
Ivana Vaea
Service Delivery Coordinator
Kolofo'ou and Houma, Tongatapu
Meet the Board
Agnes Loheni
Board Member
Agnes Loheni is an accomplished businesswoman in the manufacturing, export, and retail sector, known for founding the Pacific fashion brand MENA. Established 22 years ago as a home business in Samoa, MENA expanded its operations to Auckland over a decade ago to grow its wholesale and export channels. In 2010, the business received the MIT Pacific Business Trust ‘Pacific Exporter’ Award. Agnes is proud of her Samoan heritage and is passionate about fostering Pacific success and enterprise, sharing her expertise as a mentor both privately and through Business Mentors NZ. Agnes also donates her time to helping inspire young students to read as a role model for Duffy Books in Homes. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical & Materials) from the University of Auckland and was awarded the SunPix Pacific Peoples Award for Enterprise in 2015. From 2019 to 2020, Agnes served as a New Zealand Member of Parliament, where she advocated for small businesses and Pacific communities as an associate spokesperson for Small Business and Pacific Peoples. Born and educated in Auckland, Agnes is of Samoan descent (Amaile, Saleaumua, Safotu, Safune, Siumi) and lives in West Auckland with her husband, Ward Kamo (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mutunga) and their five children.
Arti Chand
Board Member
Arti is a highly experienced tax lawyer who has been an independent practitioner since 2015, following a decade in the private sector. She specialises in providing domestic and international tax consulting to SMEs, not-for-profits, law firms and high net worth individuals. Arti was recently appointed as the Referee of the Wellington Disputes Tribunal. Currently, she serves as President of the New Zealand Pacific Lawyers' Association and has previously held the role of Vice President (Wellington) on the New Zealand Law Society Board. Additionally, Arti holds the position of Vice President for the New Zealand Fiji Business Council and is a Director on the board of Save the Children New Zealand. Arti's contributions have earned her recognition, including her inclusion in NZ Lawyer Magazine's Most Influential Lawyers List in the Changemakers category in 2022 and the Superdiversity Institute's inaugural "Top Diverse Board-Ready Directors" list in 2021. In 2018, she was the recipient of the Wellington Pasifika Business Network award in the Woman in Business category. As a proud Fijian, Arti's upbringing in Lautoka has fueled her passionate advocacy for celebrating the successes of Pacific people and businesses in New Zealand.
Dain Guttenbeil
Board Member
Dain is an innovative leader with an 8 year history of driving change. He excels in creating business value and social impact in New Zealand and the Pacific by identifying opportunities and leveraging strengths. Dain's expertise spans strategic analysis, holistic strategy, program design, organisational development and sustainability. He's played a crucial role in national Health and Safety, Sports and Community Development programs. With an MBA focused on CSR and CSV (Creating Shared Value) Dain now leads New Zealand's Centre for Social Impact, bridging corporate and social sectors. Throughout his career, Dain has delivered significant value across a range of organisations from small nonprofits to multinational corporations including a multimillion-dollar collective impact project, transforming Health and Safety for a leading property developer, turning around a National Sporting Organisation and revitalising a Pasifika Youth Organisation. He's also designed corporate strategies for community engagement and Shared Value.
Lloyd Maole
Board Member
Lloyd’s extensive service to the Pacific community draws on his extensive experience in business, banking, leadership, social wellbeing and governance roles. Mentoring Pacific youth, Lloyd co-founded the South Pou Charitable Trust and is a business navigator with Business South and Workforce Central Dunedin. As Chief Executive of the Pacific Trust Otago, Lloyd developed and implemented the delivery of health, social and wellbeing programmes and has also supported community finance initiatives through the Good Loans programme, working with Presbyterian Support Otago.
Luke Meredith
Board Member
Luke Meredith is a successful entrepreneur who, after founding Circuit Systems Ltd in 1989, transformed it into a multimillion-dollar company before selling it. Today, he owns and directs Sureline Systems Ltd, specializing in high-end security solutions for businesses and government clients. As a proud Pasifika individual of Samoan heritage, Luke is passionate about providing mentorship and leadership within the Pasifika business network. Recognizing the need for increased Pasifika-owned businesses he is dedicated to helping emerging businesses achieve their goals. Luke's success is rooted in his culture, family, and the people around him. With a wealth of business experience, he aims to support fellow Pasifika entrepreneurs on their journey.