Board of
Trustees
We're a group of young professionals from Gisborne working in the academic, corporate, and government sectors across the country. We know what life in big city can be like and are keen to pay our knowledge forward to the next generation of leaders.
Our Board of Trustees oversee the Foundation's governance and strategic direction. Members also comprise several subcommittees on Partnerships, Strategy, Policy, and Appointments.
Chair of the Board
Jack Milner
Jack Milner (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) is Chair of the Board at Whakamanawa Foundation.
He is an Assistant Manager at KPMG New Zealand within the Financial Services Audit division in Auckland. During his time at KPMG, Jack has also been seconded to KPMG Czech Republic based in Prague.
Jack has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Marketing from the University of Auckland, graduating in 2022. He attended Gisborne Boys' High School in the class of 2017, where he was Prefect.
Jack enjoys returning home to Gisborne when he gets the opportunity. Visiting Whanau and friends and enjoying the beautiful city that is Gisborne.
Chair of the Board
Vipasha Mehta
Vipasha Mehta is Chair of the Board at Whakamanawa Foundation. She is a Solicitor within the Environmental and Resource Management Law team at Buddle Findlay in Auckland.
Vipasha has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology from the University of Auckland. While at the University, she was a Science Scholar and volunteered for the Equal Justice Project, the Auckland University Students Association, and at the Tairāwhiti Community Law Centre.
She attended Gisborne Girls High School in the class of 2016, where she was a Prefect and the School Dux. Vipasha regularly returns home to visit her parents in Gisborne, spending most summer breaks enjoying Gizzy beaches.
Director and Trustee
Hannah Overbye
Hannah Overbye (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Te Whānau a Kai, Rongowhakaata, Pākehā) is a postgraduate student at the University of Auckland, specialising in indigenous sociology.
Prior to her postgraduate studies, Hannah was a Graduate Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment in Wellington. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Studies and Sociology from the University of Auckland, where she was awarded the Senior Scholar Award, the Sociology and Criminology Korowai Prize, and made the Dean's Honour list in 2020. Hannah was Deputy-Head Girl at Gisborne Girls' High School, graduating in 2017.
Trustee
Kate Falloon
Kate Falloon is an analyst with the New Zealand Government, based in Wellington. She has held a number of internships including at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Education New Zealand, and most recently as a Junior Adviser to the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Kate has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Global Studies majoring in Global Politics, Korean, and English Literature from the University of Auckland. As a part of her studies, she also completed an virtual exchange semester at Korea University. Prior to her tertiary education, she was Deputy Head-Girl at Gisborne Girls' High School in the Class of 2018.
Director and Trustee
Kiraan Chetty
Kiraan Chetty is a Senior Research Fellow in Global Law and Governance at the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies on Waiheke Island, Auckland.
Kiraan has a BA in Philosophy and Politics & International Relations, a BA (Honours) with First Class Honours in Philosophy, and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Auckland. While there, Kiraan taught for three years within the Faculty of Arts, and received the GWR Ardley Research Award, the Peter Kraus Scholarship, and the Harry Hodson Prize from the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs for their work. Kiraan was a Prefect at Gisborne Boys' High School, graduating in 2017.
Trustee
Kyle Hannah
Kyle Hannah is an Analyst at PwC New Zealand, based within the Strategy, Organisation, and Workforce division in Auckland. Prior to that, Kyle held an internship with the Treasury in Wellington.
Kyle has a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Marketing, and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance graduating in 2023 from the University of Auckland. While there, Kyle worked as a Resident Adviser at Waipārūrū Hall. Kyle attended Gisborne Boys High School in the class of 2018.
Trustee
Maia Rickard
Maia Rickard is an Occupation Therapist at Hauora Tāirawhiti based in Gisborne.
Maia studied for a Bachelor of Health Science in Occupational Therapy at Auckland University of Technology graduating in 2022. Maia attended Lytton High School. For many years she has been active in hockey and basketball in Gisborne having been a member of YMP A and Chur Ngati, and now plays Midfield for the New Zealand Māori Hockey Wahine Team.
Trustee
Tamaaio Stewart
Tamaaio Stewart is Treasurer of the Board at Whakamanawa Foundation.
Based in Rotorua, Tamaaio works as an Analyst at Te Arawa Fisheries and as a Financial Analyst for ClearPoint New Zealand.
Tamaaio completed a Bachelor of Business Analysis in Finance from the University of Waikato in Hamilton, graduating in 2020, and attended Gisborne Boys High School Class of 2017.