Plunket Board

Chairperson

Fiona (Tūhoe, Ngāti Ranginui) joined Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s board in early 2022, with more than a decade of experience in governance roles across a range of purpose-led organisations behind her. She began her role as Chair in August 2025.

Her involvement in academic research has seen her develop specialised skills in mātauranga Māori health and community development, Whai Rawa (Māori Economies), Te Taiao (Natural Environment), and Mauri Ora (Human Flourishing and Wellbeing).

She is the Chair of the largest regional kaupapa Māori Health, Social and Employment provider in Aotearoa, Chair of a kaupapa Māori Medical Centre and Deputy Chair of a Primary Health Organisation in addition to teaching indigenous-business at a Whare Wānanga, Fiona is passionate about helping Māori led organisations to weave their ūara and matapono through their practice to enhance their day-to-day activities and give strength to their kaupapa.

Tracey joined Whānau Āwhina Plunket as a board member in November 2020. She has a wealth of business, communication/marketing and governance experience as well as strong involvement in the social and not-for profit sector.

She is the co-founder The Good Registry, a social enterprise which helps people support causes they care about by replacing unwanted gifts with donations to their favourite charity. She’s Chair of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, and sits on the Boards of WELLfed Charitable Trust, the Digital Media Trust and the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.

Tracey is passionate about making a difference by ensuring all tamariki are at the centre of our social, political and economic lives and decision making.

Outside of her governance roles, Tracey enjoys spending time buried in a good book, spending time with her whānau and playing sports.

Alofi, Niue, Pago Pago, American Samoa

Anne’s mission in life is to empower diversity and grow people – with her aiga and through her work. Her career has spanned leadership roles in health, education, local government and not-for-profits. She is currently CEO of Make-A-Wish New Zealand..

Anne’s superpower is connecting the dots to create opportunities to serve our Māori and Pacific communities. As Chief Executive of TupuToa, she led the organisation’s vision to grow Māori and Pacific leaders for a greater Aotearoa, with exponential growth in the number of interns, partners and innovative programmes including regional and international opportunities. 

In addition, she serves on the boards of the Pacific Corporation Foundation (Board Chair), Problem Gambling Foundation, National Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation and has previously served in leadership positions; PACIFICA Women’s National Board and YWCA National Board.

Anne has a Master of Professional Business Administration from Auckland University of Technology, and is an alumna of the Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Programme. Of Niuean, Samoan and European heritage, she has been married to Equator for more  than 30 years, and has seven adult children and 11 grandchildren.

Brent a passionate advocate for the not-for-profit sector, and the former lead for accountancy firm Grant Thornton’s not-for-profit sector in New Zealand. Brent joined the board in October 2025 and chairs its Audit & Risk committee.

Brent brings a deep financial expertise and knowledge of the not-for-profit sector, having been an audit partner specialising in the area for more than 25 years, as well as holding various governance roles on organisational boards.

Brent set up the Grant Thornton not-for-profit State of the Nation survey measuring a variety of aspects of reporting, governance, issues and successes of organisations on a bi-annual basis. He was also a sponsor and presenter for the MBA Not for Profit sector specialism at Victoria University of Wellington for nine years.

Having resigned from Grant Thornton he is keen to give back to not-for-profit organisations that represent our country. Brent has first-hand experience of the PlunketLine service from almost 30 years ago, and is keen to continue to see the iconic brand of Plunket thrive into the future.

He is a member of CPA Australia as well as the Chair of their New Zealand not-for-profit committee. Outside of work he enjoys cooking, trying out new recipes, exploring the Wairarapa and visiting his daughter in London.

Marama joined Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s board in January 2022, bringing her passion for making a difference in achieving good health and social outcomes.

Since working as a kaiāwhina for Plunket in Porirua in 1988, she has gained more than 20 years’ experience working in the health sector for a range of government and non-government organisations, focusing on Māori health.

She is currently the Director of Māori Health at Kahui Tuitui Tangata – TAS, which sees her working to drive change through collaboration and big picture thinking.

Marama is a proud māmā of four and a serious tramper, a pastime which took her all the way to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in 2008. This is a wāhine who is definitely not afraid of climbing mountains!

Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti (Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Kahu) currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ngāti Hine Health Trust, the largest hauora provider in Te Tai Tokerau and a strategic partner of Plunket. In this role, he also leads several affiliated entities, including Northcorp Holdings, Te Ara Tū o Ngāti Hine (two general practices), and Ngāti Hine FM.

Tamati has joined Plunket’s Board to support its mission of nurturing healthy tamariki and empowering whānau across Aotearoa. He brings a commitment to equity and community wellbeing, shaped by his whakapapa and decades of leadership in health, social services, and digital transformation.

Tamati and his husband, Rubyn, are proud parents of Matariki, who carries a rich heritage of Ngāti Hine, Te Whānau a Apanui, and Mexican-Argentinian descent.

Tamati is widely recognised for his values-based leadership and his ability to drive transformative change that delivers meaningful outcomes for whānau. His career spans both public and private sectors, with a consistent focus on improving systems, strengthening Indigenous capability, and creating sustainable, community-led solutions grounded in kaupapa Māori.

He taonga ngā tamariki, he taonga tuku iho nā ō tātou tūpuna.

Ko te hauora o ngā tamariki, ko te hauora o te iwi.

Dr Owen Sinclair (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Pahuwera) is a General Paediatrician and paediatric emergency medicine specialist who has dedicated his career to improving the health and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau. His work is grounded in a strong commitment to kaupapa Māori, equity and the belief that the health and wellbeing of our children is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of our communities and future generations.

Owen works as a Paediatrician with Health New Zealand Waitematā and is a Senior Lecturer in Māori Health at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland. He has held national leadership roles including President of Te Kāhui Mātai Arotamariki o Aotearoa (the Paediatric Society of New Zealand), and is currently Co-Chair of Immunisation Leadership Northern and a member of the National Immunisation Taskforce.

His governance experience includes serving as a trustee and chair of several school boards, alongside national clinical, research and health-sector governance roles. Throughout his career, he has sought to challenge inequities in health, strengthen systems and advocate for better outcomes for tamariki Māori.

Owen believes that improving the wellbeing of tamariki requires genuine partnership with whānau, hapū and iwi, recognition of the importance of whakapapa and culture, and a commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Outside his professional life, Owen enjoys spending time with his whānau, coaching junior sport, fishing and hunting, and cooking.