Dr. Fiona Cram, a distinguished social psychologist, has dedicated her career to advancing kaupapa Māori research, evaluation, and education. Appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019 for services to Māori health and education, Fiona's work exemplifies a commitment to achieving the best outcomes for Māori communities.

The topic of her 1990 PhD in Social and Developmental Psychology from the University of Otago was ‘Children’s social understanding and the effects of peer interaction’.  Fiona has held roles as a Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director at the International Research Institute for Māori and Indigenous Education (IRI) at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland.

In 2003, she founded Katoa Ltd, an organisation specialising in kaupapa Māori research, evaluation, and training across diverse domains, including Māori health, education, language revitalisation, and whānau well-being.

Fiona’s research contributions are wide-ranging and impactful, from exploring determinants of success for iwi and Māori providers to mentoring emerging Māori and non-Māori researchers.

Her leadership roles include:

• Board Member of the Health Research Council
• Chair of the Family Violence Death Review Committee under Te Tāhū Hauora (Health Quality and Safety Commission)
• Co-Chair of Te Niwha, the Infectious Disease Research Platform co-hosted by ESR and the University of Otago.
• Co-Chair of EvalIndigenous, a global network advancing Indigenous evaluation.

As a long-standing contributor to Aotearoa New Zealand’s evaluation sector, Fiona was the Editor-in-Chief of Evaluation Matters - He Take Tō Te Aromatawai, a journal published by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, until 2023.

Fiona’s leadership in Mā Te Rae (Māori Evaluation Association) and ANZEA (Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association) reflects her dedication to fostering excellence in evaluation practice.

Fiona’s influence also extends internationally, where she has made significant contributions through publications, conference presentations, and collaborations. Her mentorship has empowered researchers, iwi, and communities to develop impactful, culturally grounded research initiatives, such as Poipoia te Kākano, Kia Puāwai —community research on housing and home.

Grounded in tikanga and committed to empowering others, Fiona balances her professional achievements with her most cherished role as a mother to her son. Her work is a testament to the power of kaupapa Māori principles in transforming research and evaluation practices, inspiring both Māori and global audiences.

Links:

Katoa Limited - Dr Fiona Cram Profile

Dr Fiona Cram Wikipedia Profile

Community Research Profile and contact - Dr Fiona Cram

Research Gate Profile - Dr Fiona Cram

Centre for Social Impact - Leadership with Dr Fiona Cram (Youtube)