Jade Sewell is a health champion committed to ensuring that relevant and accessible community health care is available to Māori whānau. She has worked in a number of different health areas, from the development of adolescent residential addiction services to social housing initiatives. Authentic relationships are a guiding principle for Jade professionally and personally and challenge her to ensure she always puts whānau at the centre of her approaches.

She has a Bachelor of Science, Statistics, Materials and Processing and Project Management qualifications from Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, The University of Waikato. Jade has also completed the executive Advanced Leadership Programme with Women & Leadership Australia.

Jade is currently a Deputy Chief Executive at Te Aka Whai Ora. Jade works to drive transformation and innovation within the current health system and further embed Te Ao Māori worldview in the fabric of health infrastructure. Within her work, she is committed to developing commissioning processes that guarantee Māori health improvement and works to enable the continued development of hauora approaches to achieve this aspiration.

She joined Te Aka Whai Ora after being at the Waikato District Health Board for five years as an operations director. Jade led a range of hospital and specialist services to deliver acute, planned, and preventative health services to support better outcomes for communities. This also included district leadership support for the COVID-19 response.

In a previous role with Te Rau Ora, Jade contributed to and wrote multiple pieces on projects that better community health and played a key role in establishing the Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing – Te Mauri Pimatisiwin in Aotearoa. During her time with Te Rau Ora, Jade was able to work alongside Maori communities nationally to tell their success stories in community development and community-driven hauora.

Jade works to drive transformation and innovation within the current health system so that the hauora aspirations of communities are realised.

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He Rangatira Our Leaders

Egan Bidois advocates for users of mental health services and is passionate about helping those in their most vulnerable times. He believes it is a blessing to assist those experiencing times of mental distress.

Dr Joanna Hikaka is a clinical pharmacist and health researcher focusing on equitable access to health services for Māori and developing anti-racist health services.

Sarah Kinred is a trained teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching and creating programs for students. Sarah also has over ten years of experience working as a Mātauranga Māori specialist within mental health and addictions, and she is committed to ensuring that tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake is paramount for Māori, especially when engaging in the health system.

Cherryl is an astute leader who exemplifies humility by giving selflessly, providing wise mentorship, and encouraging others to do their best.

Jade Sewell

Ngāti Maru, Te Arawa, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Porou

He Rangatira Our Leaders

Egan Bidois

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāiterangi, Te Arawa

Joanna Hikaka

Ngāruahine

Sarah Kinred

Ngāti Whātua, Waikato, Ngāti Koata, Te Atiawa, Manx

Dr Cherryl Waerea-i-te-Rangi Smith

Ngāti Apa, Whanganui, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāi Tumapuhiarangi