Our trustees have backgrounds in local government, social services, publishing, Maori affairs, business and tourism and are all Waikato proud.
Kawena Jones - Co-Chair
Ko Pirongia te maunga
Ko Waipa te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waikato te iwi
Ko Ngaati Maahanga, Ngaati Hoourua, Ngaati Hikairo (Ki Kawhia moana), Ngaati Whakamarurangi ngaa hapuu
Ko Te Papa o Rotu, Oomaero, Waipapa, me Mootakotako ngaa marae
Ko Kawena (Kawe) Jones taku ingoa.
Kawena (Kawe) lives in Whatawhata, deeply connected to his community through his whakapapa, firmly rooted in Waikato. He is the Co-Director of Taurikura NZ, a social enterprise dedicated to building cultural capacity to foster diverse, inclusive, and thriving organisations and communities. Recently, he served as Principal Advisor for Waikato at Kāinga Ora. Before this, he was the Regional Manager at Amotai, a social procurement intermediary. For seven years, Kawena managed the Employment portfolio at Waikato-Tainui, where he established a careers and employment centre and introduced various social procurement programmes.
Kawena is actively involved in his community. He holds numerous board and trustee positions, these roles include elected Marae member to Te Whakakitenga of Waikato, the tribal parliament, member of the Te Whakakitenga Distributions Committee, Board member of Community Waikato. His past roles include serving as Treasurer for Te Ahurei a Rangatahi and chairing the Te Tiriti sub-committee for the Young Workers Resource Centre.
Michelle Baillie - Co-Chair
Michelle has over 25 years’ experience in the casino and hospitality industries in New Zealand and has held various senior managerial roles within SkyCity predominantly in casino operations, but also in hotel operations and project management positions.
Michelle was appointed General Manager SkyCity Queenstown in May 2008 and relocated to Hamilton in April 2014 to take up the position of General Manager SkyCity Hamilton. Michelle has overseen a number of positive changes to the Hamilton business achieving record results and winning awards, including Michelle being awarded CEO of the Year in the 2017 Waikato Business Awards.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Canterbury. She was a Board member of the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce from 2012 - 2013, an Executive Committee member of the Hamilton Central Business Association from 2015 – 2016, and a Director of Women in Gaming and Hospitality Australasia from 2018 - 2023. Michelle is currently a trustee and co- chair of the SkyCity Hamilton Community Trust, a member of Global Women in New Zealand and a member of the international committee for Global Gaming Women.
Manaaki Nepia
Manaaki is a proud Māori woman of Waikato Tainui descent, and a mother of 2 talented and caring young Māori men aged 20 and 13. She is the wife of 17 years to Jason Nepia who she describes as her ‘soulmate’. Manaaki is passionate about Māori wellbeing and firmly believes in order to achieve positive and equitable outcomes for Māori, we need leadership and need to focus on the outcomes that matter; and we need to remain firmly fixed on the empowerment of Whanau/Hapu/Iwi in the architect and design of their own destinies.
Manaaki has held senior leadership, management and advisory roles within a number of directorates at the Ministry of Health and spent time as the Service Development Manager for the Waikato District Health Board. Manaaki has strong experience in procurement, having also held the Regional Contracts Manager role (Waikato) at the Ministry of Social Development. Manaaki’s current role is the Strategy and Relationship Manager for Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Tainui. Currently completing a Masters in Development, Manaaki has a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Psychology & Māori and a Post Graduate Diploma in Māori and Pacific Development through the University of Waikato.
Paula Baker
Jason Dawson
Jason Dawson is of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara descent and is currently the Director Regional Relationships Northland/Auckland for New Zealand Waka Kotahi. Jason completed his MBA at the University of Waikato and has extensive experience working in the local government sector, education, investment banking, technology, agriculture and tourism industries. He has been a strong and passionate advocate for Waikato and its people through education, business support, technology, economic development and lifting the profile of the region’s strengths and opportunities.
Mira Arif
Mira Arif is passionate about community development, youth representation, and inclusive decision making. With a background in law and a strong interest in governance, she is committed to ensuring that community funding supports initiatives with meaningful and long term impact. Mira is particularly interested in social justice, equity, and strengthening governance practices to better serve diverse communities across the Waikato.
Jahmin Tengu
Jahmin Tengu is a governance and community leader in the Waikato region with experience across education, youth development, and organisational leadership. He is committed to strengthening whaanau wellbeing, elevating rangatahi voice, and driving accountable, locally led governance that delivers meaningful community impact.
He currently works as an Administrative Officer at POU Limited, a 100% Māori-owned organisation, where he supports day-to-day operations, coordination, and service delivery, helping ensure efficient and effective organisational processes grounded in kaupapa Maaori values.
Jahmin currently serves as a Board Member of the Raahui Pookeka Community Centres Trust, where he previously held the role of secretary and is now treasurer. In this role, he provides governance leadership, financial stewardship, and strategic oversight for community facilities and programmes that support and strengthen whaanau across Raahui Pookeka.
Previously, he served as a Board Member of Huntly College, contributing to governance, policy development, and strategic decision-making to improve educational outcomes for rangatahi. He has also contributed to a range of community and youth initiatives, including Kaiaawhina at Huntly West Primary School, Committee Member for Huntly Kids Kitchen, membership of the YouthLaw Aotearoa Advisory Committee, and keynote speaker at the Tūturu Summit 2020, reflecting a strong foundation in youth advocacy and community engagement.