As one of New Zealand’s most respected directors, Michael is a strong advocate for Māori development and has strived to bring about positive and lasting change for the hapū since joining as Chair in 2013.

His passion for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei goes well beyond his position as Chair, and his influence on Whai Rawa has led to both growth for the organisation and the professional development of his fellow directors. A key focus for Michael has been the need to prepare Whai Rawa for succession.

A former president and current Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FInstD), Michael is also a chartered accountant, a lawyer, and a director for several public and private companies. He served on the board for Vector Limited for 16 years and is currently a chairman for Tower Limited.

More recently, Michael was appointed as a member of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Board

Known as a conservation hero by New Zealand media, Sir Rob Fenwick is an experienced businessman and company director passionate about promoting sustainable development.

He is a FInstD, founder Chair of the Sustainable Business Council, Chairman of Predator Free NZ, and NZ Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge and is a director of Te Papa Tongarewa. He was also the inaugural Chairman of Mai FM.

Awarded Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the environment and business, Sir Rob was inducted to the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. He has also won the Sir Peter Blake Medal for outstanding leadership.

Sir Rob is a former Chairman of Motutapu Island Restoration Trust and an advocate for Te Matuku Bay Marine Reserve, where he operates a successful oyster farm with his wife Jennie.

Utilising her impressive background in law and Māori studies, Precious Clark is the Managing Director of Maurea Consulting Ltd, an organisation that shares Māori culture globally so that it shapes and informs a modern world. She is also the creator of Te Kaa, a unique Māori cultural competency training programme that aims to bring the Māori culture to a business environment.

Precious is a Director of the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, Chair of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Taumata-a-Iwi, a Trustee of Foundation North, and a past Director of the Independent Māori Statutory Board and the Centre for Social Impact.

She is also a Member of the Institute of Directors, a Member of the National Māori Lawyers Association and a graduate of the Global Women Breakthrough Leaders programme.

Named the Inaugural Emerging Māori Business Leader by the Auckland University’s Business School, Ngarimu Blair is the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust representative for Whai Rawa.

A geographer, with over 15 years’ experience in advancing a range of iwi issues in Auckland City, he is regularly called upon by the media and political influencers.

Ngarimu is a Director for Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, as well as Member of the Board of Trustees at Sir Peter Blake Trust, on the Board of the National Science Challenge, and Chair of the Settlement Protection Team.

He is passionate about Auckland tribal histories, kaitiakitanga, and taking care of our environment for a better New Zealand.

Rob Hutchison is a former Chief Executive Officer of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited, having led the organisation for five years. He was recently appointed as Executive Director at Vincent Capital Limited, a property funding lender.

Rob has been instrumental in growing the hapū asset base from $356 million in 2O12 to more than $1 billion today. He has also held positions with Darrochs, Jones Lang La Salle and Colliers International, and now runs his own consultancy business Waitea Property Advisory.

In addition to four CEO roles in central and local government, the real estate and property sector, he has held a range of property and business-related directorships. He served as Valuer General and Chief Executive of the North Shore City Council and was a Judge for the Property Council NZ awards for many years.

Julia Steenson (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Māhuta) was appointed to Whai Rawa in June 2017 and is a passionate business woman with a background in law, finance, and e-commerce.

Her commitment to making legal services more accessible to the public led to her founding the tech startup Ture.co.nz, an online platform that provides a place for the public to connect with New Zealand lawyers. She also produces a podcast called NZFREELAW.

In addition to her contributions in New Zealand, Julia is also making her mark internationally. In 2017, Julia led the development of a LEARNX Impact Award winning online risk management programme. She also presented, as General Counsel for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, on intellectual property at the World Indigenous People Conference in Toronto.

She is Chair for the board of Kia Puawai Limited.