Te Puoho (TP) Katene joins the Ākina Foundation Board

The Ākina Foundation announces a new addition to their governance team, welcoming new Board of Trustees member, Te Puoho (TP) Katene.

Te Puoho (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Whātua) brings fresh thought and perspective to Ākina governance and its mission to grow the social enterprise sector in New Zealand, with his commitment to advancing the social and cultural well-being of Māori. A 2017 Fulbright scholar and Stanford Sloan Fellow, Te Puoho reinforced his business degree from Stanford University with a focus on social innovation, impact investment and maximising the social impact of for-profit businesses.

He is an associate director for Wakatū Incorporation, a whānau organization managing over $270 million worth of assets on behalf of 4,000 owners. He serves on Wakatū’s subsidiary boards tasked with reinvesting profits into the cultural and social well-being of owners. Prior to Stanford Te Puoho spent 10 years working in government, advising on prominent policy issues such as fisheries management, regional economic development, and Treaty settlements.

Ākina Executive Chair Sophie Haslem welcomes Te Puoho to the Board, joining current trustees Gavin Fernandez, Ben Kepes, Tina Porou, Michelle Sharp, and Malcolm Shaw, bringing the total to seven Ākina Board members.

“We are really pleased that TP is joining our team. He will bring several new lenses to our conversations which will help us all to act more wisely as a governing group” says Haslem.

Te Puoho’s governance and management experience brings added potency to the Ākina Board, their guidance in the ongoing development of the Ākina Foundation, and the support of purpose-driven organisations that trade to deliver social and environmental impact.