Shayne Walker (Chair)

Shayne (Ngai Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Kahungunu) has been a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work at the University of Otago since 1996. He is a registered social worker and is the Chairperson of the Social Workers Registration Board. He has a strong practice background of working with tamariki and whanau in community organisations, youth-work and foster care. His research and teaching has focused on the nature of matauranga Māori (ways of knowing), ako Māori (the teaching and learning of Māori knowledge), Māori social services development and alternative care, child protection and Māori social work theory and practice.

Turitea Bolstad (Deputy Chair)

Turitea has a background in law providing advocacy services in the Taranaki Region. As a Criminal Lawyer and Youth Advocate, she works closely with social service organisations and agencies.  She has previously served on the Taranaki District Law Society, Taranaki Community Law Centre and Taranaki Lotteries Distribution Committee and is currently a Mahia Mai A Whai Tara board member.

Dianne Wepa

Dianne is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent. She is a registered social worker with a background in mental health, clinical/cultural supervision and nursing/social work education. As an associate lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, Dianne has developed expert knowledge in the field of cultural safety education, Māori health and research ethics. Dianne completed her PhD in 2016 with a focus on cultural safety within hospital and community settings.

Leisa Moorhouse

Leisa is a registered social worker of Ngāpuhi descent with experience in community and statutory social work in Aotearoa New Zealand and England. I currently work in private practice as a Supervisor and an Educator. I am passionate about growing competent practitioners who work from a strong positioning of personal and cultural authenticity in the pursuit of mauri ora for those we work alongside.

Lisa-Marie King

Lisa is a registered social worker with nearly 30 years experience.  She is a social work educator and has a strong interest in the development of indigenous, kaupapa Māori and bicultural social work, supervision and education. Her ahikaa connections are Ngāti Te Aukiwa me Ngāti Kōhua, her whakapapa links are more extensive.

Shirley Ikkala

Shirley is of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Cook Island descent. She is a registered social worker with more than 20 years’ experience working mostly in the government sector. She is currently the Kaiārahi, National Curriculum Manager for the social work degree programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Shirley has a keen interest in the need for accountability and responsibility in the social work sector.

Khoa Nguyen

Khoa is a Vietnamese New Zealander. He is a certified Chartered Accountant and Managing Director of Viet River Holdings Ltd, a niche consultancy company providing executive lease, governance and commercial connections to the ASEAN market. He has held various directorships and is an avid volunteer. He is currently a member of the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust.

Paula Rose

Paula has a wide range of experience across the policing, welfare, community and media standards sectors.  She is a former National Manager Road Policing, NZ Police and was involved in implementing MSD’s action plan for vulnerable children.  She sits on the boards of WorkSafe NZ, Brackenridge, and the Broadcasting Standards Authority, is a Commissioner on the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, a member of the Parole Board, and on the South Island Trust Board for St John. In 2013 she was awarded a QSO for her contribution to policing and the community.

Scott Thomson

Scott is a physiotherapist from Christchurch and co-owns the Merivale Hand Clinic. He is a past Chair of the New Zealand Private Physiotherapy Association and the International Private Physical Therapist Association. He has been closely involved with the development of physiotherapy standards through the New Zealand Physiotherapy Accreditation Scheme and as a member of the Standards New Zealand Technical Committee developing the Allied Health Services Sector Standards. Scott is currently a member of the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.

Michelle Derrett

Michelle hails from Dunedin and is a registered social worker. She came to social work following a career in the sciences and has a strong interest in social work practice from a scientific analytical standpoint and using critical reflective practice theories. Michelle is currently the Social Work Professional Leader for the Southern District Health, a role that includes clinical practice in Women’s and Children’s Health.