He has been a web developer in many industries since the early days of the web. His side interests include making music, skiing, mountain biking and mobile app development.

After that he worked on temp and fixed term contracts at MBIE, State Services Commission, LINZ, MPI, ACC and the Ministry of Education. All these roles have consisted of admin, managing inboxes, data migration, process improvements and process documentation. Working in databases and attention to detail is Jay's forte. 

He comes from a competitive sporting background with representative hockey and numerous indoor and outdoor cricket titles. He was always supported and encouraged for his sporting ability by close friends who have represented New Zealand in hockey, indoor/outdoor cricket, rugby, football and golf. 

In Jay's spare time you will find him on road trips, doing things around the house and getting into cooking. In the past couple of years he has been getting into food art and plating great food for parties as well as any place that has employed him.

He is a diehard supporter of our country's major sports teams - Black Sticks, Black Caps and All Blacks - but whenever it's NZ vs India sorry to say he swings towards India…

With a media and executive management background, his communications and strategic planning skills are put to good use in organisational development. He has been active with iwi development in the top of the South Island, having worked as the CEO for an iwi organisation.

Butch has worked in and held a range of directorships with commercial and community organisations which include; Basketball NZ, Te Ara a Maui, NZ Māori Tourism, Tasman Rugby Union having also served on the top of the south Regional Lotteries committee for over 10 years. Currently he consults to World Travellers.

Throughout my career I have grown a passion for fostering positive workplace environments. I believe that a positive workplace creates positive effects in your work life and beyond.

Last year, I took a break from working in HR and lived in Paris for 9 months. I worked in marketing and was living the 'Emily in Paris' lifestyle. Prior to this I worked at the Lion Foundation and CCDHB doing HR.

She spent more than seven years working in a regional sports trust, developing programmes and events for schools, and helping community organisations to access sport and recreation funding.  A love of learning, community, and growth – these are all things that drive Chauntelle. Her gifts in all these areas are interwoven with her Māori identity and worldview. 

Having grown up on and around her ancestral marae, and learning the stories and tikanga from her elders, she’s passionate about sharing mātauranga Māori with both Māori and tauiwi (non-Māori). 

In her role, she will be working with Te Mahi Ako staff to build their confidence and capability as Te Tiriti partners, and help them advocate for Māori values and approaches.  

"A huge part of my role is to build and strengthen Māori capability by embedding and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles across our organisation, with the intent to make it the norm, to be influential and inspiring for others to embrace te ao Māori, tikanga Māori, and matāuranga Māori. This is not a role, this is an honour.

"Times have finally changed for the betterment of our people, and our tūpuna would be weeping tears of joy.

"Me eke ngā ngaru o te wā, ki te kore ai, ka kai rehutai. You’ve got to move with the times and if you don’t, you’ll be left behind."

He describes himself as a lifelong learner and the opportunity to join the Skills Active team seemed a good fit in facilitating the learning of its industry trainees.

In his spare time, Anthony enjoys the outdoors. Exercise these days is mainly walking, but he has previously included a number of racquet sports, soccer, golf and a bit of skiing. An avid music fan, his tastes lie predominantly in the 70s and 80s, but also enjoys travelling and still has a few countries on his list to visit.

While Maren has worn a number of hats in the health sector including research, government advisory and management roles, her passion is for the New Zealand outdoors and for grappling.

Maren has 15 years' experience in martial arts and teaches womens' Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self-defence in Wellington. When she is not on the mats she is escaping the city to explore the wilderness with her husband Glenn and their two little boys.  

Stephen has experience working with a range of organisations, from small owner-operators (the backbone of New Zealand businesses) through to large national entities. He has a hands on understanding of the needs and challenges facing small non-profit organisations, and how to support their growth through investment into workplace based education and standards.

As a past chair of the Skills Active Exercise Advisory Group, Stephen has a clear understanding of the value and importance of workplace-based training, and the ability to drive, promote an encourage its growth. 

Stephen is also a director of the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPs) which is actively driving the international development of standards for exercise professionals. With the growing pressures on health budgets globally due to health conditions such as obesity, mental health, type 2 diabetes, and an ageing population, Stephen's ICREPs directorship role is important to ensure that the exercise industry worldwide has robust qualifications, and recognition, to offer effective solutions to these burdening health challenges.

Andrew brings his strong business experience and strategic planning skills to the governance group.  Andrew was a past director on the Industry Training Federation board (the peak body for ITOs) and is the learning and development manager for Financial Advice New Zealand Inc.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in accounting and economics, and a Master of Business Administration from Canterbury University.  

Wanda received her National Certificate in Exercise in 1994 and has been in the fitness industry ever since. She is a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals and has continued her education and upskilling.

Wanda completed numerous certificates with Skills Active before starting in her current role, and is now enjoying being part of the team that helped with her fitness career. 

He has a software analysis and development background and currently builds and maintains many of our back-end and front-end systems.

He is passionate about improving useability of our services, and providing clients with what they need to get their own jobs done with the minimum of fuss.

When he's not at work, Wez mostly spends time with his family, but when rare opportunity presents he can be found playing an instrument, or reading and writing science-fiction.

An alumnus of the IIML, Te Papa Tupu, the Prime Minister’s Scholarship programme, and Toi Tipu Toi Rea, Callum denies any allegations that he may be a workaholic. In his free time, he’s usually freelancing as an audiobook producer, on a photography mission, or working on his latest writing project.  

As a director of Community Leisure Management (CLM), board member of Recreation Aotearoa and trustee of Community Leisure Charitable Trust, a delivery partner of Aktive’s in the Counties Manukau region and AROORA programming in Te Tai Tokerau, Kirsty is directly involved in business development, governance and strategic planning. Furthermore, Kirsty has a strong skill set specialising in operations, health and safety, human resources, aquatics and facility management.  

In her spare time Kirsty can still be seen running around the netball court and coaching her daughter's netball team.

Craig is passionate about purposeful work that positively impact people's lives, and believes in building collaborative, results-driven, enjoyable work cultures.

He has a history in endurance sport, completing Ironman NZ, and representing New Zealand in his age group at the World Champs for triathlon. When not at work, he'll probably be on the trails. 

My name is Harataki Kahungunu Manihera and I’ve been given the amazing opportunity as the new kaihautū.

I was born and raised in a marae settlement called Bridge Pa, a small community just outside of Hastings.

I was raised in a big whānau of 14 and though we didn’t have much financially or materially we were nurtured and loved by our mum to appreciate life regardless of what hand we had been dealt.

Having left school at the tender age of 14 because of a particular mathematics teacher having a view and expressing it to me that I was a dumb fella, I rushed home and told dad. He looked at me and said, “You’ll be out working with us then in the shearing shed.” I relished this opportunity and then funnily enough at the age of 30, I started my educational journey, eventually completing formal studies at Palmerston North Teacher Training College.

After a four-year stint in the classroom, I left and worked for the Ministry of Education for 18 years in Special Education in severe and challenging behaviour, as a specialist in behaviour and then into a manager role. I then left and worked for four years at the Ministry for Primary Industries in the Customary Fisheries Team working alongside iwi and hapū with their Te Tiriti of Waitangi settlements specific to customary fisheries. And in 2022, I joined Skills Active Te Mahi Ako as their kaihautū.

I am married to my amazing wife of 43 years with five children and 10 mokopuna in tow ????

No reira rau rangatira ma, ko tēnei taku whakapapa.

Huri noa, huri noa

Tēnā koutou, tena koutou, tēnā tātau katoa.

Julie is from the UK and has two daughters. She loves spending time with her family, just hanging out and having fun. Julie loves to help people.

To relax Jessica enjoys reading a good book, developing her succulent garden, and spending time with family.

He has a Master of Business Administration with distinction from the University of Waikato.  Sam is involved with the Treaty settlement process for the country’s largest iwi, Ngāpuhi, and has extensive experience in working with Māori and non-Māori organisations alike. 

Sam currently works in local government, a sector with which he has been associated for more than 25 years.  His local government experience includes an overseas appointment as a council CEO in Australia’s Northern Territory.  Sam was elected to Skills Active’s Board in May 2007.  Sam has been involved with Skills Active since the incorporation of Sfrito.

Jordan has a background within corporate services, wellbeing, health and safety, and event management. He has media experience through radio, podcasting and broadcasting in the National Basketball League via streaming and Māori television. 

Originally from Wellington, Phil moved to the UK at a young age and after 20 years, decided to travel back to New Zealand. After settling back home, he joined the Skills Active team as the IT guy, supporting everything from the printer to the coffee machine.

Hinemaua has extensive networks and experience working with corporate, government agencies, Iwi and Māori organisations including Treaty Settlement entities across primary and commercial sectors.

She is a certified practitioner for coaching and mentoring, and a specialist coach and advisor to senior executives in cultural development. 

When she's not at work, she enjoys baking with her boys, and going to fight classes.

Outside of work Lance loves to play tennis and football. He enjoys catching up with friends, chatting with his two boys who now live in Australia, travelling, and photography.

In 2020, Covid ruined plans to travel to Germany for a wedding, and then onto Egypt and Petra. Now that the borders are open...