Kerensa is the Chief Executive of Wakatū Incorporation, a hapū-owned organisation based in Whakatū (Nelson), which owns Kono NZ LP, an export food and beverage business; AuOra, focused on science and nutrition and Whenua, its land and property business. Committed to its 500 year intergenerational plan, Te Pae Tawhiti, Wakatū has an active social and cultural development arm which is committed to building whānau capability and innovation as well as achieving the Te Tau Ihu intergenerational strategy for the region, which includes constitutional reform.

Professor Pare Keiha (QSO, MSc, PhD, MBA, MComLaw, FRSA, MInstD, MRSNZ) Te Whānau-a-Taupara o T’Aitanga-a-Māhaki, and Rongowhakaata.  is the Pro Vice Chancellor for Māori Advancement, Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Society and Tumuaki of Te Ara Poutama, the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Development, at the Auckland University of Technology.

Associate Professor Amokura Kawharu holds a BA/LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Auckland and an LLM with a major in international law from the University of Cambridge. She has worked as a practising lawyer and as an academic and is currently President of the New Zealand Law Commission.”

Scotty is well-known presenter of Māori current affairs programmes Te Karere and Marae Investigates. He holds a Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor of Education and Masters degree (Education) from the University of Waikato, is currently working towards his PhD at Massey University and was recently appointed as Associate Professor Massey University.

Dr Jane Kitson is an ecologist and environmental scientist with a background in traditional ecological knowledge research. Currently, Dr Kitson works in a consultancy capacity undertaking environmental research, science, and project management. Previously, Dr Kitson worked at Te Ao Mārama Incorporated in Invercargill (2012 -2013), which is a resource management agency set up by Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku to look after resource management and other aspects related to local government in Southland.

Professor Jim Metson graduated with PhD in Chemistry from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 1980, before taking up a position at Surface Science Western, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

He then moved to the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he has held several positions including a term as Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research). 

Professor Rawinia Higgins was appointed Te Tumu Ahurei (Māori) / Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) of Victoria University of Wellington in 2016.  She was previously Victoria’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori Research and Head of School for Te Kawa a Māui / School of Māori Studies and went to Victoria as a senior lecturer in 2009 after holding academic positions at the University of Otago for 12 years. Her research expertise is Māori language revitalisation and, more specifically, language planning and policy.