Chelsea is a respected wāhine Māori leader in education, kaupapa Māori research and governance. She holds a PhD in Education from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and is the founder of an indigenous research and evaluation company dedicated to advancing Māori aspirations.
Chelsea brings deep governance expertise, currently serving on the boards of High Performance Sport NZ, Taumata - Ihi Aotearoa Sport NZ, Tātai Aho Rau - CORE Education, International Funders For Indigenous Peoples; as Chair of the JR McKenzie Trust, Deputy Chair of Ngāitai Iwi Authority and Iti Kōpara Public Governance Aotearoa.
She is a member of the Institute of Directors and a former Chair of the Hato Pāora College Board of Trustees. In 2019, she was recognised with a Women in Governance award and served as a Future Director on the Sport NZ Board.
Proud māmā to Kahuroa and Mihi-Terina, and wife to Timoti, Chelsea has transitioned from triathlon and trail running to crossfit, yoga and netball coach of the PIC ‘aunties’. Her mahi is grounded in whakapapa, whanaungatanga and creating spaces where Māori thrive.