Our People
Huia O’Sullivan | Executive director
Ngā Rangatahi Toa’s executive director, Huia O’Sullivan (Te Atiawa ki Taranaki), has deep experience in youth development programmes and the issues and challenges that young people face in seizing educational and career opportunities. She has worked with Ngā Rangatahi Toa since 2016, first as Director of Engagement before becoming Executive Director in 2018.
Huia believes in working alongside young people and in the power of programmes grounded in Te Aō Māori to teach wellbeing and coping strategies. She has worked in positive youth development for over 22 years in wide and varied roles dedicated to a single purpose: to serve and advocate for young people while facilitating the process of them finding their own voices.
She has worked at the Families Commission, co-designing with community the document “Thriving in Practice” which is the current theory of change that is embedded in Ngā Rangatahi Toa’s work. When Huia’s not leading youth wānanga, creating or writing funding proposals, you’ll find her on her longboard skating, snowboarding or travelling.
ARTISTIC ADVISORS
Laughton Kora is the lead singer of the international band Kora, and musical director for Grease and Amadeus. He is a Theatre director and singer /songwriter. He has been an artist mentor at NRT since 2017.
Chris Graham’s acting career spans a number of decades and also works within the education system enabling young people as a resource teacher learning and behaviour (RTLB). He has been apart of our creative artist Manawa Ora for the 2018 season and contributed to the further development of artists, peer support and rangatahi to get them show ready for the sell-out Basement Theatre season of Manawa Ora 2018. & 2019
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carey Tasker (Ngāti Whakaue) is the chairman of the board of Ngā Rangatahi Toa. He is a chartered accountant currently working as a Principal Commercial Advisor at Auckland Council.
Shelby Roberts Ko Ngapuhi taku iwi, Ko Ngati kura taku hapu.
Shelby is a values-based decision-maker with experience in navigating both private and public sector organisations. She shares her home with her husband, their four tamariki, her mama Jennifer and kuri (dog) named Ramona.
Ingrid Gordon is a mother of three, chief runabout, passionate sideline supporter and business owner. Her interests are in health and wellbeing, sports and fitness, combined with a passion for supporting youth with their dreams, however that looks for them.
Valance Smith is of Māori (Ngāti Mahuta, Te Parawhau, Te Uriroroi, Te Mahureure ki Whatitiri), English and Chinese descent. As Kaihautū Tiriti – Tiriti Strategist for AUT, Valance provides strategic leadership to the Vice Chancellors Office, as well as academic and cultural leadership across the university. His current research includes mātauranga Māori solutions for Kauri Dieback, and maramataka and its connection to physical activity.
Jeremy Hansen is a communications professional and former journalist. He encountered the work of Ngā Rangatahi Toa during his time editing Paperboy magazine, a free Auckland weekly, and now works for the Britomart Group on arts and culture projects in the downtown Auckland precinct.