WISE - Key Persons
Craig Fisher is a Consultant specialising in governance and financial matters and is a professional director. Formerly an audit partner working across government, commercial, and non-profit sectors providing external audit, assurance, risk management and governance advice to a diverse range of organisations.
He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, chartered member of the Institute of Directors, and holds governance roles in various organisations including charitable trusts, a professional association, a Maori Trust, and an Independent Crown Entity.
Denise Kingi-‘Ulu'ave Chief Executive - Le Va Denise has over 20 years' experience in leadership experience in senior management roles. As a clinical psychologist, Denise has worked in New Zealand prisons, Māori mental health and Australian mental health services. Denise's experience includes DHB funder and planner roles, building a Pacific maternal mental health service in Palmerston North from the ground up. She currently chairs Pasifikology, our national network of Pasifika psychologists and serves on New Zealand's Suicide Mortality Review Committee. Of Tongan descent from the village of Kolofo'ou, Denise has a passion to grow and support people. Having been a senior leader at Le Va for the past eight years and led the design of two national suicide prevention programmes, Denise has a comprehensive understanding of combining clinical-based best practice with cultural wisdom and deep community connections.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Business Advisor and Professional Director
Dr Mike Pratt is a business advisor and professional director. He holds a doctorate in Finance and is a chartered accountant.
He is a Senior Lead Reviewer for the State Services Commission's Performance Improvement Framework.
His company Sustainable Enterprise Ltd provides peak performance development services to companies, NGOs and government agencies. From 1990 to 2007 Mike was Dean of the University of Waikato Management School. Mike has published extensively in academic journals and the business press, and is known for his "Peak Performance" books and workshops.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive, LinkPeople
Fiona has almost 20 years' experience in research, programme management and leadership across a range of sectors including the Waitangi Tribunal claim process, mental health workforce development and Housing First.
Fiona spent two years as programme lead at Housing First Auckland before becoming LinkPeople's acting chief executive in October 2019. Fiona led and fronted the first Auckland-wide Point-in-Time count, Ira Mata, Ira Tangata, and led the development of the governing group for the Auckland collective working with mana whenua, local government and Ministries and departments such as Housing, Social Development, Health and Justice.
Hayden has recently been appointed as Chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. This appointment follows his most recent role as Chairman of the TSB Community Trust where, under his leadership, the trust focused and made huge investments in youth, families and Māori communities. Hayden is also a former director of TSB Bank.
Hayden, who is an Alumni of Columbia (USA) and Massey Universities, has also previously chaired both the National Health Board and Taranaki District Health Board and was recently elected to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce as a director. Notably, he is also the chair of his marae at Parihaka.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Trustee
- Joint Chief Executive
Jacqui Bennion is executive trustee on the Wise Trust Board.
Jacqui describes herself as a social entrepreneur who is part of a growing number of entrepreneurs who choose to direct their life's work to social good.
Jacqui has a nursing background, holds a Master of Business Administration and has been involved in the development of multiple organisations throughout New Zealand.
As co-founder and previous joint chief executive of the Wise Group, Jacqui now holds various governance roles throughout the group.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive - Wild Bamboo
Jo has been with the Wise Group since 2007. He was part of the founding team behind the establishment of Wild Bamboo and has worked in multiple lead roles, guiding the organisation as it developed, harnessing the fast-paced technology environment to make a difference for social sector organisations and the people they support.
Jo is passionate about how technology can be used to empower insights and drive positive change for people. For him, it's exciting to see what happens when people work together. He believes collaboration for a common goal can create amazing outcomes.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chair
- Joint Chief Executive
Julie Nelson is the executive chair of the Wise Trust.
Julie has vast knowledge and experience in the areas of governance, infrastructure services, leading complex services and development of community-based solutions.
Julie is a strong advocate for quality housing and effective wrap-around support services for our most vulnerable people. She is proud of the pioneering role she has played in bringing Housing First to New Zealand.
As co-founder and previous joint chief executive of the Wise Group, Julie now holds various governance roles throughout the group.
Nick joined the Wise Group in 2014 and was appointed chief operating officer in 2024. He has a delivery and quality focus and works with talented teams of experts who provide a range of support services to the Group.
Nick loves connecting people and their ideas with meaningful solutions and believes that together we can explore new ways of creating fresh possibilities for our people, and the people we work with.
Nick has more than 20 years' experience in a variety of roles in the IT industry and social sector, and brings a unique mix of commercial and technology skills to the group.
Pōhau Ellison is the Kaumātua of the Wise Group, a position left vacant by the passing of the late Tepene Karaka.
Pōhau is of Taranaki, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa and Tainui descent, and hails from Whāingaroa/Raglan. His role as a cultural advisor and kaumātua for a number of organisations is one he has carried for many years within his Whāingaroa community, since being shoulder tapped by his elders at a relatively young age.
With his father and a grandfather being Māori GPs, Pōhau has held a lifelong interest in health and wellbeing in all forms - holistically and spiritually. His background combines both health and education, and he is a graduate of the Māori Studies Department at the University of Waikato.
A former trustee for the Te Toiora PHO, Pōhau continues to hold trustee positions for various groups and land blocks throughout the country.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive, Te Pou and Blueprint for Learning
Rae comes to Te Pou with a wealth of experience in senior leadership, change management and working with diverse stakeholder groups nationally and internationally. She understands the importance of evidence-based health care and decision making, and her professional, ethical approach is underpinned by compassion and a drive to make a significant contribution to systems change in health and social services.
Rae was a Harkness Fellow in Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health and Institute for Healthcare Improvements in the United States. She is currently a trustee on the governing board of the internationally distinguished Cochrane.org. She is also deputy chair of the Health Quality and Safety Commission Board.
A former New Zealand Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner for five years, Rae has recently moved home to New Zealand from Australia, where she was Aged Care and Aged Care Complaints Commissioner since 2010, appointed by the Australian government.
Richie Poulton is remembered as a treasured friend and inspirational leader at the Wise Group, where he was a trustee on the Wise Trust board from 2015 and member of the Te Pou board since 2007.
Richie brought a brilliant focus on using evidence, research and data to his governance work, alongside a lifelong dedication to caring for people. He was a generous mentor to many people throughout the group, willingly sharing his knowledge and connections.
Richie was director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, leading the world-renowned Dunedin longitudinal study since 2000. His immense contribution to one of the most detailed studies of human health and development ever undertaken had a significant impact in science, society and policy making on a national and international scale.
We are tremendously grateful for Richie's tireless dedication and incredible contribution to the Wise Group, and the world we live in. He will be missed and remembered always.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive - Pathways and Real
Sally has more than 18 years' experience in leadership and management roles across the mental health and social services sectors.
After training and working as an occupational therapist in New Zealand, Sally spent five years working as an occupational therapist in the UK. Returning to New Zealand in 1996, Sally went on to work in a number of leadership roles in Capital and Coast DHB and the Wise Group, including chief executive of Blueprint for Learning.
After a period of contracting and taking some family time, Sally re-joined the Wise Group as chief executive of Pathways, the largest entity within the group.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Co - Chair of the Cancer Agency
Previously CEO of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society, Shelley has held roles as chief executive at Sir Peter Blake Trust and Waikato Primary Health.
Shelley's extensive background in the health sector saw her become a member of the New Zealand Health and Disability System Review Panel 2019-2020. She oversaw the Better Sooner More Convenient health business cases for the Minister of Health's reforms in Auckland.
Shelley is the co-chair of the Cancer Agency (Te Aho o Te Kahu) and chaired the Minister's National Bowel Cancer Screening Taskforce. A member of the New Zealand Order of Merit - health and disability, she is also an Honorary Captain of the Royal New Zealand Navy. In 2007 Shelley was awarded a Sir Peter Blake emerging leader award.
A strong advocate for reducing health inequities, Shelley believes the most effective health systems are those that invest in and develop community and primary health care services and supports.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- CEO of AgResearch
Sue is CEO of AgResearch, one of the Government's seven Crown Research Institutes. Her past positions include seven years as CEO at Dunedin City Council, and time across central government, private sector and not-for-profit agencies.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of Workwise
Warren is chief executive of Workwise. He has spent over 20 years designing and leading employment services and is regularly called upon to share his knowledge and expertise.
Warren has a social work background and describes himself as an agent for positive change. He enjoys taking a creative approach to making a difference within the sector.