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Hei Āhuru Mōwai is delighted to announce the appointment of Annamarie as our new Tumuaki, CEO, effective 3 November 2025. This marks an exciting chapter for our organisation as we continue our mission to improve cancer outcomes for Māori and advocate for equity across Aotearoa. brings over 25 years of leadership experience across the health, education, and social sectors. She has a proven ability to lead kaupapa Māori organisations, influence national policy, and deliver system-level change that advances equity and improves outcomes for whānau Her career reflects deep skill and integrity working at the interface of government, iwi, hāpori Māori and community, building trusted relationships and delivering tangible results: Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority): As Interim GM, Workforce, Annamarie co-chaired the National Workforce Taskforce and successfully commissioned a $126m national workforce programme, embedding equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations at the core.Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC): She led the development of Te Mauri o Rongo – The New Zealand Health Charter through a complex codesign process with 200+ stakeholders, achieving Ministerial approval and sectorwide endorsement.Operational excellence: Deep expertise in governance support, commissioning, policy development, and financial stewardship including management of significant multiyear budgets, oversight of complex programme delivery, and leadership of highperforming teams across both large systems and niche, kaupapadriven organisations.Kaupapa Māori in action: A steadfast focus on enabling whānau voice, mātauranga Māori and tikanga in strategy and operations. ensuring policy, investment, and service design reflect the lived realities and aspirations of our Annamarie’s vision aligns strongly with Hei Āhuru Mōwai’s: Ko te matepukupuku ki te pō, ko ngā whānau Māori ki Te Wheiao, ki Te Ao Our co-chairs, Jacquie Kidd and Nina Scott, shared their reflections on the appointment: were deeply impressed by Anna-marie’s strategic vision, insightful analysis, and genuine enthusiasm for our organisation. Her extensive skills, networks and experience, combined with a strong passion for improving outcomes for whānau, made her the obvious choice to lead us Ka whati te tai ka pao te tōrea – when the tide recedes, the oystercatcher strikes. After a thorough search, there was only one clear choice, and we seized the opportunity.” As Tumuaki, Anna-marie will bring strategic foresight, authenticity, and collaborative leadership to strengthen relationships with whānau and cancer survivors, Te Aho o Te Kahu, Te Whatu Ora, and the wider cancer sector ensuring Hei Āhuru Mōwai remains a trusted, highvalue partner and leading voice for whānau Nau mai, haere mai ki te whānau o Hei Āhuru Mōwai, Annamarie. He tino hōnore mō mātou ki te whai i a koe hei Tumuaki hou. Ka nui te mihi mō tō kaha, tō māia, me tō ngākau pono ki te kaupapa. Kei konei mātou ki te tautoko i a koe i tēnei wāhanga hou o te © Scoop Media
