Due to recent and ongoing funding changes by Whaikaha, some statements on this site may currently be out of date. Our team can clarify any queries.

Our board members

Bill English

Bill English

Chair

Bill has a long-standing interest in bettering social policy and changing lives. After a time as Finance Minister and Prime Minister of New Zealand, he left politics in 2017. After leaving politics, he set up his own business supporting companies and NGOs to be better at what they do. He also consults on Social Investment in both Australia and the US.

Bill and his family see Manawanui as an opportunity to use the best tools and technology to expand and deepen the experience of self-direction which has changed the lives of so many people.

Bill English

Wilmason Jensen

Director

Wilmason is Deputy Chief Executive at Pasifika Futures, a Whanau Ora commissioning agency supporting Pasifika families in health, housing, education and economic development. His passion for driving equitable health and wellbeing outcomes is evidenced in his long career in healthcare, including time at Procare, as well as time spent as a Senior Adviser for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. 

Wilmason was appointed to the Manawanui Board in May 2022, he brings strong insights into the needs of Pasifika disabled, as well as working with government agencies.

Diana

Diana Puketapu

Director

Diana is a Director for Manawanui and was Chair of the Board from 2017-19.

She is a Company Director and Chartered Accountant who has held a number of Chief Financial Officer roles in New Zealand and abroad both in professional sporting organisations and also in iwi business.

Luke

Luke English

Director

A Graduate of Law and Arts from Otago University, Luke is the Research Lead at Impact Lab, a data analytics and research firm specialising in measuring and valuing the social impact of charities, social enterprises and companies. Luke has been a director of Manawanui since May 2019.

Karen

Karen Beard-Greer

Director

Karen joined the Manawanui Board in 2011 as a Director from The Independent Living Service. She was previously Chair of the Manawanui Board. She is also the past President and is a current Board Member of the New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres’ Executive. Additionally, Karen is a member of the Institute of Directors.

She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Living Service Charitable Trust. She brings a well-rounded range of governance and senior management skills from both the private and also the not-for-profit sector.