Kaupapa
The three Trustees bring a varied skill base with strong organisational and business acumen garnered from lived experience in (particularly) the education sector.
Jenny, Lynette and Kiri aim to walk alongside organisations and groups to support them to be the best they can be and show strong evidence of the impact they are having in their respective communities.
Kiri Solomon
Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa (Ngāti Rangi), Ngāti Porou (Te Whānau o Tuwhakairiora)
Kiri has a PhD in Education from the University of Canterbury specialising in Emotional Literacy using a Kaupapa Māori lens (including utilising elements of te maramataka).
Prior to embarking on her doctoral study, she was a Co-owner of Solomon Group – a whānau established and highly successful Māori Private Training Establishment (PTE). Solomon Group is a kaupapa Māori organisation and during Kiri’s tenure was fully Government funded to support communities in South and East Auckland, and Northland. The organisation had a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples and rangatahi and held long-standing contracts with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry for Pacific Peoples and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
Kiri has also had extensive overseas experience in both Sydney and London having previously held roles in both the finance and public sectors. Alongside her work with Te Ahunganui: Te Apounga Trust, she currently works in the health sector.
Kiri asserts a strengths-based approach in all her mahi. Her way of working is to walk alongside people, groups and organisations in ways which recognise that they are the experts in their own lives, experiences and kaupapa.
Ko Nick te hoa tane o Kiri. Tokorua ā rāua tamāhine ātaahua.
Jenny Solomon
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa
Jenny’s early career focused on corporate learning and development culminating in her managing Westpac Australia’s Registered Training Organisation (RTO). On her return to Aotearoa, she co-owned the highly successful Māori Private Training Establishment – Solomon Group. This kaupapa Māori organisation was fully Government funded to support the South and East Auckland communities and Northland with particular focus on Māori, Pasifika and rangatahi. Solomon Group held long-standing contracts with TEC, MSD and MOE including as the largest provider of the Youth Transition Service and delivering successful Work Placement and Literacy programmes.
Since 2018, Jenny has moved into governance and consulting roles. Through these Jenny helps organisations to develop in areas such as people strategies, learning and development, governance, strategy, innovation, and cultural competence. She is passionate about achieving social outcomes and equality in Aotearoa and currently serves as a Trustee on several Boards that focus on these kaupapa. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and holds an EMBA with Honours (Massey University). Jenny is also married to Shane (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Pikiao) and is a proud mum to Lance and Lara.
Lynette Donohoe
Nga Puhi, Te Kapotai
Lynette brings a strong background in senior management across the public service (Adult Education, Social Development & Health), private, and community sectors.
Her strengths lie in developing strategic relationships and partnerships, focusing on collaboration with shared goals.
Lynette has a pragmatic approach to innovation and has successfully designed and implemented initiatives that have delivered lasting outcomes.
She is an enabler who thrives on assisting others to succeed, whether that’s organisations, individuals, or communities.
With a desire for Aotearoa communities to be better off she enjoys working in spaces where this desire can be realised.
Married to Graeme, Lynette has 4 adult children and 6 mokopuna.