Meet our governing board
UNICEF Aotearoa New Zealand was incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 on 2 July 1974. It is one of 33 UNICEF National Committees around the world. Each National Committee operates under a formal Cooperation Agreement and individually agreed Joint Strategic Plan with UNICEF. Both the Cooperation Agreement and Joint Strategic Plan recognise and accommodate the legal status and independence of National Committees.
The UNICEF Aotearoa Board of Trustees is responsible for monitoring and maximising the performance of UNICEF Aotearoa. It governs according to the UNICEF Aotearoa Trust Deed.
Simon Wi Rutene
Chair
Simon Wi Rutene is an accomplished and decorated international athlete, company director, trustee, publisher and an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Simon brings a breadth of academic training and various professional roles, combined with over 40-years’ experience, as an elite sportsman and governor. He is a four time Olympian and flagbearer for NZ at the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympic Games.
He is an active governor and a certified Master Expert governance practitioner. He currently holds roles as a trustee on various National and International Sports Bodies and NFPs. His qualifications include degrees in Law and Commerce as well as a Post Graduate Certificate (Level 12) in Career Counselling Psychology for Elite Performers (Sport, Music, and Dance).
Nick Wells
Deputy Chair
Nick is currently the Chair of Ngāpuhi Asset Holding Company Limited, Independent Establishment Chair of Māui Toa GP Limited (a fund being established by and for Māori in venture capital), and Chair of the Nominating Committee for the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation.
Previously Nick was both the Chief Executive Partner of the law firm Chapman Tripp and head of Te Waka Ture, their Māori legal group, which he established in 2009. He was also the independent expert to the Commerce Select Committee in relation to New Zealand’s Limited Partnership regime.
In addition to his legal practice Nick taught at the University of Auckland Law School becoming an Adjunct Professor and responsible for the iwi governance courses at undergraduate and masters’ levels.
Anita Killeen
Trustee
A Barrister at Quay Chambers specialising in financial crime and fraud, civil and criminal litigation, and governance and decision-making. Anita has decision-making experience at board, executive and statutory levels.
Anita is the former Chief Prosecutor of the Serious Fraud Office New Zealand and holds a variety of governance roles in the legal, financial, local government, education, health and not for profit sectors including having served as a Visiting Justice, a member of the New Zealand Legal Aid Tribunal, a member of Engineering New Zealand’s Disciplinary Tribunal, an Adjudication Panel Member for the Commission for Financial Capability, as Chair of the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, Chair and National President of Fertility New Zealand, and as a Director of the SPCA Auckland, the Ex-Vietnam Service Association (Neville Wallace Memorial) Children's & Grandchildren's Trust, and New Zealand Career College.
Anita established and is the Chair of the Pro-Bono Panel of Prosecutors for the SPCA Auckland. In October 2012 she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee SPCA Volunteer Medal from the Governor General in recognition of the meritorious volunteer services she has provided to the SPCA and to the animals of New Zealand.
Heather Hayden
Trustee
Heather Hayden is an experienced leader and advocate for children’s rights and well-being, having had a career in both executive leadership and governance within the not-for-profit sector.
She has served as Chair of Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ and deputy Chair of the Council for International Development. Her chief executive roles include Parents Centre Aotearoa, Save the Children NZ and Refugee Services Aotearoa. She is currently serving on the Amnesty International global Nominations Committee and is President of Hearing Wellington.
Her governance work reflects a deep commitment to addressing issues of poverty, inequality and justice at a local and international al level. Heather also has a background in the commercial and government sector and brings business acumen to these roles.
Paul Mersi
Trustee
Paul is an independent director and advisor. He is Deputy Chair/Trustee of Chamber Music NZ, a Trustee of the CMNZ Foundation, and is a member of the Financial Advice Code Committee.
His past governance roles include MMC, Ngāi Tahu’s Whai Rawa Fund, Brook Asset Management, and Grow Wellington. Paul was a Senior Partner of PwC NZ and head of its NZ Financial Services practice.
Paul has a degree in Economics from Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, has undertaken INSEAD's Advanced Management Programme, and was a founder Chartered Member of The Institute of Directors NZ.
Tim Sutton
Trustee
Tim Sutton brings more than 30 years of international development experience to his new role as a UNICEF Aotearoa Trustee. This includes 25 years working for UNICEF in the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific including as UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in the Pacific and China and as UNICEF’s Representative to Sri Lanka.
Since returning to New Zealand in 2022 Tim has become actively involved with Local Government, Sports Club Administration and has continued to be involved with the International Development Sector.
Makerita Poutasi
Trustee
Makerita brings a wealth of experience from across the public sector, particularly in enhancing health outcomes for Pasifika communities.
She currently serves on the Executive Leadership Team at Te Whatu Ora as National Director Pacific Health. A trained lawyer, Makerita has also held governance roles with the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, Fair Trade Australia & NZ, and Careers NZ.
Makerita is of Samoan descent and brings deep cultural competency and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for underserved communities. As a mother of two, she is passionate about supporting children and families to thrive.
Jo Fair
Trustee
Jo brings deep human resources experience, together with a global perspective, with over 25 years living and working across multiple regions including New Zealand and Australia, Europe, Latin America and South-East Asia.
She holds a Master’s Degree in International Conflict & Terrorism Studies, a Law degree, and a BA in Spanish and French, as well as being a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and having completed Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Te Ara Reo to level 4 . Jo is currently completing a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law, where she is focused on international peace & security, and indigenous rights.
In addition to her UNICEF Trusteeship, Jo is the Chief of People & Culture for Southern Cross Healthcare, holds a number of Directorships across the HR Technology, Health and Education sectors, and has previously served as an Independent on the New Zealand Army Leadership Board, and on the HR Advisory Board for the New Zealand Parliamentary Service.
Rebecca Kiddle
Trustee
Dr Rebecca Kiddle is Ngāti Porou and Ngāpuhi and is Director of Te Manawahoukura, Centre of Rangahau (research) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
With a background in urban design and urbanism, her work focuses on issues of spatial justice, the politics and practice of urban Māori placemaking and ensuring rangatahi and tamariki have voice in city decision-making processes.
She holds a Tāwhia te Mana Fellowship with the Te Apārangi, Royal Society of New Zealand focused on spatial justice in Aotearoa and is the co-author of the award-winning, best selling book, Imagining Decolonisation (BWB, 2020).
Ian Olan
Trustee
Ian has more than 25 years of professional experience, and has held Executive positions in New Zealand and abroad. After completing his accounting degree (Pg Dip Auditing) and his MBA, Ian later specialised in venture finance and business sustainability management with Oxbridge.
A Fellow member and registered mentor of CPA Australia, a mentor of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ) and a Chartered Member of Institute of Directors NZ.
Ian is Board member and Chair of Audit and Risk committees for Athletics New Zealand, Family Planning New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby League, PGDB and Aktive.
Carmen Vicelich
Co-opted Board Member
An entrepreneurial powerhouse with over 20 years’ experience developing innovative solutions using technology and data to create value.
Carmen is the founder of Valocity, a global data, analytics and technology platform transforming property decisioning processes. She is also the founder of Data Insight and GenerateZero, helping businesses harness data and AI for smarter, sustainable decision-making.
Outside of work Carmen mentors several students and business founders and is a regular global speaker sharing her story of innovation.