New appointment

WELLINGTON, 3 June 2022 – UNICEF Aotearoa has announced the appointment of Teresa Tepania-Ashton as the organisation’s new Director of Advocacy and Programmes. Teresa was welcomed by the UNICEF team in Wellington on Thursday at a pōwhiri.

As the Director Advocacy and Programmes, Teresa will provide strategic leadership and management of all public facing advocacy campaigns and activities to create the right impact, reach audiences with messages on child rights, and mobilise activists to create positive change for children in Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.

“Teresa is an outstanding leader and innovator and we feel very privileged to have her join our team,” said UNICEF Chief Executive Officer Michelle Sharp. “I know that Teresa will have a huge impact on our mahi and will take our relationships with child rights stakeholders and partners to a new level.”

Teresa joins UNICEF after more than a decade as Chief Executive Officer of Māori Women’s Development Incorporated, and prior to this as CEO of Te Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi. Additionally she worked internationally with Citibank. She is a well-respected changemaker, troubleshooter and team builder.

“Teresa is committed to seeing the principles of partnership, participation and protection embedded and realised in our work. The impact that she has made for wāhine Māori and their whānau is truly inspiring, and we are thrilled to welcome her today to UNICEF Aotearoa,” said Sharp.