Meet the Executives

Chair

Rachel Afeaki - Taumoepeau M.Com

FaceNorth Promotions Ltd
e. rachel.afeaki@facenorth.co.nz

Rachel offers authentic Pacific governance underpinned by the values of integrity, goodwill and excellence who can strategically influence and encourage diverse thinking to ‘bridge build’ for the purpose of social-economic prosperity for communities, businesses and government for global impact.

Rachel is the founding Chair in 2010 and has served as an executive for the past 3 years. Re-elected as Chair in 2019, she is an experienced strategic and business director overseeing key relationships across the Pacific region and internationally in the both public and private sector in the various governing roles she holds. Her broad commercial experience includes numerous projects between New Zealand and the Pacific region concerning trade and investment promotion and facilitation, international research expeditions, public relations, government and NGO advisory through her company FaceNorth Promotions Ltd. Rachel is heavily engaged across the business, church and community sectors of NZ and internationally. Rachel has travelled extensively throughout the Pacific region to include business missions led by the NZ government in the Pacific and Melanesia regions.

Currently a board member for the Pacific Business Trust, Pacific Trade Invest NZ, Habitat for Humanity NZ (Independent Director), Bowel Cancer NZ, Ember Wellbeing Trust and most recently Vitae. She currently Chairs the Waikato Pacific Business Network and is an executive member for the Waikato NZ Institute of Directors. Rachel has 20+ years management experience in the IT, business, NFPs/Community groups sectors.

Vice Chair NZTBC

Shazad Ibnul: Head – Pacific Islands Development

Vector Powersmart
e. Shazad@powersmartsolar.com

Shazad hails from Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

He has worked in the water & sanitation and renewable energy sectors for over 16 years and has a deep understanding of the issues Pacific Island countries are facing. He has led and managed multi-disciplined teams for the successful delivery of multi-million dollar projects within the renewable energy, mining, oil & gas, water and wastewater sectors in the Pacific Islands.

He has robust multi-tiered relationship networks within the region, particularly Tonga, Samoa, New Caledonia, PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands. 

Shazad speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, Pidgin English, Tokpisin, Bislama and Fijian Hindi.

Formal qualifications:

• Post Grad. Master of Business Administration (MBA – Post Grad.)
• New Zealand Certificate in Engineering – Mechanical (NZCE – Mech)

Treasurer NZTBC

Sam Tangitau, CA, BComm(Hons)

Grant Thornton
e. stangitau@hotmail.com

Sam is a Chartered Accountant and has over 15 years extensive experience working with a wide range of clients from high net worth individuals and privately owned business to multinational companies to address accounting and tax related issues. Sam started and spent much of his career working in a Big 4 global accounting firm, before moving onto commercial roles.

Board Member

Ian Furlong

Pacific Trade & Invest
e. Ian.F@pacifictradeinvest.co.nz

Board Member

Angela Hare

Auckland Council
e. angela.hare@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Board Member

Sefita Hao’uli

Consultant
e. sefita.haouli@gmail.com

Sefita Hao'uli is a former broadcaster and journalist who has worked and lived in New Zealand for over 50 years. He consults in communications and provides advice on media strategies for organisations operating in the Tongan and Pacific markets in New Zealand and in the region. He also has governance and advisory experience in central and local government in New Zealand as well as the health and education sector in Auckland. He is on contract to the Tongan government and for the last 12 years he's managing relationships between the 2000 seasonal workers from Tonga who are employed at 40 jobsites throughout New Zealand under the RSE scheme. He has been a member of the NZTBC executive for 7 years.

Board Member

Bhaskar Sharma

Alrite Steel & Services NZ Limited
e. bs@alrite.co.nz
w. www.alrite.co.nz

Bhaskar Sharma was exposed to International Business and trading over 25 years ago while employed as Sales Manager, Pacific for Fletcher Challenge Steel International Limited and later with a private export trading company in Auckland, NZ.

Bhaskar established his company some 14 years ago and with his engineering background and experience has given Alrite Steel a competitive edge as a supplier of Steel Products into New Zealand and Pacific Islands.

Alrite Steel & Services NZ Limited has over 25 years of extensive experience as Steel Stockists, Importers & Suppliers with two warehouses in Auckland, NZ.

Alrite Steel now represents various major New Zealand and Asian manufacturers and supplies all type of steel and associated products to projects, contractors and fabricators throughout New Zealand and Pacific Island Countries.

With New Zealand and strategically located manufacturers from around the world and our Auckland Warehouse, our team specialises in and supplies:
 

• All types of Building and Civil Construction Steel products – stockiest and distributors
• Innovative kit set steel frame buildings
• Design, Detailing shop drawings, supply and fabrication of steel structures
• General Civil and Building Construction products and materials (Projects)

Board Member

Sione Taufa

University of Auckland Business School
e. sione.taufa@auckland.ac.nz

Sione is a Fellow at the University of Auckland Business School at their prestigious Accounting and Finance department.

He also looks after programs designed to help Pasifika and Maori students succeed in University. He is an active participant in community activities and has significant networks amongst the Tongan community in New Zealand and in Tonga. His expertise includes Financial Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis.

Board Member

Aleki Taumoepeau

NIWA
e. a.taumoepeau@niwa.co.nz

Don Mann

Pacific Cooperation Foundation
e. don@pcf.org.nz

Don Mann is the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation, a non-government organisation which develops and implements public/private sector economic development and socio-cultural initiatives in the Pacific region.

Don has over 35 years' experience in leadership roles across the public and private sector including four years as Head of Commercial Partnerships team at Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED).  He is the former Commercial General Manager of the NZ Warriors NRL franchise and served 13 years with the NZ Police including seven years as a Detective with the Auckland Criminal Investigation Branch.

Don is of Tongan and Māori descent, a graduate of Massey University, a Certified Company Director and a Trustee of The Rising Foundation.

Scott James

New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
e. scott.james@nzte.govt.nz

Scott is the Market Manager for Australia and the Pacific, for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is New Zealand’s international business development agency. NZTE’s role is to help New Zealand businesses grow into international markets.

NZTE sits as ex-officio on the New Zealand Pacific Business Council working jointly to support companies doing business in the Pacific.

Scott has been with NZTE for the past five years predominantly working directly with New Zealand companies operating across the globe in a customer manager capacity. Having moved into the Pacific role in 2018 Scott now works directly with companies active across Pacific markets

Joe Fauvao

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
e. joe.fauvao@mfat.govt.nz