Morena colleagues,
I am pleased to advise that Dr Rachel Maunganui Wolfgramm has been appointed as Director/Manutaki, of the Dame Mira Szászy Research Centre. Rachel’s term is for two years from July 1 2020.
Rachel will be known to many of you. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Management and International Business. She is of Te Aupōuri, Ngai Takoto and Whakatōhea descent and her heritage includes Vava’u Tonga, Europe and the United Kingdom.
Rachel has extensive experience in Ngā Huanga Mātauranga Māori and Sustainability research and education. She is currently Lead Principal Investigator of a Ngā Pae o te Maramatanga Whai Rawa (NZ CoRE) project examining Māori leadership and decision-making in economies of wellbeing. Her research has been published in Human Relations, Journal of Business Ethics, Leadership, Alternative, An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, Journal of Management Learning, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, Māori and Indigenous Review, the International Journal of Sustainability and in books published by Cambridge University Press, Routledge, Chicago University Press, Information Age and Edward Elgar Publishing. She has experience as a lead editor and contributing editor in several special issues and is a reviewer for numerous international journals. She has presented her research at workshops, panels, symposia, wānanga and conferences in North and South America, UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Her doctoral, masters and honors supervisions focus on topics relating to Māori and indigenous leadership, business ethics, sustainability, leadership, distributive innovation, food and water security and food sovereignty.
Alongside her Departmental service roles, Rachel has contributed sustained service and leadership in Māori and Pacific development in the Faculty of Business including Director for Tuākana implementing a distinctive programme “Navigating Futures” and developing the Nga Pou e Rima Strategic Architecture. She was previously Acting Director of the Dame Mira Szászy Research Centre and initiated and led the Matakerepo programme for Māori and Pacific postgraduate, MBA, and doctoral students. Rachel continues to serve on the University of Auckland Māori Business Leaders Awards Steering Committee led by Anahera Morehu, Kaiārahi, He Manga Tauhokohoko.
Rachel has also contributed leadership roles to Sustainability as co-chair of a VCSDF project promoting the Universitas 21 Statement of Sustainability and has served on numerous steering groups including the United Nations Habitat University Partnerships. She co-founded the Sustainability Research Group (SRG) in the Faculty of Business and is currently co-leading the MIB Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative Group. Outside of the University, Rachel is actively engaged in community service and creative projects as a Board Member of Pou Kapua Creations. She has served as an Assessor/Lead Assessor for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE 2016-present) as an evaluator and monitor with NZITP for six years, is Lead Claimant for Rourou-The Māori Economy WAI 1920 and Lead claimant for Te Whanau o Rangihaerepo WAI 1827.
Rachel is honoured to serve as Director/Manutaki for the Dame Mira Szászy Research Centre and to continue the programmes of Māori and Pacific research excellence established by Associate Professor Manuka Henare, Associate Professor Carla Houkamau, Dr Billie Lythberg and colleagues in the Faculty of Business and around the globe.
Ngā mihi
Professor Susan Watson
Acting Dean | Manukura Pakihi, Ōhanga
