Te Pūoho Katene
About Te Pūoho Katene
Te Pūoho Katene serves as the Obama Foundation Leader for the Asia-Pacific region and holds multiple leadership roles in various organizations across New Zealand, focusing on social change and Māori development.
Work at Obama Foundation
Te Pūoho Katene serves as the Obama Foundation Leader for the Asia-Pacific region. In this role, he has been actively involved since 2019, contributing to the Foundation's mission of fostering leadership and civic engagement across the Asia-Pacific area. His work emphasizes the importance of community empowerment and social change.
Current Positions and Roles
Te Pūoho Katene holds multiple leadership positions across various organizations. He has been the Director at Armillary Private Capital since 2022, an Independent Director on the Distributions Committee at Waikato-Tainui since 2021, and the Kaihautū - Executive Director at Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust since 2020. Additionally, he is a Steering Committee Member at Future Food Aotearoa and a Trustee at The Ākina Foundation, both roles he has held since 2021 and 2018, respectively.
Education and Expertise
Te Pūoho Katene has a strong educational background with degrees from reputable institutions. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Studies from Victoria University of Wellington and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, Ecology & Biodiversity from the same university. He also holds two Master of Science degrees in Management, one from Wellington College and another from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Background and Experience
Prior to his current roles, Te Pūoho Katene worked as an Investment Manager for Māori Investment at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise from 2019 to 2020. His experience spans various sectors, focusing on social change and outcomes for Māori in education, training, and leadership development. He is also a Board Trustee for Ngāti Toa and serves on the Audit, Risk and Investment Committee.
Focus on Māori Development
At Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust, Te Pūoho Katene pursues targeted social change within a tikanga-based impact framework. His focus includes enhancing outcomes for Māori through education and training, integrating traditional and scientific knowledge systems, and fostering leadership development through philanthropic and investment activities.