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  1. About us
  2. Our People
  3. Leadership Team

Leadership team

Jacki Richardson

JACKI RICHARDSON

CEO
BA, MPhil (Hons), FNZIM, CMInstD

Jacki has worked in the Not for Profit sector all of her working life, predominantly in health and social services in community based organisations. She has a particular affinity for working with vulnerable communities including those faced with poverty, mental health issues or inequitable access to education or health services. She holds a number of qualifications including a Master’s degree with Honours, is a Fellow of The Institute of Management New Zealand and a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Jacki has been Chief Executive at Great Potentials Foundation since January 2017.

Email: [email protected]

John Patolo

JOHN PATOLO

Research & Evaluation Manager
BA Cert ConRes Cert TT PGCert R&A MA(Hons)

John joined Great Potentials in 2018. His main responsibility is to undertake and deliver systematic evaluations of the three programmes that Great Potentials Foundation operates - HIPPY, Family Service Centres and MATES.

John has extensive experience in social research from his many years at Statistics New Zealand and more recently as a lecturer and senior researcher at AUT University. John's most recent research was the first ever Global Survey on Language Revitalisation run by Recovering Voices at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.

John is a PhD candidate with the International Centre for Language Revitalisation at AUT University. His thesis research investigates how spaces where Samoa language maintenance is statistically observed in Aotearoa-New Zealand, impacting on Samoa diaspora in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
 

Email: [email protected]

Mark Veale

MARK VEALE

National Director - HIPPY New Zealand
MBA

Mark is a Community Development Specialist, who has worked with young people and communities to develop practical solutions to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable. He believes long term sustainable change takes effort and commitment from many and he is determined to play his part, holding close the whakatauki 'He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata', which  translated means 'What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people'.

Mark has worked for both Government agencies and in the not for profit sector for the past 20 years and is a trained police officer having previously worked across Auckland and Northland. Mark joined Great Potentials as the National Director of HIPPY in 2018.

Email: [email protected]

Deepika Sarmah

DEEPIKA SARMAH

Family Service Centres Manager
M.Ed, B.Soc, Dip.Soc (post grad - supervision)

Deepika has worked with children and young people in the area of mental health and is a Domestic Violence Specialist, having many years of experience working for both Primary Health Organisations and NGO's in New Zealand and overseas, including Shine.

Born in North-East India, from a young age Deepika had a powerful role model in her Grandfather who spent his life helping those in need, particularly in the area of women's education and social justice.

Due to this influence, from an early age Deepika began working with women and children who were living on the streets. She has carried that experience and motivation for social justice into her work throughout her life.

Her particular passion is working with children because, as she says, "Children are our future."

Email: [email protected]

Sonya Masoe

SONYA MASOE

MATES Programme Manager
BA, BProp

Sonya first joined MATES as a mentor in 2014 and returned as a coordinator in 2017. She has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Property from the University of Auckland. Sonya's passion lies with people. Her love of service fuels her hope to create better outcomes for those who may be disadvantaged in some way. Sonya was appointed as MATES Programme Manager early in 2020. She is looking forward to new learnings and challenges in the new role and hopes to make valuable contributions along the way.

  • MATES Mentor 2014-2015
  • MATES Coordinator 2017-2019
  • MATES Programme Manager 2020 -

Email: [email protected]

Tony Naidu

TONY NAIDU

Fundraising Manager
BCom MBA

Tony joined Great Potentials June 2020 as Fundraising Manager.  Tony’s goal is to help Great Potentials become bigger and better so that we can support more children, young people and families to realise their potential.  Tony has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business.  Over his career, Tony has worked in multiple industries, most significantly in the fields of education and sport, where he has enjoyed making a difference in the lives of others.

Tony is an active volunteer and is Chair of both the Gulf Harbour School Board of Trustees and the North Golf Association Board.

Email: [email protected]

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Latest

  • Uni For a Day 2020: Inspiring Young Pasifika Students

    Uni For a Day 2020: Inspiring Young Pasifika Students

    "Uni for a Day" is legendary, This much-anticipated outing is held each year to give Year 8 students something to aim for as they prepare to begin High School. After being cancelled twice due to Covid, it was finally held in October 2020...

  • Pathways to Possibilities – Unleashing the Potential of HIPPY Tutors

    Pathways to Possibilities – Unleashing the Potential of HIPPY Tutors

    Great Potentials has partnered with HIPPY Australia to pilot a structured Tutor Development system, "Pathways to Possibilities" launching early in 2021...

  • A Very Whanau Christmas

    A Very Whanau Christmas

    Christmas is nearly upon us, so we asked a few members of our Family Service Centres team to share the way their whanau celebrates the season…

  • MATES Senior: We Made it Through 2020

    MATES Senior: We Made it Through 2020

    MATES had a challenging start to a year that will go down in history, but the team finished the year in style with an epic Senior Prizegiving and celebration held in rooms at Eden Park...

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  • Accessibility

  • Making Ice Cream, Shaping Lives

    Making Ice Cream, Shaping Lives

    Through play children solve problems, test out ideas and explore their imaginations. HIPPY helps parents create a fun learning environment at home where creativity is unleashed, bodies get moving and children develop a life-long love of learning...

  • Making a Difference: Girl With Cake Project

    Making a Difference: Girl With Cake Project

    Maiyah, a former "HIPPY child", is an 8-year-old girl from Hornby in Christchurch. Since she was five years old, Maiyah has been baking and selling cupcakes to raise money to help the homeless in her city. She’s just a young girl, but she’s making a huge difference...

  • Privacy Policy

    PRIVACY POLICY: This policy explains how and when greatpotentials.org.nz (the ‘site’) collects personal information, what we do with it and your right to see or change it. The Foundation complies with the Privacy Act and the associated Privacy principles. We don't use, share or transfer personal information in connection with the site except as set out in this policy, or as otherwise set out somewhere on the site (including in terms linking to the site).

  • SWiS: Speaking the Lingo in Papakura Schools

    SWiS: Speaking the Lingo in Papakura Schools

    Papakura Family Service Centre's enthusiastic Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) team work in five Papakura schools, offering support and assistance to the schools’ children and families who are increasingly facing significant challenges in this community.

  • Family Service Centre Team

    Meet our Family Service Centre Team...

  • Uniting Against Covid-19

    Uniting Against Covid-19

    As we enter what we hope is our final week at Level 3, we want to recognise and thank those who are continuing to work to maintain essential services and support our communities, including our Great Potentials team who have kept working from home to deliver our programmes to those who need them..

  • Takanini

    Takanini

    Family Service Centre Takanini opened its doors in January 2014. Our warm, colourful new Centre was established in partnership with the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association, whose superb early learning centre provides a beautiful environment for the local children.

  • Work for us

    Work for us

    Situations vacant at Great Potentials Foundation

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    Earn your supporters' trust by being transparent and making the impact of their support clear

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Great Potentials Foundation is a Registered Charitable Trust with approved donee status - CC32333