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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.