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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]

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]

Connor

CONNOR BOURNE

MATES Programme Manager

Connor started at MATES back in 2015 as a mentor in the Education 200 paper at the University of Auckland. He has been a coordinator at MATES Jr for the past three years seeing the introduction of Finlayson Park and Mangere East Primary to the programme.

Connor finished his Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology in 2017 and more recently finished his Post Graduate diploma in Counselling theory in 2019, beginning a Masters of Counselling in 2020. MATES was the first place Connor found he could give back to the community and affect change in people’s lives through empowerment and education.

Through MATES Junior, Connor has seen amazing mentors become amazing professionals and talented students thrive in both high school and in life. He was appointed MATES Programme Manager in March 2021.

Email: [email protected]

John Patolo

JOHN PATOLO

Evaluation and Data Manager

BA, Cert ConRes, Cert TT, PGCert R&A, MA(Hons), PhD Candidate

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 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. http://hdl.handle.net/10125/24871

John’s research interest is in the holistic wellbeing of Pacific communities. John is primarily interested in the construction and application of statistical research over a range of subject areas but with a focus on issues that relate to people from the Pacific region.

Email: [email protected]

MEI LAW

Business Support Manager

PGDip Marketing, BCom

Mei started working for Great Potentials in March 2022, with responsibility for managing fundraising and marketing activities. Mei is passionate about community development and education. She has a work background in marketing and business development in the non-for-profit and education sectors. Previously, she worked as the Education Advisor at Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Auckland Engagement Manager at Ara Institute of Canterbury.

Mei is originally from Hong Kong. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Melbourne, Australia, and her Postgraduate diploma in Christchurch, New Zealand. She is a fluent Cantonese and Mandarin speaker.

Email: [email protected]

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Latest

  • MATES Mentees exploring the world of architecture and design

    MATES Mentees exploring the world of architecture and design

    Sixteen MATES Senior Mentees from Southern Cross Campus, Waitakere College and Auckland Girls Grammar School had a wonderful time visiting Jasmax...

  • A surprise for children turning five

    A surprise for children turning five

    To celebrate our children who turn five years old and get them ready for school, our Papakura Early Learning Centre has recently connected with School Start First Impressions...

  • Youth mentoring online workshop inspires young people

    Youth mentoring online workshop inspires young people

    Recently, our two MATES coordinators attended an online workshop “Sharing the Kaupapa 3 Whai Wāhitanga: Active Youth Participation...

  • MATES Mentor Induction 2022

    MATES Mentor Induction 2022

    Nearly 65 university students have started as our MATES Mentors 2022...

Most read

  • HIPPY Locations

    Locations and contact details for HIPPY sites around New Zealand

  • HIPPY Programme

    HIPPY Programme

    HIPPY is a home-based Early Learning programme that helps parents from disadvantaged communities lay the foundation for their children’s success in school and later life...

  • Become a mentor

    Become a mentor

    If you are a tertiary student in Auckland and are interested in becoming a MATES mentor, please complete the online application form...

  • Community Funding

    We are immensely grateful to all of our supporters who contribute in various ways to Great Potentials Foundation. Your generosity truly impacts the lives of children, young people and families propelling them towards brighter futures.

  • MATES Programme

    MATES Programme

    MATES Mentoring and Tutoring programme addresses the underachievement in education of disadvantaged youth in New Zealand, intervening at key transition points to create pathways for success...

  • Contact Details

    Contact Details

    Address and contact information for Great Potentials Office and programmes

  • Our Mission

    Our Mission

    Working for and with children, young people and families to promote family function, relieve suffering, release potential, reduce disparities in New Zealand society, reduce crime and violence and break the cycle of disadvantage...

  • Work for us

    Work for us

    Situations vacant at Great Potentials Foundation

  • Family Service Centres

    Family Service Centres

    Our Family Service Centres assist the community with housing, food, health care, employment support and wellbeing services as well as offering early learning services, parenting programmes, playgroups, social workers in schools, counselling and more...

  • Takanini Family Service Centre

    Takanini Family Service Centre

    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.

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