About Dr. Mei Winitana & Misa Kolose Lagavale

Dr. Mei Winitana Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana/ Ngai Tūhoe/ Taranaki whānui ki Waiwhetu Mei is Kaiwhakahaere Māori – Senior Manager Māori, and has worked for Ako Aotearoa for two years. Previously she lectured in the Post-Graduate School at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, supervising research students. As a contractor, she includes experience in programme evaluation, teacher education, and workshop facilitation. She actively practices and contributes to hapū and marae development by learner mentorship, and wānanga-style learning focussing on whāriki, weaving, whakapapa and te reo Māori. Her research interests include indigenous teaching and learning methodologies, adult learning, and development of Māori women.

Misa Kolose Lagavale joined the Ako team January 2018, he is passionate about Pasifika Education and the achievement of Pasifika learners in the tertiary sector and has worked in three government organisations i.e. NZQA, MOE and formerly Career Services (now TEC) alongside other organisations. An experienced educational quality assurance manager, an independent contractor with a demonstrated history of working in education management, mentoring and facilitating engaging workshops. Skilled in intercultural communication, internal and external evaluations, career development, analytical skills, and coaching. He also acquired IT systems architect and analytics, e-learning platforms and coding systems administration to accommodate future technology disruptions.