Leadership team

Manahautū | Chief Executive

Tēnā tātou katoa
Nō Ireland, nō Scotland ōku tīpuna
Engari i tipu ake au i Aotearoa
Ko Awhitu te maunga
Ko Manukau te moana
Ko Waiau Pā te whenua tupu
Kei Tāmaki Makaurau ahau e noho ana
Ko Fiona Kingsford tōku ingoa
Tēnā koutou katoa

Fiona joined Whānau Āwhina Plunket as the Chief Executive in October 2022.

A transformational leader who cares deeply about creating a better Aotearoa, she is a champion for change and leads by example.

Fiona has a deep understanding of the importance of stakeholder relationships and skills needed in working in complex social and political environments.

The former CEO of Competenz, she was instrumental in transforming the industry training organisation to one based on customer centricity, product innovation, technology adoption and enablement.

Fiona started her career in human resources moving into change and organisational development, sales and business development, strategy, mergers and transformation.

She says it’s a challenging time for the not-for-profit sector financially, however alongside this is the opportunity to proactively contribute to the health reforms and shaping the future for our pēpi and tamariki.  She is committed to working closely with government ministries and health authorities to bring focus to both.

General Manager, Service Delivery

Born and bred in Moerewa, Denise is proud of her humble upbringing in Te Tai Tokerau! Her life experiences and memories have influenced her outlook on life. Denise is dedicated to doing all she can to create positive service delivery for tamariki and their whānau.

As a mother of two Denise believes that all tamariki count! With over 13 years working for Whānau Āwhina Plunket Denise has worked in numerous roles in IT, PlunketLine, Transformation and Operations.

"Change is never easy, but always possible”.

Te Pou Whakarae | Chief Advisor

Taiarahia te Maunga
Ohinemataroa te awa
Otenuku te marae
Tuhoe, Tūwharetoa, Whānau Apanui ngā iwi

Hera is Te Pou Whakarae, Chief Advisor at Whānau Āwhina Plunket. Previously the Chief Advisor Māori, Dr Black was instrumental in implementing Kaupapa Māori strategies that strived for better health and wellbeing outcomes for all whānau and mokopuna in Aotearoa.

Born in Ruatoki, Bay of Plenty, Hera currently lives in Masterton. Her career spans more than 20 years within the education sector. She is a proud champion of Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori, with extensive experience as a teacher, lecturer and manager. Hera is also a proud member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, establishing partnerships within both the Iwi sectors and Māori communities. She has overseen a range of governance roles within the Ministry of Education, Wananga (university), early childhood education sectors. Hera recently worked closely with Health Boards as an advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hera was fortunate to be the New Zealand ambassador for the Oceania Exhibition (2018 – 2019) in England representing all Iwi, hapū and whānau of Aotearoa. Her purpose in life is striving to reduce the inequity among Māori whānau, doing her part to ensure a better future for all mokopuna.

Me mahi tahi tātou mō te oranga o te iwi 
We should work together for the wellbeing of everyone.

General Manager Performance Risk & Governance

I whānau mai au i te taha o Edinburgh
I raro i te maru o te maunga o White Hill
He uri ahau no England, no Ireland, no Scotland
Kei te noho au kei Te-Whanga-nui-a-Tara
Ko Louise Eunson toku ingoa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Louise Eunson joined Whānau Āwhina Plunket in 2020 as Head of Performance and Assurance and was appointed as General Manager Performance, Risk and Governance in August 2021. Prior to joining Plunket, she worked for over 8 years at the Ministry of Health where she held a variety of leadership roles in risk, planning, performance, and reporting - most recently in the Office of the Director-General.

Originally trained as a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) with PwC, Louise has since worked with a variety of consulting firms, commercial organisations and public sector entities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. With over 20 years’ experience, Louise brings a wealth of risk, governance, assurance and performance expertise to Whānau Āwhina Plunket.

A proud Scot - born and raised in Edinburgh - Louise came to Aotearoa New Zealand with her kiwi husband in 2011. Now a Whānau Āwhina Plunket māmā to a daughter and boy/girl twins, Louise has recently experienced first-hand the wonderful mahi of our nurses and is proud to work for an organisation that is committed to making a difference to the health and wellbeing of our precious tamariki.

Having studied French and Italian to degree level, her love of languages and learning about cultures different to her own has been reignited since moving to Aotearoa New Zealand. She is actively working on growing her understanding and knowledge of Te Ao Māori and tikānga, and is committed to increasing her knowledge and use of te reo Māori in her daily interactions.

General Manager People & Culture

Brent is a seasoned strategic executive with an international human resource career working across both public and private sectors in both New Zealand and Australia. Prior to joining Whānau Awhina Plunket he was privileged to work for his own iwi, Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu as their Group Head, Toi Tangata (People & Culture). Before that held executive human resource positions at both Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Since returning to Aotearoa in 2013, Brent has enjoyed the opportunity to be part of Kaupapa Māori organisations and personally learning more about his Māori whakapapa. His commitment to supporting kaimahi has been a life-long focus extending more than 35+ years working with human resource roles across key sectors including primary industries, banking, health, central and local government, tertiary education, technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals/medical devices, insurance/financial services, and more recently an iwi organisation.

At the heart of his decision to join Whānau Awhina Plunket is “whānau” – being grateful for his own journey alongside supportive family and friends has made him who he is today. Brent Sincock joined Whānau Awhina Plunket in September 2023. He currently lives with his partner in North Canterbury and has two grown up sons.

General Manager Finance Technology & Commercial

Ko Matt Kenny tōku ingoa
No Te Whanganui-a-Tara ahau
Engari I tipu ake au ki Ahitereiria
Tēnā koutou katoa

Matt joined the leadership team in September 2021.

Matt is a Chartered Accountant with financial and senior level leadership experience across the health, government, wholesale supply and manufacturing sectors. Prior to joining us he was the CFO of Callaghan Innovation and prior to that has held a number of CFO roles.

He began his career at global accounting firm Deloitte, where for 13 years he provided accounting and business advisory services to a diverse range of clients.
Matt is dad to two amazing tamariki and enjoys playing golf.

Chief Nurse

Te Kohurau te mauka
Arai te Uru te waka
Arai te Uru te tai
Oraumoa te awa
Poutaiki te pā neherā
Moeraki te kaika
Uenuku te marae
Ko Zoe Tipa ahau
E noho ana ahau ki Kirikiriroa

Zoë is the Chief Nurse for Whānau Āwhina Plunket. As a registered nurse, she has worked in aged care, Māori health, Well Child Tamariki Ora and nursing. Completing her PhD in 2021, Dr Tipa investigated Māori experiences of Well Child Tamariki Ora services. Zoë is dedicated to ensuring her PhD research influences how health professionals engage with whānau.

In particular, Zoë developed a framework to guide the cultural responsiveness of practitioners and their work with whānau. This ensures whānau get what they want and need from Well Child Tamariki Ora services. She is passionate about supporting nursing practice that enhances the strengths of whānau by building authentic relationships. 

E tau hikoi i runga i ōku whariki
E tau noho i tōku whare
E hau kina ai tōku tātau tōku matapihi

Your steps on my whariki (mat), your respect for my home,
Opens my doors and windows