Tō Mātou Kapa
Our Team
Our kapa brings a rich tapestry of culture, experience, and innovation to every project we undertake.
Managing Director
Natalie
Director of Atawhai Creative Communications - Natalie is of Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Kahungunu and Whakatōhea descent and raised in Ōhinemutu, Rotorua. She spent her childhood between Rotorua and the small east coast beach town of Maketū. She now lives in Tauranga Moana with her husband Brendan, raising their twins Cash Taiporutu and Charlie Rawinia.
Natalie has spent over 20 years working in national and international marketing and communications roles before making a conscious decision to work solely with Māori organisations, helping them find their voice and connections. Clients she has partnered with span a range of sectors but focus predominantly on Māori Health, Iwi and Tourism. Natalie is also fully conversant working with Boards and Senior Management teams to create clarity on a range of complex situations.
Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu,
Te Whakatōhea
Executive Assistant
Lisa
Lisa’s background is in the radio and television advertising industry having worked for Sky Television and The Radio Network (NZME) in the ad sales teams.
Lisa joined the Atawhai team in 2021 and has been enjoying working in a close-knit team that stands by its values, morals and integrity. She thrives on utilising her communication and planning skills to produce quality mahi to her clients and the wider team. Lisa originally hails from Tāmaki Makaurau and her husband and three children are of Te Arawa descent.
“I absolutely love being part of this awesome team that creates meaningful impact through our mahi. We're all about values, integrity, and bringing that whānau-driven excellence to everything we do.”
Account Director Communications
Danielle
Danielle has recently come on board with the Atawhai team, and we are so excited to have her join us!
After years of living and raising her whānau in Australia, Danielle has recently returned to Aotearoa. She has been utilising her Media Design Degree working in pre-press and digital design as well as marketing and communications coordination roles.
Danielle is excited to be part of a kaupapa Māori communications agency and showcasing her design and communications skills for our clients.
Te Arawa, Tainui
Graphic Designer
Kim
Kim is our go-to graphic designer because of her creative capacity, work ethic and industry experience.
Graduating from the Whanganui School of Design with Honors High Distinction in 2004, she has over a decade of creative agency experience and almost another decade as a successful freelancer. She specialises in brand-identity, publication and packaging design.
Kim combines her vast professional experience with her evolving understanding of her taha Māori and puts much whakaute (care and respect) into her creative processes to ensure the best outcome for our clients.
Taranaki / Ngāti Kahumate
Account Director Communications
Deb
Deb brings a breadth of commercial experience to the team, having worked across a range of industries and in a variety of roles.
With a formal qualification in law, Deb has been able to use those skills in quickly understanding, interpreting, and communicating complicated concepts in a clear and concise way, that resonates with her audience(s).
Since joining the team, Deb has commented on how she has enjoyed working in a mātauranga Māori environment at Atawhai, particularly given it is such a values-based organisation.
“There is a deep satisfaction that comes when you realise that your work will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of others, whether it be small or far-reaching. This is what I get to do working with Nat, the team, and the amazing clients at Atawhai.”
Account Director and Project Management
Tina
Tina’s area of expertise is Account and Project Management.
Tina has held a variety of positions both nationally and internationally which have required exceptional communication and planning frameworks to deliver projects on time, to budget and to scope. Tina LOVES data and is passionate about working with Māori organisations and helping them to make real changes for their communities.
Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato Tainui,
Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whitikaupeka,
Te Atiawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāpuhi
Account Management
Yana
Yana is passionate about fostering cross-cultural understanding and the empowerment of indigenous voices.
Originally trained as a journalist, she completed her Ph.D. in grassroots online campaigning at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium. Her academic journey included research positions at the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of Göttingen in Germany.
Driven by a desire to make tangible differences in the lives of migrants, refugees, and women facing adversity, she has managed various impactful projects and organisations since 2015.
Her husband and three tamariki are uri of Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi te Rangi, which led the family to settle in beautiful Tauranga Moana in 2021.
Proficient in four languages, Yana is currently studying te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga.