Marina has been a foster parent since 2010 fostering through Family Works Southland. She has also been a part of the Southland Foster Care Support Group. Marina has experience in matters regarding education, child safety, employment, government regulations, leadership, governance, management and business having completed a Diploma in Child Protection through Child Matters in 2012 and is an experienced Primary and ECE teacher.

Marina is the owner/manager of Riverton Childcare with a team of 14. Additionally, Marina was a member of the BOT for Hope Centre in Riverton having previously been a member of the BOT at Riverton Primary and Aparima College. She was also a national trainer for Girl Guiding NZ and was a volunteer with them for over 20 years.

Marina’s vast experience has given her the ability to formulate and review policies and procedures, oversee financial management and planning, manage teams and employees and create and follow through with strategic plans.

Nik is a public policy professional, with over 20 years of experience in the government and non-government sectors.

He has worked on a wide range of issues, including education, economic, regulatory and local government policy. He’s worked for a number of different government organisations and not-for-profit, such as the Treasury, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Productivity Commission, Business NZ and the New Zealand University Students Association.

Nik is driven by a desire to see government policies that effectively and efficiently help people in need.

Racquel Lewis has been a kin carer, emergency placement and respite carer since 2006. She has completed a number of Caring Families Aotearoa courses, participated in the local support groups and served two previous terms on the board.

Racquel brings a wealth of practical experience having worked for over 25 years in commercial business in the hospitality, construction and property sectors to name a few.

Racquel was invited back to the board as Financial Delegate at the start of 2022 after previous Chair Colin Hardgrave retired from his role. Racquel considers the appointment a great privilege and looks forward to continuing her service to the organization as a whole.

Nicola has a particular interest in attachment theory and resilience, which she explored in her PhD. An ecological framework, the sociology of childhood, critical theory, and a children’s rights perspective informs her work. The goal of her research is to influence policy and practice to improve outcomes for children and young people exposed to adversity. 

Nicola worked for what is now Oranga Tamariki for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles, before moving into an academic role in 1994, working as a lecturer and senior lecturer in the Social and Community Work programme at the University of Otago.  

From 2006 to 2012, Nicola worked as a Principal Advisor in the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, before returning to the Social and Community Work programme at the University.  She finished her time with them in December 2023 and has recently begun a new venture as an independent contractor.

Anne and her husband are permanent (home for life) caregivers to a beautiful little whanau baby, who came into their lives through her extended whanau in 2021.  She brings over 25 years’ experience working in public health across high need communities throughout the greater Waikato, with about 15 of those in management roles, plus a further 7 1/2 years managing the business degree and graduate diploma programmes at Wintec. 

She currently works as a family violence prevention co-ordinator for the Waipa communities and chairs the Cambridge Committee of Social Services.  She is passionate about making a difference, standing up and speaking out, being an advocate and giving a voice to those who sometimes feel they have none. 

Anne values cultural diversity and the worth we place on protecting and enhancing our diverse cultures here in Aotearoa. She acknowledges that fostering is hard work, especially at the start of a child’s healing journey – there will be many ups and downs, but equally as many days of fun, laughter, and enrichment.  Anne believes giving caregivers the right tools at the right time, and in the right way, will enhance their experiences and those of the children in their care.