Chrissie Cowan - Chief Executive at Kapo Maori Aotearoa New Zealand

After working for 10 years in the Public Service, Chrissie had the curiosity to combine and bridge her Western Learnings & Maori Learnings from her upbringing and discovered that her passions ultimately lay in the combination of the two. Through change and evolution, listening and learning, appreciation of cultural differences, Chrissie used the notion that as a Maori woman that you "weren't expected to achieve much" as a catalyst and motivation to strive even harder. Chrissie has a passion in supporting the Equality of Rights in supporting Indigenous People with a disability to be able to ACCESS employment, health care and education. With a strong call for action - Chrissie calls on our community to Not be afraid to ask, ask hard questions, be curious to dig deeper and find comfort in uncomfortable places and spaces.