"As a mum I’m profoundly connected to the work that Skylight does. Grief and loss can be crippling. While from a cultural perspective grieving is done as a collective, and there are structures in place, we all need help to navigate the individual part of grief and loss. And we must remove the stigma around asking for help, especially for kids. I gravitated towards Skylight because I wanted to make a contribution to a better future for tamariki and rangatahi. I want to help our kids navigate the challenging times in their lives so they can continue to thrive."

Maria is a leader with extensive public service experience – both at the Board level and as an Executive. A passionate advocate for better outcomes for Pasifika, Maria connected deeply with the kaupapa of Skylight. She sees an opportunity for Skylight to be innovative and lead.