Samoan

Current Roles

• Chief Executive Officer, Sequal Lumber (since 2012)

• Chief Executive Officer, Trinity Lands (appointed in 2024)

Professional Background

• International Finance Experience: Over a decade in banking across Hong Kong and Singapore.

 Sequal Lumber:

• Founding shareholder since 2008.

• Led transformation from production-centric to customer-first model.

• Introduced roles like External Relationship Manager and Logistics Manager.

• Implemented performance-based bonus program to foster innovation.

 Trinity Lands:

• Oversees agribusiness with more than 7,400 hectares of dairy farmland and 178 hectares of kiwifruit

orchards.

• Manages an asset base exceeding $750 million.

• Organization donates 100% of profits annually, totaling over $24 million per year to community

projects.

Education

•  Degree from Victoria University of Wellington.

Cook Island

Current Role: Partner at James & Wells, Intellectual Property Law Firm (New Zealand)

Experience:

•  Over 20 years’ experience in intellectual property and commercial law

•  Practiced in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom

Specialisations:

•  Trade mark law and brand strategy

•  Entertainment, media, and technology law

•  Data protection, privacy, and digital rights

•  Commercial contracts and licensing

• Indigenous rights and IP protection for Māori and Pasifika clients

International Clients Worked With:

• Apple Corp

• Warner Bros

• Google

Community and Cultural Involvement:

• Co-Chair, Pacific Island Community Trust - Bay of Plenty (PICT BOP)

• Trustee support for Te Murumāra Foundation (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

• Collaborator with Long White Cloud Productions (Māori-owned production company)

• Advocate and speaker on te reo Māori,Pasifika, and indigenous business development

Cultural Background:

•  Raised in Rarotonga, Cook Islands

•  Strong commitment to supporting Māori and Pasifika entrepreneurs

Awards and Recognition:

• Named one of NZ Lawyer’s Most Influential Lawyers (2024)

• Listed as an Elite Woman in Law (2023)

• World Trademark Review 1000 Recommended Individual (2024 & 2025)

• Featured in Women Leading Bay Business (2024) by Bay of Plenty Business News

Personal Approach:

•  Known for her authentic, people-first leadership style

•  Values long-term relationships and empowering clients to succeed independently

Māori – Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Awa, Te Ātiawa, Waikato Tainui

Current Role:

• Māori & Pasifika Business Leader – New Zealand | Pacific, GHD

• Member of GHD’s New Zealand Pacific Management Team

Governance and Memberships

• Deputy Chair, Tauranga Māori Business Association (TMBA) – elected in 2021

• Deputy Chair, Tauranga Business Chamber – elected in 2023

• Waikato Management School Business Advisory Board – 2025 

• Member of the NZ Institute of Directors – 2024

Awards and Recognition

• Waikato Management School Emerging Leaders Award  – 2024

Professional Background:

• Executive Leadership & Governance

• Māori & Pasifika Economist

• Procurement Advocacy

• Business strategist 

Personal Approach:
Lloyd Rakaupai is a strategic leader specialising in Iwi Māori and Pasifika economic strategies. As the Māori & Pasifika Business Leader at GHD New Zealand Pacific, he leverages extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and strategy development to deliver innovative, holistic solutions. With a background in operational leadership and major project management, Lloyd thrives on fostering meaningful collaborations with Iwi Māori and Pasifika partners, ensuring positive outcomes for communities, industries, and employers alike.

“I strive to live by two principles: He Mahitahi, meaning to work together and Whanake, meaning to grow, move onwards, move upwards, spring up, develop and rise.

Maori - Ngāti Tara Tokanui (Tainui), Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki (Takitimu)

Current Role:

• Pre-Construction Manager – Livingstone Building NZ

• Member of SLT

Experience:

Over 20 years in Commercial Construction in New Zealand

Progression through all roles in Construction Management & Leadership

• Labourer, Apprentice, Carpenter, Site Foreman, Site Manager, Project Manager, Regional Manager

Recently appointed Pre-Construction Manager of the Livingstone Building Group

Education:

• Level 4 Certificate in Carpentry - BCITO

• Level 5 Certificate Construction Supervisor (Advanced Trade) – Bay of Plenty Polytechnic

• Level 6 Diploma Construction Management – Toi Ohomai

• Ultimate Team Leader Program – EMA

• Masters Business Administration (MBA) – Waikato University

• Member of the NZ Institute of Directors

Personal Approach:
Brook’s leadership style is defined by integrity, and a commitment to lifting others. He brings a deep respect for Māori and Pacific values of whanaungatanga (relationships), manaakitanga (care and support), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) into his governance work. As an experienced construction leader, Brook focuses on creating alignment between core values, vision, and strategic objectives—ensuring decisions are both commercially sound and culturally respectful.

Brook’s approach to advisory role prioritises listening, understanding the unique needs of Māori and Pacific businesses, and helping them navigate growth opportunities with confidence. He believes in empowering organisations to thrive on their own terms—guided by a clear sense of identity, purpose, and collective success.

Personal Approach:

• Leads with integrity, selflessness, humility, and a commitment to lifting others.

• Brings a deep respect for whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and kaitiakitanga.

• Aligns core values, vision, and strategic objectives for lasting impact.

• Champions decisions that are commercially sound and culturally respectful.

• Focuses on listening first, understanding unique needs.

• Helps Māori and Pacific businesses navigate growth with confidence.

• Empowers organisations to thrive on their own terms.

• Guided by identity, purpose, and collective success.