Leadership and Structure
The leadership team of Whaikaha is led by Chief Executive Paula Tesoriero. Three business groups, each headed by its own Deputy Chief Executive (DCE), report to the Chief Executive.
Our Kaihautū – Chief Advisor Māori is also part of our Executive Leadership Team to support us to embed a Te Tiriti o Waitangi approach.
Our Chief Executive
Ms Paula Tesoriero MNZM PLY, is Secretary for Disabled People, Chief Executive of Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.
Paula provides strategic leadership to Whaikaha and across government to create a non-disabling Aotearoa.
Paula is well-known and a respected leader in the disability community. She is disabled and has a deep knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for the disability community.
Paula was previously the Disability Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, a position she held since 2017. She also acted in the role of Chief Human Rights Commissioner from May 2018 – January 2019.
Paula is an experienced Public Service leader. From 2010 – 2016, she was the General Manager, Higher Courts at the Ministry of Justice. In 2016, she was seconded to Statistics New Zealand where she was the General Manager, System and Partnership.
Paula has served in various governance roles including as Deputy Chair of Peke Waihanga — Artificial Limb Service and Deputy Chair of Nuku Ora (previously Sport Wellington) and she served on the Board of Paralympics NZ. She is a life trustee of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and is an honorary advisor to the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Paula is a Paralympian, winning a gold medal and two bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Kaihautū - Chief Advisor Māori
Kaihautū: Ronelle Baker - Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāpuhi
Ronelle has extensive experience across the health, disability, non-government and government sectors. Her last role was as Principal Advisor Accessibility at Stats New Zealand, and she is currently the Chair of Spectrum Care Ltd finishing end of February 2024. Ronelle also serves on the board of Mana Mokopuna - the Children and Young People's Commission.
Ronelle is a power chair user and her whānau have a wide range of lived experience due to the impacts of living with inter-generational Muscular Dystrophy. She is a passionate advocate for improving wellbeing, equity and inclusion for whānau who experience disability.
Our Kaihautū is a member of the Executive Leadership team and provides leadership and strategic direction to ensure Whaikaha is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Kaihautū leads organisation wide initiatives to support Whaikaha achieve its Te Tiriti o Waitangi aspirations and support Whaikaha to strengthen its relationships with tāngata whaikaha Māori me o rātou whānau.
Rights realisation and equitable outcomes under the three pou of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Enabling Good Lives, and the UNCRPD is a collective responsibility for Whaikaha, that will be supported by the Kaihautū and informed by evidence, engagement and system transformation.
Whaikaha business groups
Whaikaha is made up of the following business groups:
- Strategy and Enablement
- Policy and Insights
- Outreach and Innovation
Each group is headed by its a member of Executive Leadership Team who reports to the Chief Executive. More information will be provided about the business groups soon.
All business groups are focused on making sure that the work we do aligns with our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Enabling Good Lives principles, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Policy and Insights
Deputy Chief Executive: Ben O’Meara
Strategy and Enablement
Deputy Chief Executive: Ginny Baddeley
Outreach and Innovation
Acting Deputy Chief Executive: Rebecca Elvy