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Founder, Principal Consultant | Kaitūhono Ariki
Holly Suzanne Bennett
Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao
Holly is a zealous advocate of transparent, accessible government and has a keen interest in the effectiveness of New Zealand’s regulatory systems.
Graduating with a law degree from the University of Auckland, Holly was admitted to the bar in 2013 and spent four years working in the Beehive before founding Awhi at the end of 2017.
In 2022 she was named Young Business Person of the Year at the Newmarket Business Awards and took out the People and Capability category at the MWDI Māori Business Women Awards. She is a columnist for National Business Review and also founded New Zealand’s first government relations education and training organisation Engage.
Te Arawa (loud and) proud, Holly continues to look for ways to innovate government relations in Aotearoa, ensuring the expert industry is something everyone can access.
Senior Consultant | Kaitūhono Matua
Jesse Thompson
Ngāruahine, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngai Tahu
Jesse is an experienced political strategist, with over a decade of experience working on political campaigns. Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, he moved to Brisbane in 2011 to complete a Bachelor of Arts and Journalism at the University of Queensland.
On his return to Aotearoa, Jesse spent four years on the board and policy council of the New Zealand Labour Party. He has also delivered training workshops on transformative change-making and the creation of compelling campaign narratives in Europe and South-East Asia.
Having worked across the Australian and New Zealand parliaments in both communications and advisory roles, Jesse has an extensive and practical understanding of the inner workings of both central and local government.
Junior Consultant | Kaitūhono Mātāmua
Vincent Evans-Welsh
Tainui
Vincent is an accomplished communications professional with several years of experience in corporate communications and community engagement. With a knack for planning and executing cross-discipline communication strategies, Vincent has led engagement for numerous infrastructure projects.
Vincent holds a Bachelors in Communications from Auckland University of Technology, where he focused on Digital Media and how the media landscape shifted online for businesses and engagement in Aotearoa.
Whether it’s crafting compelling messaging, meaningful stakeholder relations, or supporting authentic community engagement, Vincent is committed to creating meaningful connections and making a lasting impact for all kaupapa he supports.
Consultant | Kaitūhono
Nayan Sharma
Nayan was born and raised on the west coast of Tāmaki Makaurau. He completed his Bachelors of Communications in 2021 with a focus on Marketing and Film and Television at the Auckland University of Technology.
Nayan worked as a Community Manager for a sustainable apparel brand, where he was responsible for managing marketing campaigns, event activations and liaising with local businesses and influencers. Through this role Nayan gained an interest in political affairs and wanted to play a bigger role in how the government was represented toward a younger generation.
Nayan is a people focused individual who uses his creative eye to support local communities and individuals through an artistic lens. With his creative mind and knack for public relations, he is well versed in establishing lasting and meaningful relationships and communities, of all scales.
Partner Consultant | Kaitūhono
Lauren Clements
Lauren brings over 20 years experience as a seasoned executive support specialist, and advisor across a range of diversified sectors and industries.
She is accomplished in expertly juggling a multitude of complex work assignments to meet competing demands and is a skilled communicator, and comfortable manoeuvring through complex situations effectively.
Widely trusted and experienced at working in a fast paced environment that requires high level of discretion, sensitivity and interpersonal interactions, Lauren is intellectually sharp, agile, and quiet influencer.
Partner Provider | Kaitautoko Pakihi
Hunaara Waerehu
Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe, Ngai Tai ki Tāmaki
A staunch Nāti, Hunaara brings his experience and expertise of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori derived from his strict upbringing by his elders in rural and remote Tikitiki, located in the heart of Ngāti Porou country two hours north of Gisborne. He currently runs his own translation and consulting business, Paronga Limited, a valued partner provider to the Awhi whānau.
Hunaara currently serves as Co-Project Lead of the Te Weu Carbon Farming Research Project, a project aimed at researching the effects of carbon farming on the local communities in the East Coast. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand and is a Director of Hikurangi Enterprises Limited, a social enterprise focused on creating sustainable economic opportunities for whānau in Te Tairāwhiti. Hunaara has served on the Waiapu Restoration Project, a project funded by the Provincial Growth Fund to restore the Waiapu catchment. He is currently studying the Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Economics at Victoria University of Wellington.
Special Advisor
Mark Rehua Bennett
Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao
Mark is a 40 year veteran of New Zealand’s broadcasting industry, sharing his expertise as a specialist advisor to those who require support in public relations and communications.
When Mark joined New Zealand Broadcasting in the late 1960s, he was their youngest announcer at just 18 years of age. Career highlights include working as a news anchor with TVNZ, hosting long running entertainment shows such as I Like That One Two, and assisting in the establishment of Aotearoa Radio: a strong, commercially viable mouthpiece for Māoritanga.
A serial entrepreneur, Mark has built many businesses from scratch, including establishing the first-ever sales division for a Māori radio station in New Zealand through his company The Sales Machine.
Let’s Kōrero
Convinced we are the government relations firm for you?
If you would like to join us, kōrero mai.
