Miriana was born in Motueka and is of Ngāti Rārua, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui decent. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (NZ History) and a Law Degree. She currently resides in Whakatū (Nelson) and has four children. She was awarded the 2016 Aotearoa NZ Māori Woman Business Leader award in recognition of outstanding success and excellence in business.

Miriana is a director for Wakatū Incorporation (Wakatū), its subsidiaries and various committees and they are guided by their intergenerational 500 year vision, Te Pae Tawhiti. Wakatū is currently convening the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy which is a business led approach to regional development in Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough. This initiative is in partnership with all three councils, whānau, hapū and Iwi, the business community and NMIT and was supported by investment from the Provincial Growth Fund.

Miriana is currently leading AuOra™ which is an associated business of Wakatū that invests in a portfolio of nutrition and ingredient applications which are sourced from the natural biomatter of Aotearoa, New Zealand that provide solutions for digestive, brain, inflammatory and metabolic health challenges. AuOra™ is currently working in Japan.

Miriana is also trustee on AGMARDT, Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua. She is a member of Nuku ki te Puku™ (a national Māori Food and Beverage cluster), the MPI Food and Fibres Leadership Group, NZTE Dubai Expo, MPI Taiao Ora, Tangata Ora programme, NIB Insurance Māori advisory panel, an assessor on the MBIE Endeavour Fund Impact Panel, and an alumni of Te Hono (NZ agribusiness leaders). Miriana has recently joined the Leaft Foods Ltd Programme Governance Group as the Chair.

Early in his career and more recently his initiatives have led to the advancement of novel classes of drugs targeting cardiovascular and infectious diseases, pain and depression. His research has delivered biocides and drugs, frequently inspired by natural compounds. In addition to his affiliation to Lincoln University, he was the CEO of the Cawthron Institute for 8.5 years and joined Wakatū in January 2021. Currently inspired by a vivacious R&D team pursuing tikanga led innovation in health foods, natural products, nutraceuticals and potentially new medicines. Charles was awarded the Thomson medal in 2017 for research leadership, the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit in 2019 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2021. Of Scottish descent he is married to Candy, living in Whakatū/Nelson with two sons and 5 small grandchildren.

Dr Meika Foster (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) joined the AuOra team in 2016. She has a background in Science and Law and her distinctive skill set combines expertise in nutrition science and food sustainability, the development of high-value plant-based health solutions, indigenous organisms and biodiscovery research, the protection of Māori cultural and intellectual property, novel food regulations, and needs assessment and strategy implementation. As part of her role, she supports Te Anga Whakamua (The Way Forward), an ambitious Wakatū undertaking to develop a tikanga-led bioactives industry for Aotearoa New Zealand. Meika is the Founding Director of Edible Research Ltd., an independent Board member for Pūhoro Charitable Trust and the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre, and maintains relationships with a range of research institutes and across government and the food and beverage industry.

As Senior Relationships and Business Development Manager, Seishi oversees AuOra’s Japan team. Prior to joining AuOra/Wakatū in May 2021, he was part of a team at the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) that attracts international companies’ R&D investment and activities to Aotearoa in a broad range topics including video games, smart home technologies, clean energy, and functional foods. Earlier, he worked at the University of Auckland Research Office, Plant and Food Research (secondment) etc., creating research and business partnerships. He came to Aotearoa in 1988 to study New Zealand politics and has been here since.

Nikki is a dietitian with a love of good kai (food). On a lifelong journey of learning, since completing her PhD she is motivated by the mahi (work) of working towards enhancing the wellbeing of people and the environment through kai. Residing on a lifestyle block in the Waikato, in her spare time she can either be found in her garden or preparing the next feast to share with her whānau.

Jarrod was born into the food innovation space being raised in Te Tauihu on his family orchard and food business“Robinson Brothers” that was established in Stoke in 1910. Jarrod has over 2 decades of international food commercialisation experience with a 10 year association with Wakatu. In his spare time you will find Jarrod socialising with family and friends enjoying local artisan produce. “I live in food heaven, and I want raise the profile of Te Tauihu as a destination and share our unique, authentic food experiences with the world ”

Jackie Stephens is of Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa and Ngāi te Rangi decent (tribal groups belonging to Aotearoa, New Zealand). She was born and raised in Motueka in Te Tauihu (top of the South Island) in Aotearoa.

She currently resides in Motueka raising three children, Kauri, Nikau and Āmiri.

For many years Jackie managed a fruit packing facility in Motueka but since then has moved on to working as Project Assistant for AuOra - a place she calls home.

Her passions in life are her family, children and culture. She enjoys many outdoor activities - camping, kayaking, fishing and nature walks.

Jackie is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in applied management, and will look to continue her studies, majoring in Project Management in 2022.

A natural storyteller, and a brand builder in the Food & Beverage space, Gemma has had the joy of building brands from the ground up. For the last 5 years she worked across the Kono portfolio, looking at Brand architecture, ensuring a diversified product strategy for the brands. With experience spanning all facets of marketing from working with Food technologists on Research & Development – to Commercial Managers, she is well versed on balancing the technical, along with consumer demands and commercial imperatives. She holds a Masters Degree in Communications and is a member of the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum.

Jayme Rae’s internship programme allows her to work in all areas throughout Wakatū and gives her a broader understanding of the business, providing her with the opportunity to connect with her whānau and whenua.

She has just recently finished working as a department manager for the Motueka branch of McDonalds and her experience lies with training and managing in a fast food environment, which is something that she enjoys.

For her first couple of months she will be working with HR, whilst working on various AuOra projects on a Friday. She has basic knowledge of Te Reo Māori and Japanese which she wishes to further develop by working in this environment.