Cara’s tīpuna are from Airana Ireland and Ingarangi England and came to Aotearoa in the 1950s. She grew up in Ōtautahi where she resides today. She has always had a passion for helping others and making the world a better place. After 12 years in London, in the financial sector, she realised she wanted to change direction and do mahi that really made a difference for others. She returned home to Aotearoa and retrained as a primary school teacher, a role she loved. This brought with it many opportunities for growth and development, including senior leadership. Cara’s role at the Trust is about supporting kaimahi to be well placed to support their client whānau. This involves back-end system and process enhancement. The core aims of her mahi are to empower whānau and to strengthen whānau ora, which align with her personal values. Creating equitable outcomes, for whānau – and especially for tamariki is important for Cara, as is being an honourable haumi ally and Te Tiriti partner. She enjoys spending time with whānau, travelling and exploring new places, and she loves learning. Cara has a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary), a Post-graduate Certificate in Applied Practice (digital and collaborative learning) and a Master’s degree in Contemporary Education.
