Te Tīma Arataki

Gus Gilmore

Tumuaki | Chief Executive

Gus was appointed as the joint Chief Executive of Unitec and MIT in August 2020. Before he was appointed to his joint role, he had been Chief Executive of MIT since September 2016. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Chief Executive of Operations at the Tertiary Education Commission where he was responsible for funding tertiary education in New Zealand and implementing education policy. Prior to this, Gus held the role of Project Director for Star Alliance and held various General Manager roles at Air New Zealand, including GM Operations for the international airline. 

Andrew McSweeney

Deputy Chief Executive Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction

Andrew was previously CEO and latterly Kaihautū – Director, of ServiceIQ, the workplace training specialist for the aviation, hospitality, retail, travel, tourism and museums sectors. Prior to his role at ServiceIQ, Andrew worked with AgResearch for seven years as its Shared Services Director. His other roles have been as Group General Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Services for PGG Wrightson Limited, and executive positions as General Manager Human Resources for ANZ National Bank, Human Resources Manager for Fujitsu and Head of Human Resources for BNZ.

Keri-Anne Tane

Chief People Officer

Keri-Anne (Ngāti Rangiteaorere, Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Te Rarawa) joined Te Pūkenga in November 2020 as Director People and Culture. With a career spanning over 25 years of experience in human resource management she has previously held the roles of Executive Director People, Engagement & Capability at Toi Ohomai; GM People, Culture and  Safety at Scion and HR Manager of Unilever NZ. Earlier career experiences have included OfficeMax, Mercy Hospital, Fletcher Steel and Bunnings. Keri-Anne is based in Rotorua where she has strong ties (including governance) to her hapū and community.

Michelle Teirney

Chief Financial Officer

Michelle is an experienced financial and commercial leader across the public and commercial sector. Michelle was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Operations for MIT and Unitec in 2021, and has held a number of executive roles at MIT since 2013.  Prior to her roles in the vocational education sector, Michelle was responsible for leading Pfizer New Zealand’s merger, acquisition and divestment portfolio.  Her other roles have involved transforming finance teams, improving business outcomes and establishing shared services as Group Accounting Manager for Auckland DHB and as Group Accounting and Group Commercial Manager for Amcor New Zealand along with a number of consulting roles.  With a passion for lifelong learning, Michelle has a Bachelor of Commerce, Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration and Master of Management with Distinction.  Michelle is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors in NZ.

Paora Ammunson

Deputy Chief Executive Tiriti Outcomes

Bringing significant experience on the governance boards of tribal, government, farming, sporting and commercial bodies, Paora has been an advocate for tertiary, vocational and work-based learning since his very first job in the former Wairarapa Community Polytechnic.

Playing a leadership role in key government initiatives over many years, such as the Rugby World Cup and APEC leaders forum. He has chaired the Wairarapa Rugby Union and been a councillor on the South Wairarapa District Council. He has also served as chair and executive director for his own iwi.

More recently Paora has been a key architect of the Tertiary Education Commission’s learner success work. He is a strong advocate for whole of organisation approaches to achieving more equitable life outcomes for learners and their fānau, and is very committed to the tertiary system working in collaboration to achieve this goal.

Of Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne o Wairārapa, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Rongomai and Ngāti Whakaue whakapapa, Paora has served his family marae in Greytown since the 1980s.

Ziena Jalil

Chief of Staff

Ziena has helped some of New Zealand’s largest businesses and education institutions build their reputation and revenue, advised Ministers, and boards. Her expertise includes communications, stakeholder engagement, leadership and governance. She is also a sought after speaker on leadership, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Recognised by Campaign Asia Pacific as part of its 2020 Women to Watch, a group of 40 outstanding women in the Asia Pacific, Ziena has received several international awards for her work promoting New Zealand trade and education in Asia. Her previous roles include Partner at SenateSHJ, Regional Director (South and Southeast Asia) for Education New Zealand, New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Singapore, and Head of North Asia Marketing and Communications for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. More recently she has been running her own consulting practice focused on strategy and stakeholder engagement. Her governance experience includes board roles for public, private and not-for-profit entities, including in the education sector.