Media Release: Hillary Institute and Edmund Hillary Fellowship Announce New Board Members

Dinnie Moeahu and Ian Short

3 August 2023

The Hillary Institute of International Leadership and Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) are delighted to announce the appointment of Board Trustees/Directors Dinnie Moeahu and Ian Short.

Board Chair, Anna Kominik says their appointments will continue to strengthen the work of the Hillary Institute and EHF for the benefit of Aotearoa NZ.

“Both Ian and Dinnie bring great mana, extensive governance experience, wide-reaching networks, and a strong commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Their depth of experience, strategic and cultural capabilities, and alignment with Sir Edmund Hillary’s values - particularly service - are integral to our organisation’s purpose - to partner with Aotearoa NZ to find and build solutions to our toughest challenges.”

The Hillary Institute and EHF brings together 11 global transformational leaders (Hillary Laureates), and more than 500 innovators, entrepreneurs and investors (Edmund Hillary Fellows) who are committed to New Zealand as a basecamp for global impact. In 2021/22, Fellows raised nearly $240M of capital for Kiwi businesses, directly invested $21.2M, created more than 127 new NZ-based businesses, and gave more than 6,500 pro bono hours to New Zealand groups and communities. 

Ms Kominik says Mr Moeahu has been appointed as a Trustee/Director (Kaupapa Māori), and notes he has extensive experience helping organisations strengthen their policies, practices and decision-making processes to support a Te Tiriti-centric and intergenerational approach. He also brings a wealth of experience in local government, innovation and community and was the 2019 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.  

“Aotearoa NZ needs a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable innovation environment to succeed. The Board is committed to integrating Te Tiriti, including how we honour and partner with our iwi partners, Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui, and how we support Māori innovators and entrepreneurs in their work. This is a whole-of-Board commitment and we are grateful to have Dinnie on board to support our bi-cultural path.”

Reflecting on the opportunity, Mr Moeahu (Te Atiawa, Ngāruahine, Taranaki, Te Arawa, and Ngāti Porou) says he is looking forward to furthering Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnerships “that empower and develop unique global opportunities”.

“I have been fortunate to be in te ao Māori space and te ao Pākeha space and am comfortable manoeuvring through both worlds, while working to ensure a beautiful blend of our country and finding ways for how we can move forward together.

“I am looking forward to advocating for our country’s entrepreneurial spirit here in Aotearoa and internationally. Having a strong te ao Māori focus across the organisation is not only going to benefit the organisation, but our country and other countries as well, particularly given the international reach of Fellows and Laureates.”

Ms Kominik also welcomed Ian Short to the Board, saying his strong financial background and breadth of global climate and systems change experience were already creating value in the development of The Mission Studio, which is focused firstly on climate innovation.

“Ian brings rich climate expertise, from his role as former CE of European-based Climate-KIC, coupled with deep understanding of what it takes to drive systems transformation. Combined with his connections to the innovation ecosystem and philanthropic environment, Ian has been crucial in the development of The Mission Studio, as a partnership model for systems change.”

Mr Short says that The Mission Studio has the potential to be a game-changer for systems innovation in areas such as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“I have been blown away by the amazing group of Laureates and Fellows committed to tackling some of Aotearoa NZ’s and the world’s ‘gnarly’ challenges. Working together, these world-leading people from across a broad range of cultures, sectors and disciplines have the potential for meaningful change and long-lasting value for people and the planet,” Mr Short says.

Ms Kominik also acknowledged the commitment and service of outgoing trustees/directors, including Sacha McMeeking, who gave more than a decade of service to the Board, and Hillary Institute Founder Mark Prain who last year transitioned from trustee to a Kaitiaki (Guardian) role. 

“I have the greatest confidence that both Dinnie and Ian will make their own positive and enduring impact on the future of our organisation, and fellow Trustees/Directors Andrew Hoppin, Camia Young and I look forward to working with them,” she says. 

-ENDS-

*Dinnie Moeahu’s Director/Trustee role commenced 1 August 2023.

Dinnie Moeahu - Bio

Dinnie Moeahu (of Te Atiawa, Ngāruahine, Taranaki, Te Arawa, and Ngāti Porou) is a dedicated public servant and a second-term New Plymouth District Councillor with a deep love for his community. Moeahu's community vision has led him to champion multiple community initiatives as a visionary leader, scholar, and a disrupter for positive change.

Graduating with a Master's degree in Māori and Indigenous Leadership, Moeahu is dedicated to empowering Māori and Indigenous communities. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Canterbury, he has studied Indigenous governance, sustainable practices, helping organisations build their cultural competencies. Moeahu is aiming to illuminate innovative pathways for the preservation and revitalisation of Indigenous knowledge in contemporary society, to help enhance businesses and organisations.

In 2019, he was honoured with the Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year award, symbolising his dedication to driving positive change and inspiring others to join him on this transformative journey.

Moeahu's vision for the future remains rooted in building Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnerships empowering both Indigenous communities and their unique relationships with businesses globally. His unwavering dedication to his heritage, academic pursuits, and community service has positioned him as a beacon of hope for Māori through his endeavours, instilling a profound sense of pride in cultural identity, inspiring others to embrace their roots and pave the way for a more inclusive society. 

He aspires to forge stronger connections between traditional wisdom and contemporary challenges, ensuring that Indigenous voices are at the forefront of sustainable development and cultural preservation. Moeahu's journey exemplifies the transformative power of education, leadership, and cultural pride. As he continues to make a difference in the lives of those around him, his commitment to fostering change and empowering Indigenous communities serves as an inspiration to us all.

Ian Short - Bio 

Ian is the co-founder of The Connective, an organisation that helps design and implement alternative business models and investment structures that deliver for people and the planet. He is the former CEO of Climate-KIC, the world’s largest climate change innovation partnership, and of the Institute for Sustainability. Both organisations were established to support systems innovation. After starting his career in finance with the New Zealand Treasury and 10 years at a global investment bank, he was introduced to the value of a systems mindset when leading the establishment of an urban development corporation responsible for the regeneration of east London. Ian is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Chair of the Auckland Foundation and an RSA Oceania Board Member. 

The Connective are leaders in developing and delivering systems-based, regenerative programmes that maximise economic, environmental and social returns for investors, communities and asset owners. They work with organisations challenging BAU or looking to create systems change. Primarily through piloting and scaling models that better understand inter-dependencies to reduce risk, improve returns, increase deal flow and deliver more for people and the planet.

About the Hillary Institute & EHF

The Hillary Institute of International Leadership and Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) brings together 11 global transformational leaders (known as the Hillary Laureates), and more than 500 innovators, entrepreneurs and investors (known as the Edmund Hilary Fellows) who are committed to New Zealand as a basecamp for global impact. Through the world-leading Global Impact Visa pilot programme, developed in partnership with Immigration NZ, EHF has attracted to Aotearoa NZ outstanding global talent who alongside New Zealand innovators, are tackling local and global challenges, from climate change to social inequities to business growth and productivity. 

In 2021/22, Fellows delivered benefit for Aotearoa NZ by:

• Raising nearly $240M in capital and $21M in direct investment.

• Contributing and building innovation skills/capacity and helping businesses scale by gifting time and expertise, and leveraging global connections (more than 5,000 pro bono hours to NZ business organisations). 

• Creating 219+ NZ jobs and over 120 new businesses.

• Donating nearly $9M in money or goods to groups and communities and gifted more than 6,500 hours (equivalent of six full-time volunteers for the year).

• Providing leadership and sector expertise, and growing skills and capacity by holding 160+ different governance roles across Aotearoa NZ.

For more information, see 2021/22 Annual Report.

The Hillary Institute of International Leadership is a charitable trust, launched on 22 January 2007. It is the 100% shareholder of EHF, a not-for-profit limited liability company with charitable status.

The Hillary Institute was founded by Mark Prain, launched by Sir Edmund Hillary, with the Rt. Hon Helen Clark, former prime minister for Aotearoa NZ, as Patron, and David Caygill, former cabinet minister, as the founding Board Chair.