The group is focused on making key decisions to support transition for MIT and Unitec to a single independent entity from January 1, 2026.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga (Faleasiu, Vaiala and Puapua, Samoa)
Executive Director for Te Pūkenga Region 1
Peseta Sam has been in the tertiary education sector for the last seven years having joined MIT as Deputy Chief Executive, Pasifika in September 2017.
Sam has extensive networks in Tāmaki Makaurau as well as nationally and is a voice for Pacific peoples in education.
He has also provided executive leadership to teams developing attractive, connected and inspiring student journeys for learners from all backgrounds at both MIT and Unitec.
Prior to joining MIT, he spent nine years as the MP for Maungakiekie serving as Minister for Pacific Peoples, Ethnic Communities, Corrections and Local Government.
Born in Apia, Peseta Sam grew up in Māngere, raised by parents who like so many of their generation came to Aotearoa to make better lives for their children.
He believes in education as our best opportunity to improve our lives as individuals and communities..
Vince Hapi (Waikato Tainui)
Kaumatua, MIT
“Kotahi te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero.”
Translation: Through the eye of the needle pass the white thread, the black thread, and the red thread.
As Kaumatua of MIT and kaitiaki tiikanga for our Senior Leadership Team, Matua Vince believes this proverb about holding fast to the values and principles of hope, trust, faith, compassion and love best expresses the kaupapa of wraparound support he provides.
Mr Hapi worked as a carpenter before receiving a TeachNZ Career Changer Scholarship to train as a teacher.
Vince was Head of Maaori at Wesley College including preparing aakonga for kapa haka at ASB Polyfest and Ngaa Manu Koorero speech competitions.
Vince grew up on Maurea Marae, Rangiriri and knows the benefits of being surrounded by culture, reo and the korowai of Kiingitanga. A kaupapa he extends to all aakonga and kaimahi who come to MIT.
Vivienne Merito (Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Awa)
Taharangi – Director, Māori Success, Unitec
Viv was born in Tāmaki Makaurau and considers Poroporo, Whakatāne her tūrangawaewae.
As Taharangi she provides leadership for improving ākonga Māori outcomes, retention and success; while championing embedded Mātauranga Māori and Tīkanga Māori across the institute and developing our cultural capability to incorporate indigenous knowledge into training and all aspects of Unitec life.
Her mahi includes overseeing the Māia team, day-today operations of Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae and strategic positioning to collaboratively work across Unitec delivering for ākonga Māori, kaimahi, Iwi and our communities.
Before taking up the position of Taharangi, Ms Merito was Director of Marketing and Communications, Industry Partnership and Careers and Interim Director of Māori Success.
This experience along with more than two decades working in communications and marketing in both Aotearoa and United Kingdom allows Viv to bring a professional lens on achieving phenomenal results, while keeping the values of Te Noho Kotahitanga at the heart of all we do.
Dr Wiremu Manaia (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Awa)
Pou Whakarewa Mātauranga Māori: Director - Māori Education, MIT
Dr Manaia leads MIT’s responsiveness to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through managing the Māori Education Office at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Ōtara.
His tīma delivers Māori academic programmes, advises on curriculum, holds relationships with iwi and community stakeholders, supports ākonga, provides guidance on tīkanga and cultural competency training.
Wiremu’s association with MIT began in 2005 as a part-time lecturer. Since then, he has also served as a full-time Senior Lecturer in School of Business and Deputy Chief Executive – Māori.
During his career, Dr Manaia has lectured at a number of universities and polytechnics in both Aotearoa and Australia, as well as holding senior management positions in public service organisations.
Recent highlights have included Te Ara Oranga programme, a partnership to train a more representative health workforce for Counties Manukau, the development of Bachelor of Nursing – Māori degree and the reestablishment of Te Tawharau Māori staff caucus.
Professor Martin Carroll
Deputy Chief Executive – Academic – MIT & Unitec
Martin holds overall responsibility for academic and research portfolios including strategy, policy, programmes and quality.
Born in Aotearoa, Prof Carroll has held senior roles and worked as a consultant for learning institutes and government bodies in many countries with a particular focus on quality assurance.
Prior to joining MIT as Executive General Manager – Academic in 2019 and moving to his current role with both Tāmaki-based vocational education providers; Martin was Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic at Charles Darwin University for eight years.
Prof Carroll takes inspiration from seeing the fantastic value training adds for learners, whānau and employers celebrated at certificate, diploma and graduation ceremonies. Leading the successful bid to host the country’s first Centre of Vocational Excellence for Construction and Infrastructure at MIT is another recent highlight.
Martin is a strong voice on the team for our core purpose, a challenger of the status quo who sees innovating to meet skills needs across Tāmaki as the key focus for the future.
Kristine Brothers
Finance Director – Tāmaki
Kristine’s role includes ensuring our team has the financial insights to support strategy and decision making.
She is able to call on more than decade of experience with Unitec and expertise gained working for corporates in audit, telecommunications, engineering and tourism.
Ms Brothers is proud of introducing new systems to streamline our financial processes and improve reporting efficiency.
Kristine believes people are at the heart of our mahi whether it’s building positive team culture or collaborating across divisions to deliver the best outcomes for learners and the region.
Simon Nash
DCE Learner Experience & Success
Simon has responsibility for Student Success, Pathways and International teams at MIT and Unitec.
Central to his diverse portfolios is attracting learners, ensuring they are well supported, successful in completing their studies and gaining employment so they can contribute to our communities.
Mr Nash joined Unitec in 2009 from Massey University and has been on the combined leadership team of both divisions since 2020.
Personal highlights include working on Ōritetanga Project at MIT and contributing to Manaakitia te Rito, Unitec’s three-year Renewal Strategy.
Simon advances the interests of learners in our leadership conversations.
Katrina Van de Ven
People and Culture Director, Te Pūkenga Region 1
Katrina provides strategic direction, advice and solutions on a wide range of people matters.
Ms Van de Ven was Executive Director People and Culture at Wintec before joining Te Pūkenga Region 1 in 2023.
During her time with Wintec, Katrina was recognised as HRNZ Manager of the Year by the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand in 2019. While the team there won an innovation award from HRD (Human Resources Director publication) for developing a programme to enable staff and students to increase their knowledge of industry through forming valuable partnerships.
Prior to joining vocational education, Katrina held operations and project management roles in the banking sector.
She believes it’s the job of People and Culture to help develop our kaimahi to build the future workforce of Aotearoa through education.
Dan Brady
General Operations Manager – MIT & Unitec
Dan holds responsibility for enabling functions at both divisions including Property, Facilities Management, Transport & Logistics and Incident Management since 2022, believing great Operations help ākonga succeed through providing facilities, environment and support throughout our student journey.
Dan, who has previously held senior roles in Ministry of Justice, Baycorp and G4S Global; also oversees Enrolments, Registry, Timetabling and Graduation at Unitec.
Mr Brady is among the third generation of his whānau to live in Devonport and for the past ten years has served the community as a volunteer Firefighter at the rank of Station Officer, taking part in international competitions. He also coaches athletics and runs the Takapuna Athletics Club.
Simon Bilton
Programme Manager – Tāmaki
Dr Bilton’s role is key to realising vocational education’s full potential to serve the Tāmaki region, guiding strategic projects including MIT and Unitec’s transition to a single entity.
Simon has held senior positions in corporate business, health, community services, education and local government.
For MIT, he has served as Director of Schools and Performance, Ōtara campus; Interim Director of ConCOVE and co-ordinated the NZQA Interim Targeted Evaluation.
The self-described ‘South Auckland-lad’ attended Papakura High School before living in Manurewa for 25-years, recently moving back to Papakura.
Ali Ikram
Senior Communications Manager – MIT & Unitec
Ali leads and coordinates internal and external communications across both providers.
He has worked in vocational education since joining MIT in 2017.
Prior to that, Ali publicised arts, culture, heritage and libraries programmes at Auckland Council and worked in broadcasting.
