Tania Pouwhare
Chief Executive

Ngāi Tūhoe. Leads the efforts and impact of Good Shepherd in Aotearoa. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Tania brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing social and economic justice, particularly for women, whānau and communities most impacted by inequality and harm. 

Over more than 20 years, she has worked across Aotearoa and the UK in roles spanning policy, campaigning, community innovation, and Indigenous economic development.  

Tania gravitates toward tackling complex issues of social and economic justice. She has pioneered work introducing social procurement in Aotearoa, co-founded Amotai – enabling over $460m in spend with Māori and Pasifika businesses. She has led system-change initiatives with The Southern Initiative, a social innovation team at Auckland Council focused on Māori and Pasifika whānau. Earlier in her career she supported women experiencing family and economic harm, including roles with Women’s Refuge in Aotearoa and the Women’s Resource Centre in London. 

Tania is widely recognised as a thought leader and changemaker. She is a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Social Equity Fellowship, an Honorary Fellow of Engineering NZ, and in 2024 was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to social innovation. 

Born and raised in Aotearoa, Tania’s work is anchored in her unwavering belief in equity, justice, and strong systems that create opportunities for women and girls to thrive.