Michelle is a Polynesian educator, theatre-maker, mother and former high school dropout. She serves as interim CEO|Kaitiaki, and also Kāuru Kura|Head of School, at Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ, growing exceptional people to teach in low-decile schools. She is also the Creative Director of the Black Friars theatre company who are determined to hold courageous spaces of meaningful appearance, culturally, ecologically, and politically for their community. The company works to re-story Pasifika in the largest Polynesian city in the world, to activate our heritage literacies, to grow future leaders and to hold courageous spaces for our young people to walk tall in both of their worlds.