Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

I grew up in the beautiful island of Vava'u in the Kingdom of Tonga before migrating to New Zealand (Aotearoa) in 2003. Since then I've been fortunate to call this amazing country, renowned for its green landscapes and can-do attitude of its people, home.

As the eldest of five, I grew up in a family-oriented environment where our Tongan culture was embraced.I attended Wesley College and the University of Auckland and am currently working as a management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

I'm passionate about enabling and connecting people, with a particular focus on advancing the interests of the Maori and Pacific communities. This is evident in the initiatives I've been proud to be a part of, such as Navigators of Success (a social enterprise that aims to inspire and connect Maori and Pacific people) and TupuToa (a not-for-profit dedicated to growing Maori and Pacific leaders).

Q: What is your view of the world as it is today? And how do you define the concept of a better world?

We live in a world where challenges are prevalent but with that comes opportunity to improve the current state of our communities. I think we as a world can do better with issues relating to class, age, gender, ethnicity and sexuality.

My concept of a better world is one where everybody has equal access to opportunities and resources.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society?

Unemployment, poverty and homelessness to name a few. Addressing these problems will require a collective approach on a local and global scale to identify practical and effective solutions in the long term.

Another big challenge is the lack of awareness of opportunities, role models and pathways to success, especially for Maori and Pacific people.

Q: As a young individual what are a few of the hurdles that you had to overcome up until today?

One of the key challenges I faced after moving to New Zealand was navigating the cultural differences. The first few years were particularly challenging in terms of learning the language, adjusting to the attitudes/behaviors and world view from a communal to individualistic culture.

Another challenge was constantly having to address the predominantly negative connotations that come with being a Pacific Islander in New Zealand. We are highly represented in negative statistics and so I was seen by many through that lens. Despite this, I've been able to defy the odds by using those statistics as motivation and not letting them define me.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

I'm a big believer in learning from others. Having someone who has 'been there, done that' to provide guidance and support will be invaluable.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?

If you can see it, believe it, you can achieve it. What it means is if you have a dream/goal and you give it your all by working hard and never giving up, the rest will follow.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

TupuToa is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to grow strong and resilient Maori and Pacific leaders. They provide internships for Maori and Pacific students to gain valuable experience with organisations in the public and private sector. Participants of the TupuToa programme are provided support before, during and after their internships as a form of investing in their future and their communities.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are made towards gender equality?

Some of the biggest challenges women in New Zealand face are the gender pay gap and lower representation in leadership roles.

There are organisations who are working towards addressing these issues such as Global Women (NZ) who brings together New Zealand's most influential leaders to promote gender equality in our workplaces.

Q: Athena40 is the first ever global selection of the top 40 women forward thinkers, commentators, activists, authors, academics, entrepreneurs, executives, innovators. Can you think of a truly innovative and forward-thinking woman from your country that you wish to nominate for the Athena40 global ranking?

Anne Fitisemanu, CEO of TupuToa. She is a trailblazer and forward-thinking woman who has achieved a lot especially in the diversity and innovation space. She is an inspiration to many.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

"Be the change, you wish to see." This phrase resonates with me as I'm a strong believer in the sense that one is in control of their destiny; to be the person that one aspires to be ultimately depends on oneself.

Q: Tell us one thing that you have learned from your mentor.

The importance of establishing and maintaining strong relationships with others.