Rachel Taulelei
Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Panel
(Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Rārua)
Rachel is a prominent business leader and a strong advocate for the Māori economy and sustainability in the food and beverage sector.
Her commitment to kaitiakitanga has been evident throughout her career, from founder of sustainable seafood company Yellow Brick Road, to her time as chief executive officer of Māori-owned food and beverage company Kono, and now in her current role as co-founder of business design and brand strategy firm Oho.
Rachel presently chairs Moana NZ and the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust (Sky Stadium). She is a director for Sealord, ANZCO Foods, and The Warehouse Group where she chairs the Environmental, Social Sustainability Committee. She is a member of the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC), chaired the Council through Aotearoa, New Zealand’s 2021 year of hosting APEC, and this year will lead the Regional Economic Integration Working Group.
Rachel is invested in equity and opportunities for women through sport, and is co-owner of professional women’s basketball team the Tokomanawa Queens, and chair of the Queens Foundation.