Fibre Fale founder appointed to University Council
15 June 2023
Julia Arnott-Neenee, CEO and Co-Founder of Fibre Fale, has been appointed to the University of Auckland Council.
Julia Arnott-Neenee, CEO and Co-Founder of Fibre Fale - a Pacific purpose-led organisation building pathways and platforms to see more Pacific people in Technology - has been appointed to the Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland Council.
Julia (Samoan, Chinese and British) is a champion for Digital Equity and increased representation of Pacific Peoples in Technology. She is an experienced Tech professional with a career spanning Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States and is focussed on looking at how Technology can impact the most people for the better, advocating progress that reaches the whole of society.
At 24 years old Julia was appointed to the role of Strategic Planner of United Kingdom and Ireland for IT company HP Inc. Even now, representation of Pacific People in the Technology sector is just 2.8 percent, which meant she defied all odds to not only achieve a senior strategic role at the Fortune 50 company but also to represent Pacific wāhine on the global stage.
Returning home in 2020 she co-founded a youth-led Pacific social enterprise Fibre Fale as part of her mission to serve Pacific communities. Fibre Fale has earned the support of Spark Foundation, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Foundation, Foundation North, Perpetual Guardian and Individuals through its education, facilitation and advocacy work.
Julia has previously sat in governance roles with the Digital Council for Aotearoa, World Economic Forum Global Futures Council on Artificial Intelligence and Inclusion and Hi-Tech Trust, and is currently an Independent Director with Pinnacle Incorporated, and an alumna of NEXT Foundation Fellowships and Leadership New Zealand's Mana Moana programme.
Julia will provide perspective around some of our most important stakeholders whom we acknowledge have previously been under-represented around the Council table.
A ministerial appointment to the University of Auckland Board for a four-year term, Julia said she is delighted to be an advocate for Pacific people in Aotearoa’s leading university.
“I am deeply honoured to step forward into this position at a time where Education and Technology are converging at an extraordinary pace. I look forward to bringing with me a unique lens through my professional journey to date and representing our Pacific people ensuring our voice is heard.”
Cecilia Tarrant, Chancellor of the University, said she was delighted that the Minister accepted the University’s recommendation for the nomination to Council.
“This is an important time for the University as we implement our strategy, Taumata Teitei, and implement the Curriculum Transformation Project. Julia will provide perspective around some of our most important stakeholders whom we acknowledge have previously been under-represented around the Council table,” she said.
“Julia brings enormously valuable insights gained from her own experiences to date, and her work and connections with youth, in technology and with the Pacific community.”