Meet our team

Our Māori and Pacific Career Development and Employability Services team is devoted to helping you discover who you are and where you are headed in your future career path.

We support you to make informed decisions and gain experience in the workplace so you can leave university and walk into a job that fits your career goals.

Tēnā koe e te iwi. Nō Taranaki me Wairoa ōku tipuna. He uri tenei no Taranaki me Ngāti Kahungunu. I tupu ake au i Kirikiriroa. Ko Taranaki rāua ko Moumoukai te maunga e karanga mai ana. Ko Hangātahua rāua ko Waitirohia te awa e tāere mai ana. Ko Georgia Lambert tōku ingoa.

Having completed my own haerenga not too long ago as a tauira at the University of Otago, I know first-hand the excitement, curiosity, and sometimes even the uncertainty that comes with exploring career options. As I followed my passion for Human Resource Management and Māori Studies, I discovered my drive to make a positive impact and contribute to positive change.

This saw me in the field of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). Working in DEI for both SkyCity and Diversity Works New Zealand, I've witnessed the transformative power of fostering inclusive workplaces and the significance of belonging. This can only be achieved when we feel we can truly bring our whole selves to mahi and identify and own our unique value. I worked alongside internal teams and external partners, implementing initiatives and strategies that fostered an equitable and respectful culture across the motu. Now, as the Māori Career Development and Employability Consultant, my heart is set on uplifting and empowering our tauira.

Your cultural identity and heritage are precious assets on your career journey, and my goal is to provide you with comprehensive support tailored to your aspirations and values. I believe in personalised guidance, mentorship, and cultural understanding, ensuring that your unique talents and aspirations are celebrated. My vision is to provide holistic support that not only helps you achieve your career aspirations but also nurtures a strong sense of cultural pride. Founded in te ao Māori, I aim to create an environment where you can see yourself reflected in your chosen career paths.

I am so stoked to be in this space and being able to tautoko and awhi tauira. I am committed to empowering you to pursue your dreams with unwavering mana motuhake, paving the way for you, your whānau, your communities and future mokopuna generations.

Ngā mihi nui e te whānau! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch I would love to continue this kōrero together. You can reach me at georgia.lambert@auckland.ac.nz.

Talofa, Mālō ni, Fakatalofa. My name is Cherelle Fruean and I hail from the villages of Toamua and Falelima in Samoa. My maternal grandparents are from the islands of Tokelau and Tuvalu. I was born in American Samoa, raised in Aotearoa as a child, and have spent the majority of my life living in beautiful Samoa.

I graduated from The University of Auckland with my BCom, majoring in Marketing and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I continued my studies at the National University of Samoa and graduated with my PostGradDip in Development studies.

My employment journey thus far has included three and a half years within the United Nations system, specifically UN Women and UNDP. This experience has given me a unique perspective on the development world and has allowed me to acquire skills in liaising with government, stakeholder engagement, workshop coordination, and programme management. Following this, I had the opportunity to work in a mental health employment support space, supporting Pacific people into meaningful work as an approach to holistic mental health recovery. It is here were I learned the importance of purposeful employment and its impact on person's mental wellbeing.

Now, I am incredibly honoured and excited to be stepping into the role of Pacific Career Development and Employability Consultant at The University of Auckland. I strive to uplift and empower our Pacific students in a way that gives them complete confidence in their path. You can et in touch with me at cherelle.fruean@auckland.ac.nz.

Talofa lava, I’m Pepe, the Career Development and Employability Team Leader, Māori and Pacific working in CDES at the University of Auckland. I’ve worked in a number of different industries and in HR recruitment.

My main goal is to make sure that our Māori and Pacific students have the opportunity to explore their career ideas, discover opportunities and be exposed to careers they didn’t even know existed. We want students to see the enormous value of their cultural identity within the profession they choose, and to know that this is hugely beneficial to organisations.

I’m really passionate about empowering young people to realise their potential, to be able make informative career choices that fit with their personality and maximises their strengths, which I believe not only provides fulfilment but also a sense of purpose in life.

It is exciting to see people reach their potential and dream big. I support them to get where they want to go and introduce them to potential employers through a range of opportunities within and outside the university.

CDES provide a range of programmes that enable students to be exposed to opportunities and gain valuable experience in the workplace to build confidence and gain an understanding of different jobs and where they best fit."Employers are keen to meet students for their future graduate roles and I am the first port of call. This allows me to ensure that students network with key employers of choice.

I strongly encourage you to come into CDES to meet with me and join our Māori and Pacific programmes. Our programmes are designed to meet the specific needs of different year levels and study areas. We help make sure that our Māori and Pacific students can make informed decisions and gain experience in the workplace so they can leave university and walk into their first job that fits their career goals.

Visit us: We're located in Room 151, Level 1, Kate Edger Information Commons, 2 Alfred St.

Email us: cdesmaoripacific@auckland.ac.nz