Ella is a proud descendant of the Manukorihi people who take shelter under Taranaki Maunga. She currently works at AFTRS as the Future Student Engagement Lead.
Ella specialises in student recruitment, outreach and student support where at the University of Auckland, she was an active member of the university community and a strong advocate for regional and māori students.
Returning home to Taranaki, Ella built extensive experience across event management, communications, policy development, strategy and project leadership, delivering tangible, on‑the‑ground impact.
A key career highlight was establishing an inaugural education policy for Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa and leading its implementation through the design and delivery of a first‑of‑its‑kind internship programme in partnership with local organisations.
Ella is consistently guided by a deep connection to people, place and story. These foundations shape her approach at AFTRS where she inspires and engages with the next generation of storytellers.