Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o appointed to Unitec Council
Women of Influence Award winner Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o has been appointed to the Unitec Council by Tertiary Education,
Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.
Emeline has made a significant impact in the community and has also been recognised for her leadership skills. In 2006
she was awarded the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award and in 2013 received the Westpac Woman of Influence Award for
Community and Social Enterprise. She was also selected by the Tindall Foundation as a member of the New Zealand Social
Entrepreneur Fellowship.
“We are honoured to welcome Emeline onto our Council,” says Lee Mathias, Unitec Council Chair. “She has a wealth of
experience and knowledge that will be incredibly valuable and support our commitment to delivering great outcomes for
our students.”
In 2001 Emeline founded Affirming Works to provide innovative Pasifika mentoring and educational programmes to Pacific
children, young people and their families in the Auckland region. To date, Affirming Works has mentored over 5000 young
people in areas such as numeracy, literacy and the transition from school to work.
Her work in this area led her to establish Fofola Consultancy Ltd, which contributes to public policy development in New
Zealand and the South Pacific. This company has played a vital role in creating the first Pacific Youth Development
Strategy for Auckland.
Emeline has also been an advocate on behalf of the Pacific community on social and economic issues within Government.
She has served as a Community Advisor to the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and Social Development. She is a Board
member of Pacific Futures Ltd for Whanau-ora and a Trustee for the Youth Horizons Trust.
“I am excited to be joining the Unitec council,” Emeline says. “I have a passion for education and helping young people
and communities develop so Unitec is a great fit.”
Emeline has a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons.), a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Science and a Masters in Philosophy
majoring in Social Policy.
ENDS