Elaine Kawasaki

I am originally from Brazil, where I ran my own hair cosmetics business before moving to Aotearoa to study for a Master of Business Administration.

I started my career as a dentist, a role that taught me the invaluable lesson of making people smile. I believe that smiles stem from happiness, satisfaction, and meeting people’s needs. This insight has driven my commitment to improving health and wellbeing, always with the aim of bringing joy to others.

In New Zealand, my professional journey began at Massey University where I absorbed three key lessons: be out of the box; have a plan B and keep in mind that is not sufficient; there is always room for improvement. By bringing people together, weaving and sharing knowledge and experiences with others, being open to listen to diverse perspectives, I enriched my experiences, which ultimately led me to my current role as Program Coordinator for the IPMHA program at Te Pou.

Outside of work, I cherish time spent cooking with my family. It's a special moment for us to share stories, exchange culinary skills, and explore new recipes and flavours together.