Bella Takiari-Brame

Committed to affecting positive change in her communities, Bella Takiari-Brame is an experienced, influential, and dedicated, professional director committed to increasing the consciousness and understanding of Te Ao Māori and equity in Governance.

In 2024, Bella became a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Waikato in recognition of her outstanding professional contributions and dedication to championing diversity and Māori voices at governance level.

Bella Takiari-Brame (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato/Te Rohe Pōtae, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is passionate about her culture, community, and creating solutions that make a difference for the vulnerable.

With a strong background in accountancy, Bella has gravitated towards full-time governance roles for iwi and corporate organisations – a career she began at the age of 18, after taking on her first role as the Treasurer of the Māori Land Corporation.

“I’ve always loved the governance space but knew that it was vital to explore the theories of academia, get the operational experience, and embed my feet in the real world before taking it on in a professional capacity,” says Bella.

An alumna of the University of Waikato’s Management School, a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Bella’s background  in global strategic financial and treasury management contributes to her current governance positions, which include Deputy Chair of her Iwi of Ngāti Maniapoto Te Nehenehenui Trust, Board Member of ACC, Director of Crown Infrastructure Partners, Director of Moana (Aotearoa Fisheries Limited)  and Braemar Hospital in Hamilton. Bella is also Chairperson of The Lines Company, electricity distributor of the King Country and Central Plateau region and recipient of the Community award at the Deloitte Energy Awards in 2023.

The former Piopio College student says she was empowered by her secondary school teachers and kuia to embrace both Te Ao Māori and the academic world, so taking the next step into higher education was a no-brainer.

Bella says she took many skills from her time studying for a Bachelor of Management Studies and a Master of Management Studies at the University of Waikato that have held her in good stead throughout her career. They include discipline, the importance of professionalism, and effective communication.

Bella-Takiari-Brame

The University of Waikato has a special place in my heart and always will. It offered lots of opportunity for Māori when I first started studying here, and still does.

After graduating with a Master of Management Studies, Bella started her career as an auditor in Auckland, before moving to London to take up the role of Financial Controller role for petroleum giant, Shell.

Throughout her 10 years in London, Bella never lost sight of where she was from, staying connected to Te Ao Māori through the Ngāti Rānana Māori Club. On her return to New Zealand with a young family, she and her husband returned to study at the University of Waikato to complete a Diploma in Māori & Pacific Development.

“To come home from London and to have the instant connection to our culture and like-minded people through the programme was a special way to transition back home,” says Bella.

Bella has committed herself to affecting positive change in her communities, making deliberate decisions to hold governance positions in areas that could make a difference.

In 2019, she took on the role of interim CEO of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board, a month before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, which meant Bella led the iwi through the challenging year of 2020.

“Despite the uncertainties we faced, being in this position and leading our people with aroha through such a pivotal year was a privilege, and one I’m proud to tell my children and grandchildren about,” says Bella.

Today, Bella holds many governance positions on boards in a range of sectors that allows her to continue to grow and learn.

My journey so far has been one of experience and development, where I am continually learning a lot about myself.

Her advice for anyone looking at getting into governance roles is to get the experience. “If you want to be on the board of a corporate, then get the experience first so you can confidently advise. Listen to your intuition as it will develop over time to the point that you’ll know what to put in your kete and what to throw out.”