13 September 2021
Ema
il: [FYI request #16422 email]
Dear John Luke
Thank you for your email received 17 August 2021 asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. May I kindly request the current member of Ethnic Communities Development Fund and
Ethnic Communities Digital Inclusion Fund. Their bio if available. Any conflict of interest held
on file for each members. Their current term of appointments and pay rate.
2. Also for transparency reasons, I would like to kindly request the department to consider to
publish the current members on your website. So the public knows who they dealing with.
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ethniccommuni
ties.govt.nz%2Four-programmes%2Fethnic-communities-digital-inclusion-
fund%2F&data=04%7C01%7CDanny.Shaw%40ethniccommunities.govt.nz%7C53588fdc
cc414b529e2608d9615903ea%7Cf659ca5cfc474e96b24d14c95df13acb%7C0%7C0%7C63764
7857207665938%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiL
CJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=g5gIiFK%2F40wwlwRyP3VwD7Ay
U%2FoZ9GIQKpEo%2BYNS8Gk%3D&reserved=0.
In response to your request, the current panel members, their biographical information and records of
any ongoing conflicts of interest held on file, are attached as Appendix A and B respectively for both
the Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) and the Ethnic Communities Digital Inclusion Fund
(ECDIF).
All panel members are required to declare any actual, potential and/or perceived conflicts of interest
once they have been appointed, as well as when assessing requests received under the ECDF and
ECDIF.
Fees for external panel members are identical for both the ECDF and ECDIF and are based on the
Cabinet Fees Framework, which aligns with the fees paid by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA),
the host agency for the Ministry for Ethnic Communities (the Ministry). The current fee structure is:
• new panel members are paid a half day meeting rate of $108 to attend an induction
session, of up to three hours;
• a full day meeting rate of $215;
• a half day meeting rate of $108 for meetings between 1 to 3 hours;
• a rate of $54 for meetings of up to 1 hour; and
www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz
• reading fees paid at a full day rate of $215 for every 50 reviews, or on a pro rata basis.
In response to part two of your request, the Ministry can confirm the ECDF panel members meet
monthly and have been appointed until at least 30 June 2022. The Ministry intends to publish the
names of the panel members on, or before, 30 September 2021.
The ECDIF is an annual fund for which the last round of funding was closed in April 2021. As the next
funding round will not open until early 2022 and the panel members are subject to change, the
Ministry intend to proactively update this information for each respective funding round once panel
members have been confirmed.
Yours sincerely
Natasha Narayan
Manager Planning, Systems & Services
Appendix A
Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) Panel Members as at 1 September 2021
Name
Biographical information
Term
Any conflict of interest
held on file
Cashias Gumbo
Cashias Gumbo is the current treasurer of the Zimbabwean Canterbury New
Appointed July 2021 Zimbabweans In
Location:
Zealand Society, and co-founder of Gumbo & Good Wines in North
until 30 June 2023
Canterbury Incorporated
Christchurch
Canterbury. Before establishing his own businesses, Cashias was a resident
Gender: Male
sommelier at various private hotels in both South Africa and New Zealand,
Ethnicity:
where he was responsible for the beverage programmes, including the
Zimbabwean
acquisition and end to end management of hospitality outlets. Cashias also
founded and headed the New Zealand Wine Tasting Team leading them to
the 2017 World Championship where they gained 4th place in the World
Challenge. Cashias continues to play a key developmental role in the
strategic vision for African Business Operators in New Zealand (AfBONZ), a
business information hub which he serves as the Chairperson. His passion for
charity work extends beyond borders to Africa where he is a volunteer board
member of EcoCARE Africa and volunteer Director of EcoCARE Pacific Trust, a
New Zealand registered charity, responsible for human development project
design. EcoCARE Africa & Pacific is a non-profit organisation working to build
sustainable development through capability building in the areas of
education, health and the environment. Cashias is a Wine Graduate from the
School of Business (University of Cape Town), Wine and Spirits Education
Trust Global, and member of the Court of Master Sommelier Europe. He
holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science and International
Relations and Media and Communications (University of Canterbury), a
Master of Arts in European Union (EU) Studies and Diplomacy and is a
Doctoral Candidate at the University of Canterbury. Cashias’ research
interests are in Humanitarianism, Political Communication, International
Relations, Culture Diplomacy, Sustainable Development Policy, Non-
www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz
Governmental Organisations, European Union diplomacy, International
Political Communications, Media and Social Media analysis, Elite Perceptions,
Public Policy, and Multilateral Organisations.
Michelle Huang
Michelle Huang is a 1.5 generation Chinese-New Zealander from Tāmaki
Appointed July 2021 •
Office of External
Location:
Makaurau, with experience working across both private and public sectors.
until 30 June 2023
Affairs
Auckland
She is a diversity & inclusion professional, consultant, researcher, app
• Multiethnic Young
Gender: Female
founder, activist and remote educator of children in rural China. Michelle has
Leaders NZ
Ethnicity:
lived and worked in New York, Shanghai, Sydney and Auckland, allowing her
Chinese
to offer a truly global perspective to decision making. Michelle has previously
served on a number of non-profit community boards; and she is currently the
Chair of Multiethnic Young Leaders New Zealand (MYLN) – the country’s
fastest-growing network of ethnically-diverse young leaders in the Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion space. Multiethnic Young Leaders NZ is committed to
transforming the face of Aotearoa New Zealand to better reflect our growing
diversity.
Luke Qin
Luke Qin is an experienced international trade banker and community
Appointed July 2021
• Football for The
Location:
funding panel member. Luke currently serves as an Elected Board Member of until 30 June 2023
Community
Wellington
the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Executive Committee
Development Trust
Gender: Male
Member of the New Zealand China Council, National Executive of the New
• NZ China Friendship
Ethnicity:
Zealand Chinese Association, Official Cultural Advisor for the Hurricanes
Society - Tauranga
Chinese
Super Rugby team, and Chair of Hutt City Council Community Funding Panel.
He is also an Elected Board Director of Transparency International New
Zealand, chairing the Affiliations Committee and serving on the Audit & Risk
Committee. Luke graduated with a Master of Applied Finance from Victoria
University of Wellington and is currently studying Te Reo Māori. He is a
member of the Institute of Directors, Asia New Zealand Foundation
Leadership Network, Rotary Club of Wellington, and has been serving as a
Justice of the Peace since 2012. Luke was awarded a Community Service
Award by Multicultural New Zealand in 2020, and a Long Service Medal by
Fire and Emergency New Zealand for his service as a Qualified Volunteer
Firefighter. He also successfully completed the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair
Challenge to raise funds for charity in 2018.
Prabhavathi
Prabha is a very experienced art practitioner and administrator. She has over Appointed July 2021 •
United Sri Lanka
Ravi (QSM, JP)
20 years of experience running her own Indian classical dance school, Natraj
until 30 June 2023
Association (USLA)
Location:
School of Dance, in Wellington. She is also the General Manager of Arohanui
Incorporated
Wellington
Strings-Sistema Hutt Valley. Prabha is an independent director, facilitator,
• New Zealand
Gender: Female
coach, mentor, assessor, presenter, panel speaker and an experienced
Indonesia Association
Ethnicity: Indian governor. She is currently also an assessor for the Creative New Zealand
• Hindu Council of New
Creative Communities Scheme and sits on the Community Panel for central
Zealand Incorporated
ward at Hutt City Council. Prabha sits on various not-for-profit boards to
• Auckland Tamil
bring much-needed ethnic diversity and thinking to the boards. She is also a
Association
management consultant and helps businesses and organisations with
•
governance, strategy, business planning & growth, business processes,
Communities Action
projects and work programmes. Prabha’s work and contribution to dance
Trust New Zealand
and the ethnic communities has been well recognised in New Zealand
(CATNZ)
through several national, regional and community awards during the past
decade including a Queen’s Service Medal and Hutt City Mayoral Civic
Honour Awards. She was also a Finalist for Wellingtonian of the Year Award
in 2016 for Education. In June 2018, she was one of the judges for the TV3
Great NZ Dance Masala competition, a first of its kind on national Television
in New Zealand.
Mastura Abd
Mastura holds a Master’s Degree (Distinction) in Education with experience
Reappointed
• Al Noor Charitable
Rahman
in teaching, management and advisory roles. She has been strongly involved
October 2019 until
Trust
Location:
in the education of culturally and linguistically diverse learners that focuses
30 June 2022
• Canterbury Refugee
Canterbury
on equity and excellence. She has worked with and applied principles of
Resettlement and
Gender: Female
inclusiveness, empowerment and community development in advocacy and
Resource Centre
Ethnicity:
support across professional practice and community engagement. Mastura
• Federation of Islamic
Malaysian
has also been a Chair of a CALD health advisory group and a board member
Associations of New
of Population Health Advisory. She has also been a Deputy Chair and board
Zealand Incorporated
member on an NGO, a panel member for scholarship selections and a
working party member for development of Christchurch Multicultural
Strategy.
Kumar Mather
Kumar is a former General Manager and Director with 22 years local and 10
Appointed October
Nil
Location:
years international experience in leading Danish multinational Health Service 2019 until 30 June
Auckland
and British multinational Pharmaceutical organisations. As Executive /
2022
Director of large multinationals, he has taken responsibility for governance
Gender: Male
and statutory requirements. Kumar is a UK qualified Chartered Management
Ethnicity: Sri
Accountant with wide cross-functional and international experience in
Lankan
Finance, Marketing and Business Development at Director Level and CEO
experience. He has led senior management teams of professionals, strategic
development and profitable turnaround of total company operations and
negotiated 6 acquisitions and 5 contracts with PHARMAC with values in
excess of $100 million. Kumar has also built collaborative relationships with
Government agencies and with all stakeholders and helped build the image
of the company. His governance experience across key responsibilities
including Vision, Strategic Planning and Implementation, Collaborative
Relationship Management, Building Reputation and Public Image,
Motivational Leadership, Commercial Acumen and Negotiation Skills, Start-
up Companies and Business Transformation, and Compliance and Risk
Management. Kumar has also made significant contributions to a number of
community projects in New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Zambia, including:
• Feasibility Assessment Committee and Finance Committee and Task
Groups for St Aidan’s Anglican Church in Remuera for several activities
such as Financial Management, Community Service, Social Justice and
Peace, Property Maintenance, and Pastoral Care
• “Sight for the Poor” project in Sri Lanka
• “Eradication of Polio by the year 2000” project in conjunction with the
World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Rotary Club of Colombo
• Kyindu Primary School in Lusaka, Zambia
• Veritas Trust, set up to educate underprivileged Zambians.
Appendix B
Ethnic Communities Digital Inclusion Fund (ECDIF) for the 2020/21 financial year funding round
Name
Biographical information
Term
Any conflict of interest
held on file
Ciara Arnot
Ciara helps lead the grant making programme at Internet NZ and is familiar with Appointed May Internet NZ
the DIA Digital Inclusion Blueprint. She is across evaluation capability issues in
2021 until 30
this sector and has worked on the ground with providers to increase this
June 2021
knowledge among charities and community groups
Jas Hua
Jas is working as a UX Researcher for the Digital Inclusion Team, within the
Appointed May
Aotearoa New Zealand
Digital Public Service Group at DIA. She has spent the last decade designing and
2021 until 30
Federation of Tamil
delivering quality digital human centric solutions across different sectors:
June 2021
Sangam Inc (ANTS)
banking & investment, digital marketing and technology. Jas is passionate about
design systems, lean UX methodologies and committed to deliver digital
solutions that make a difference for users and businesses. Jas received two user
experience awards from NZ Best Design September 2018 for the work she does
around encouraging New Zealanders to save for their retirement.
Martine Udahemuka
Senior Policy Analyst
Appointed May Somali Education and
2021 until 30
Development Trust
Ministry for Ethnic Communities
June 2021
