Growing up in the timber town of Tokoroa in the Waikato, Cindy has travelled the world working in health and social services, amassing a wealth of leadership, organisational and strategic development experience.

Losing a sister too early to cancer motivated Cindy to return to Hauraki to raise her whānau and taking up the challenge of leading Hei Āhuru Mōwai to improve cancer outcomes for whānau Māori.

Cindy has extensive networks across Aotearoa and brings substantial expertise in enabling Māori health research and strategy through her work in public health, Māori health and hauora services.

Cindy is the immediate past Tumuaki CEO of Hei Āhuru Mōwai and is proud to have led our organisation through a significant period of internal growth and change in the public health sector across Aotearoa.

Most recently she led the National Cervical Cancer Screening Progamme team at Te Whatu Ora Health NZ. In the recent past Cindy also led the growth and development of the Māori health workforce for Te Whatu Ora Waikato as Director of Māori Workforce Development. Cindy also established a Māori Equity Strategy & Research Directorate and the development of the organisation's equity strategic direction.

Cindy holds a Bachelor of Social Services and a Masters of Applied Psychology from Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. She presented the findings and recommendations of her research into whānau experiences of Audiology early intervention services for tamariki Māori to the National Audiology Society conference and Waikato DHB Audiology Service. She is proud of the positive impact the research will have on whānau.