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Jessica Tyson
Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi Brave was founded by Jessica Tyson who also works as a news reporter at Whakaata Māorī (Māori Television). Jess founded Brave when she was Miss World New Zealand 2018 as part of her Beauty With a Purpose charity project. Each national Miss World titleholder will work on one charity project about one of the most pressing issues affecting young people in their country. Jess chose to focus sexual violence and helping young people affected. "As a child, I was a victim of sexual abuse and at eight years of age I went to court to fight the case in a trial against the perpetrator. Unfortunately, my family and I lost the case - but on the positive side, I was really lucky at the time to be surrounded by an amazing, supportive whānau and people who cared for me. With counseling and family support I healed really well following the experience and have gone on to live an amazing life. I know that the topic of sexual abuse or violence is hard for people to talk about or heal from and people are often too afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. I share my story to young New Zealanders that if they have been victims of any type of sexual violence there is support available to help them heal from it and I want to be there to help them." She has studied a certificate in Oral Proficiency in te reo Māori studied at Te Wānanga Takiura. In 2022 she completed Diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, level 7 course at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and continues to develop her skills in te ao Māori. As a reporter, Jess currently works for kaupapa Māori award winning current affairs show Te Ao with Moana. |
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Louise Walker
Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi Louise works as an Operations Manager. She graduated from a Bachelor of Business at Auckland University of Technology and is currently completing a Masters of Business Studies at Massey University. She is actively involved within her iwi and studied a Certificate in Oral Proficiency in te reo Māori. Louise also has experience working in television as a presenter for rangatahi TV shows and is the proud mother of a baby boy and girl. Her experience in business in particular HR and Accounting and her experience with rangatahi brings valuable skills to the operational side of the Brave Charitable Trust. |
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Anthony Thompson
Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tainui Anthony is the sustainability manager for the Sky City entertainment group. He has experience sitting on governance boards. He is the chairman of Whakauae Research Services and also sits on the board for Te Rākau Taonga Whenua Toopu Trust and Ngāti Hauti and Ngāti Whitikaupeka Rūnanga. Anthony studied a Bachelor of Science, with a double major in environmental and geo-spatial science. He also is involved at the National Iwi Chairs level in the rangatahi space and recently in the environmental sector. He has also studied a certificate in Oral Proficiency in te reo Māori. In 2022 he completed Diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, level 7 course Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and continues to develop his skills in te ao Māori. Anthony therefore brings strong leadership skills to the Brave Charitable Trust Board especially when it comes to organising our activities to support rangatahi Māori. |
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Hunter Lee Kawana
Ngāi Tahu Hunter is a mental health advocate and content creator. She has also been a public speaker, in particular for RealTalk, an event to help empower and inspire rangatahi Māori. As a speaker she has shared her experience about being a victim of sexual assault, having depression as a teenager and ways in which she overcame them both with the help of counselling and whānau support. She uses her social media platform to raise awareness about mental health and sexual violence. In 2022 she took up the role as Brave's social media content creator and has helped to create content to educate, empower and inspire rangatahi. |
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Sydney Batters
Ngāpuhi Sydney is a full time student at Massey University in Auckland and is studying a Bachelor in Business, majoring in marketing. Sydney took up the role as the Brave volunteer coordinator after being an ambassador for the charity during her time as Miss New Zealand 2020. Sydney's heart and purpose has always been with mental health, suicide prevention and sexual violence, which aligns with Brave’s purpose. Sydney is a survivor and has shared her sexual violence and mental health journey with multiple publications, including Woman’s Day and Lucky Break magazine, as well as her social media platforms where she openly expresses her advocacy for these issues. |
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