Mele Wendt (BA, DipTchg, CertMgt, CertIoD) is a respected leader in the education sector and not for profit sector and her governance career spans over 20 years across 15 different entities.

A certified member of the Institute of Directors since 2007, she currently serves on the boards of Te Kura (the Correspondence School) and the Wellington Community Trust. Past governance appointments include the Pasifika Education Centre (which she chaired), Lotteries Wellington/Wairarapa Distribution Committee, Volunteer Services Abroad (VSA), Major Arc Charitable Trust, Victoria House, Canada Fund, MBIE Pacific Think-Tank, National Cervical Screening Programme Advisory Group, to name a few.

For 10 years Mele was the executive director of Fulbright New Zealand and prior to this worked at Victoria University of Wellington for nine years as the founding pacific islands liaison officer and then manager of the domestic recruitment operation.

Mele also provides consultancies in various areas including scholarships, Pacific peoples’ development, governance and organisational capacity building.

Mele is a member of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A., Wellington Pasifika Business Network, and SuperDiverse Women. She is Samoan (Malie, Lefaga, Vaiala) and palagi (NZ, Britain) and grew up in Samoa and Fiji. Mele has lived in Wellington for over 30 years. She is married to Eteuati Ete and they have four grown-up children and three grandchildren.

In January 2019, Mele was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to governance, the Pacific community and women.