Taase Vaoga (Ngāti Pāmoana, Ngāti Rāhiri, Samoa) grew up in Motu Kairangi – Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She has spent her career working in the community sector as a youth worker, fundraiser, and then in a range of programmes across education, social services, digital equity, and philanthropy. Taase brings a wealth of knowledge in funding from both sides of funder and fundseeker, and has contributed to important research and advisory in the philanthropic sector.

Taase is a gardener and is committed to food sovereignty and security solutions amongst many other interests including collecting books (and reading!). She actively contributes to her marae in Whanganui and is passionate about te reo revitalisation efforts as a life-long learner of te reo Māori.