Dr Ari Metuamate
BA (Hons) VUW, MSt, PhD ANU, MAIATSIS
Dr Metuamate is a higher education executive and political scientist, currently leading one of Australia’s largest university colleges. He has extensive experience in leadership roles in universities, colleges, and in governance, in both Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand.
He is passionate about supporting young people to succeed in their studies and to gain broader skills and experiences to assist them to make meaningful, positive contributions to their communities and society as a whole.
He belongs to the iwi (tribes) of Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, and Ngāti Hauā and is a Trustee of the Raukawa ki te Tonga Trust, responsible for governing a multi-million dollar asset base for the benefit of all iwi members. His heritage also stems from the Cook Islands (Mangaia), and he writes occasionally on regional issues in the Pacific, and Indigenous politics.
In a personal capacity, he has worked on a number of fundraising and political campaigns, with a specific focus on strategy and stakeholder engagement. He is married to former board member and Aboriginal educationalist Dr Jessa Rogers and they have three children. They call both Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand home.
We acknowledge the Arrernte people as the traditional custodians and first educators of Mparntwe. Our school is home to students from nations all around the world. We ‘strive’ to work with and continue learning from First Nations people. We ‘seek’ to be a part of Australia’s reconciliation journey by engaging in truth-telling. We aim to ‘care’ for Country through connection and environmental education. We pay our respects to elders past and present and thank them for their care of Country and sharing of knowledge.