Melanie Mark-Shadbolt

BioHeritage Challenge Director Māori

Through her work, Melanie Mark-Shadbolt (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa) advocates for system changes that benefit indigenous people and communities.

Mel is CEO of Te Tira Whakamātaki, and is the BioHeritage Challenge’s Director Māori. At BioHeritage, she works in partnership with the Director on strategic priorities and building strategic links with Māori and indigenous researchers, groups and entities.

Embedding the principles and concepts of Vision Mātauranga (VM) is a key focus of her work for the Challenge, with Mel providing advice and support on Māori world views, tikanga, mātauranga, language, research priorities, and methodologies.

Melanie’s areas of research include the human dimensions of environmental health – specifically how indigenous people participate in the management and protection of their culturally significant spaces and species.

 

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