Category: Advisory Group

Papali’i Dr. Suitafa Debbie Ryan is a member of the Pacific Data Sovereignty Expert Advisory Group and is the Principal and founder of Pacific Perspectives (2008) Ltd.

She is a primary care physician who has held senior positions in community primary care and public service organisations and she has advocated for equity for Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand through her roles on Boards, Ministerial and Advisory Committees. Her research focus is to provide evidence for decision-makers at different levels, that can support policy change and the delivery of services that are culturally responsive and tailored to local contexts.

Debbie has served as a Ministerial appointment to a range of public sector committees including the Counties Manukau District Health Board, the NZ Lotteries Community Committee, the Education Guardians Group and the Covid-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group. She has also supported the establishment of a Pacific policy function in the Aotearoa New Zealand health reforms as part of the Transition Unit team at DPMC. She is an honorary member of the NZ College of Public Health Medicine and a recipient of the Prime Ministers Award for public management at Victoria University, the Pasifika Medical Association Life Award, and the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Pacific community and health.

Since 2011, Debbie has partnered with Pacific nursing leaders to design and deliver Pacific nursing workforce and leadership development programmes.

Dr. Gerard Sonder is a member of the Pacific Data Sovereignty Expert Advisory Group.

Dr. Gerard is a Public Health Physician and infectious disease Epidemiologist from the Netherlands. He worked at the Public Health Service, Department of Infectious Disease Control Amsterdam from 2000 to 2018 in different roles, heading the department from 2013.

He has been associated with the University of Amsterdam since 2009 for research and publication purposes. His research focuses on the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases and the evaluation of public health guidelines based on routinely collected, surveillance, and research data with a particular focus on equity. He holds a PhD in the evaluation of Public Health Programmes for Infectious Diseases.

Gerard relocated to New Zealand in 2019 and held positions with the University of Otago, the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR) and the Ministry of Health in the national surveillance of infectious diseases including COVID-19. He has been involved in many different projects, such as the response to the NZ measles outbreak 2019 and the response to COVID-19 for Pacific populations.

Dr. Sam Manuela is a member of the Pacific Data Sovereignty Expert Advisory Group.

Dr. Sam Manuela completed his tertiary education with a Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Bachelor of Science (Honours/Hons), and a Master’s and PhD specializing in Pacific Psychology, within the University of Auckland.

Fortunate timing at the end of his PhD led him straight into a lecturing role in Psychology at the University.

Sam primarily has an interest in measuring ethnic identity derived from Pacific knowledge, and how this can inform and combine with traditional psychology methods.

Associate Professor Polly Atatoa Carr is a member of the Pacific Data Sovereignty Exepert Advisory Group and sits on the Pacific Data Sovereignty Board of Trustees.

Her research and clinical practice focuses on the broader determinants of population health and wellbeing equity, particularly for tamariki and rangatahi/mapū within the context of whānau and community. Polly is passionate about developing robust evidence to support population health and policy translation, and is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, anti-racism intervention, equity, social justice and community empowerment.

In addition to her role as Associate Professor of Population Health in Te Ngira (Institute for Population Research) at the University of Waikato, Polly is also a Public Health Physician within Child and Youth Health at Te Whatu Ora Waikato, and National Director of Training for the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.

Professor El-Shadan is a member of the Pacific Data Sovereignty Expert Advisory Group.

His primary area of research expertise is the health and well-being of Pacific families and communities in New Zealand. He has demonstrated expertise (PhD and Postdoctoral level) with both quantitative and qualitative research skills, including generalised estimating equations for longitudinal analysis, multivariate investigation, grounded theory, thematic analysis, and focus group interviews.

As current Director of the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study, an ongoing birth cohort study of 1398 Pacific families, El-Shadan has investigated a diverse range of health and development-related topics encompassing child and maternal health, tobacco control, mens health, and mental wellbeing, and my research is translational to clinical practice. He has led and collaborated on research projects funded through HRC, MBiE, & the National Science Challenges totalling in excess of $30 million.

In addition to his leadership within the University, El-Shadan holds significant leadership roles nationally and internationally within the Pacific health sector and the broader Pacific community. As former Chair of the NZ Health Research Council Pacific Committee, he has contributed to developing initiatives which provide funding to support the advancement of Pacific health researchers, from early career and emerging through to established levels. These capacity building opportunities have fostered a demonstrated increase in numbers engaging in Pacific research, and cultivating academic research as a career option. He also served as Co-Chair for the 2026 PBRF Pacific Research Panel and tasked with helping develop the panel-specific guidelines for assessment of portfolios. This work was instrumental in establishing a platform for Pacific Research excellence across the academic sector, and ensuring Pacific research and input is valued and acknowledged.

Professor El-Shadan is extremely passionate about research which has an impact in the community – and through engagement and partnership with key government and community stakeholders, is proactive in facilitating the wider dissemination of research findings within the Pacific community and amongst key audiences and agencies.

Vaotui Seulupe Falaniko Tominiko hails from the villages of Apia, Matatufu, Lotofaga and Aleisa (to name a few) from the beautiful island of Samoa.

He is an ex-officio member of the Pacific Data Sovereignty Network Advisory Group. He currently work for Stats NZ as the Principal Advisor Pacific Engagement. Prior to becoming a public servant in 2023, he worked in the tertiary education sector for over twenty years.

His work in the tertiary education sector involved people management, student support, lecturing and researching (at different times); while working at the Unitec Institute of Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology and the University of Auckland. He has had a particular interest in Pacific data as it has played an important part in his previous roles from monitoring Pacific student success to informing Pacific research.

He has studied Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland from Bachelors level right through to Doctorate level. His research interests are predominantly in Pacific leadership, culture & customs, history, language and arts.

Loata Tiapapa is the Learning Vaka Manager at Moana Connect, where she leads the Moana Learning Vaka. She is of Cook Islands and Samoan descent, with family connections to Tongareva, Aitutaki, Palmerston, and Tahiti. From Samoa, she hails from the villages of Nofoa’ali’i and Faleu Manono

Loata is currently completing a Doctor of Education at Auckland University of Technology. Her career has included roles in both primary and secondary education, youth work, and policy development, including time as a policy intern at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

Her doctoral research focuses on the intergenerational sharing of knowledge and cultural practices within the Tongareva community in Aotearoa. A servant leader at heart, Loata is driven by a deep commitment to improving outcomes for Pacific communities — o le ala i le pule o le tautua (the pathway to leadership is through service).