Whilst only joining us in 2023, Grace has a much longer history with Quayside, having worked alongside us for many years producing our annual reports, creating our brand look and feel and bringing the Rangiuru Business Park brand to life even starring in the business park’s video!
Grace whakapapas to Te Aitanga a Māhaki and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, studied a Bachelor of Art & Design at AUT before entering the workforce in Auckland in brand and marketing executive roles, before flying the coop to Europe via a three month adventure through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. This was the start of her love of going off-beat, to experience, be brave and have faith in herself.
Working on contract roles whilst in the United Kingdom allowed her to travel and enjoy the sights, kai and sounds of Europe including a two-month stint in India before taking on a role that gave her the opportunity to have greater influence on a brand – something that still today is core to her professional fulfilment.
Her UK visa coming to an end bought her back to Aotearoa where her local government experience started in the role of Arts Marketing Coordinator for the newly created supercity of Auckland Council. Grace delivered marketing and communications support to seven different art and culture facilities throughout South Auckland bringing festivals, music and arts shows to the community and implementing marketing and PR campaigns, raising their profile across the city.
A move south to Tauranga followed where she joined Fuel Agency as Account Director and latterly, General Manager. Managing a portfolio of clients across the country providing marketing, communications and brand services at Fuel is where the connection with Quayside began. Grace worked closely to what was a fairly unknown Quayside to create a consistent strategic brand and message for both Quayside and the Rangiuru Business Park. Fast forward to 2023 and we were stoked when Grace joined the team as our Marketing & Engagement Manager.
Her cup keeps near to the brim with her 8 year old young man Hawk, her quest to live a full life through always learning new skills and knowledge like how to free dive, understanding Rongoa Māori medicine, and embracing new cultures through travel and adventures in the great outdoors. Grace’s Māori worldview has been her baseline her entire life and something she holds very dear. Growing up visiting her marae, attending tangihanga and listening to the pūrākau and kōrero of her Grandma has embedded a wairua that has a purpose – a kaupapa simmering away to guide and develop the skills, knowledge and freedom of the young wāhine of the next generation.
Being an investment organisation, the use of the left-hand side of the brain is dominant at Quayside. Grace uses her creative right-hand brain thinking to our aspirations and objectives, bringing the curves to our squares and straight lines, and the colour to our black and white. Grace’s influence within Quayside will help guide us towards the impact we strive to have in our region.
