Distinguished Professor Graham Hingangaroa Smith, a  Māori educationalist, currently holds the position of Te Toi Ihorei Ki Pūrehuroa – a distinguished professorial Chair at Massey University, NZ. He has been at the forefront of  many successful, Māori self-development initiatives  within the education field, including the development of Māori language immersion schooling, the establishment of a National Māori Centre of Research Excellence, created a significant national programme to enhance Māori PhD growth and capacity and was the foundation Chair of Council for the establishment of the Indigenous Higher education institution – Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi.

Dr Smith later became the CEO/ Vice Chancellor of this institution for eight years. His academic work has centered on developing theoretically informed transformative strategies related to advancing Māori cultural, social, educational and economic positioning. He has worked alongside many other indigenous communities across the world, including in Canada, Hawaii, mainland USA, Taiwan, India, Norway, Chile, Australia and the Pacific nations.

---