Meet our Board
Dr Javeed Ali - Board Co-Chair
Javeed is Fijian-Indian and a child of migrant parents. Javeed was born and grew up in West Auckland. He is passionate about equity and inclusion for minority communities, especially in sport. Javeed is currently the Community Insights and Training Lead at New Zealand Cricket.
Javeed previously worked at Sport Waitakere, championing and leading the diversity and inclusion in sport work focusing on increasing Asian and Pasifika participation. He is also a current member of the Auckland Cricket Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group.
Javeed has a Bachelor of Sport (Sport Coaching) from Unitec, Master of Business (Sport Management and Leadership and Master of Philosophy both from Auckland University of Technology. He recently graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from Auckland University of Technology exploring the experiences of early-career rugby referees.
Cynthia Tieu - Board Co-Chair
Cynthia is Teochew Chinese. Her family are former refugees who arrived in New Zealand from Cambodia and Vietnam over 35 years ago. Cynthia was born in and has spent most of her life living in South Auckland.
As a young person growing up in South Auckland, Cynthia was exposed to a rich and diverse community of different cultures and ethnic groups. Her experiences as young Asian woman navigating the New Zealand education system and workforce has made her passionate about supporting other people from former refugee and migrant families to succeed.
Cynthia has a clinical background as a registered alcohol and drug clinician and supervisor. She has worked for over 10 years in the mental health and addiction sector and has a strong commitment to creating accessible health services for everyone. Cynthia is currently based in Wellington and works in the public service.
Fezeela Raza
Fezeela Raza is an experienced, community engagement practitioner and senior leader with more than twenty years of experience working across government, non-profit and community sectors to strengthen equity, inclusion and social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Her career has been deeply connected to migrant, refugee, and ethnic communities through leadership roles spanning policy development, strategy, organisational capability, community engagement, and cultural inclusion.
Alongside her professional work, Fezeela has held a range of governance and advisory roles and has contributed to community-led initiatives focused on strengthening culturally responsive services and creating greater opportunities for diverse communities to thrive.
As a second-generation migrant, Fezeela is passionate about fostering belonging, participation, and social connection for all people in Aotearoa.
Elena Kim
Elena is an experienced corporate lawyer based in Tāmaki Makaurau. She has extensive experience advising on complex corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and governance matters.
She brings a thoughtful and inclusive approach to her work and has been recognised for her leadership and contribution to the legal profession. Her acknowledgements include being named among Aotearoa New Zealand’s Most Influential Lawyers (2023, 2022), receiving the International Bar Association scholarship as its first New Zealand recipient, and being a finalist in the INFINZ Emerging Young Leader awards.
Elena is a public speaker on equity, inclusion and leadership, and speaks internationally as a legal subject-matter expert.
Of tauiwi heritage, Elena brings lived migrant experience to her governance work. She is committed to strengthening inclusion and belonging in Aotearoa and aims to bring a considered, people-centred perspective to the Board’s work and the communities that Belong Aotearoa serves.
Dr. Anmar Taufeek
Dr. Anmar Taufeek is a values-driven leader with extensive experience in health, safety, and asset management across the public sector. She currently serves as Asset Planning Manager at Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC), where she leads strategic planning to support sustainable infrastructure and community wellbeing.
Anmar is the founder and former chair of Auckland Council’s Muslim Staff Network, which grew to over 100 members and fostered inclusion and belonging across the organisation. She also serves on the board of New Zealand Ethnic Social Services (NZESS) and leads The Good Deed Group—a volunteer initiative that supports families in need and promotes acts of kindness within local communities.
Anmar holds an Honorary PhD in Engineering and Safety from the University of Delaware and is a graduate of the Advanced Women Leadership Programme in Australia. She is passionate about empowering diverse voices, strengthening community connections, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued and included.
Michelle Clayton
Michelle was born in the UK and migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2001. She has spent many years working across health and social services, first as a nurse, before stepping into senior management roles. Since 2008, she has served as CEO of Family Action, and has also brought her leadership to the democratic process as an elected council member.
A passionate advocate for equity and social inclusion, Michelle is deeply embedded in her local community, giving her time voluntarily to a number of community groups alongside her substantive mahi.
Michelle is delighted to join the Belong Aotearoa Board and looks forward to contributing to its continued work advocating for migrant and refugee-background communities across Aotearoa.