Fiona Hamilton

Fiona has almost 20 years’ experience in research, programme management and leadership across a range of sectors including the Waitangi Tribunal claim process, mental health workforce development and Housing First.

Fiona spent two years as programme lead at Housing First Auckland before becoming LinkPeople’s chief executive in October 2019. Fiona led and fronted the first Auckland-wide Point-in-Time count, Ira Mata, Ira Tangata, and led the development of the governing group for the Auckland collective working with mana whenua, local government and Ministries and departments such as Housing, Social Development, Health and Justice.

Jason Tate

Te Rarawa | Ngā Puhi | Waikato

PGrad Dip L8 Bicultural Supervision – Te Reo me ōna Tikanga L6

Jason brings a wealth of experience in relationship management, strategic planning, and communication. Prior to joining LinkPeople, Jason worked with Oranga Tamariki as Poutiaki Māori Advisor within the Professional Development Team. Jason has 10 years experiencing supporting, mentoring, and assisting senior leadership teams and the wider organisation in all aspects of Te Ao Māori Cultural Capability, Learning and Development. Jason is a passionate advocate for Mātauranga Māori and continuous learning and excellence across Governance, Operational and Service Delivery.

Stephen Hunt

Stephen Hunt joined LinkPeople in July 2021, bringing with him an extensive range of experience from the local government and the charity sectors. This experience includes leading local government teams responsible for strategy, policy, asset management, procurement, project management and governance. He also spent three years as the New Zealand CEO of an international charity.

Stephen has an LLB (Hons) and a B Soc Sc from The University of Waikato, as well as a Grad Dip Bus (Admin) from The University of Auckland.

Tom Caukwell

Tom Caukwell has a background in mental health – with six years working in the mental health sector – and has worked for LinkPeople since 2013. He has led the Housing First service delivery in South Auckland since 2017. Tom is studying towards a conjoint Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business at Massey University, majoring in social policy and management. With a passion for people and influencing positive systems change, Tom was appointed as the regional manager for LinkPeople Auckland in January 2020.

Michelle Tiriana-Bishop

Ko Pureora te Maunga, Ko Waikato te Awa, Ko Tainui te Waka, Ko Rereahu te Iwi

Michelle Tiriana-Bishop joined LinkPeople in July 2017 to lead the housing team in Rotorua. With the rapid growth of service provision, in January 2020 she was appointed regional manager, with oversight of the tenancy, housing and health teams in the Taupō, Rotorua and Tauranga areas.

Michelle has almost 20 years’ experience working in the social housing sector, including 16 years with Housing New Zealand. She has held various tenancy related roles and spent four years in a community development position working with vulnerable communities. Michelle has strong community and agency connections and prides herself on leading a team who share her genuine passion for peopleand always having them at the centre of everything they do.

Jim Gallen

Jim came to LinkPeople in early 2017 from the social housing, strategic purchasing team at the Ministry of Social Development. Prior to this, Jim was the national operations manager for tenancy services within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment managing the dispute resolution services across the country along with tenancy advice and education. He has previously worked in leadership and management roles in Pathways, Inland Revenue and mental health services.

Jim is based in Wellington, overseeing Taranaki, Whanganui, Wellington and Christchurch.

Brian Gilbert

Brian has more than 20 years’ experience working in housing and tenancy. He joined LinkPeople from Kāinga Ora in the Waikato where he worked as a Stakeholder Relationship Manager.

Leonie Kaipo

Leonie  has a Bachelor of Social Work (Biculturalism in Practice) degree at the Wananga O Aotearoa and is currently registered with the Social Workers Registration Board, Aotearoa. She joined with LinkPeople in March 2017, starting as a community support worker, building relationships with homeless whānau who were rough sleeping on the streets in South Auckland. She then moved into her current role and shares the team leader position. Her team of nine continues to support and house homeless whānau in South Auckland. Before joining LinkPeople, Leonie spent 14 years working for the Wise Group in South Auckland, starting as a cleaner in 2003 and working her way into senior leadership roles. She has worked in community-based mental health and addictions support services, working across residential services, mobile community services, youth respite and crisis respite services, finishing as an afterhours on call leader in 2017.

“I am of Ngāpuhi decent, my whakapapa links are to Te Aupouri, through my Father and Ngāti Toki through my mother, I have no birth children, but have had for the past 5 years, two whaingai boys ages 12 and 9 who I consider as my own. I was born and raised on my Marae surround by great leaders who showed what Whangaungatanga is and what it looks like, they showed me how to Manaaki, awhi and support and taught me how to uphold my Rangatiratanga, it is because of those Kaumatua and Kuia that I was moulded into the person I am today.”