Our Kaiwhakahaere Gary Williams is influential in driving change for tangata whaikaha, both in Aotearoa and globally.

Together with his wife Ruth Jones, Gary brought Hei Whakapiki Mauri to life as a way to āwhi whānau to connect with each other, their culture, whakapapa, and tūrangawaewae.

Alongside his mahi for tangata whaikaha Māori, Gary works to modernise support systems, accessibility, and attitudes towards tangata whaikaha generally. He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for his work.

Gary has more than 45 years experience in management and governance roles, including a decade as the Disabled Persons Assembly CEO. Gary sits on the National Enabling Good Lives Leadership Group and is a Trustee of VisAble and of Your Way Kia Roha. He is also a Trustee of Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae.

As a global leader, Gary was influential in the development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and continues to work on worldwide projects. Gary is a co-author of He Puapua - the options for New Zealand to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

Nurtured in beautiful Tokomaru Bay, Gary now lives in Christchurch and is a Dad, and Poppa G to three mokos.