Kirsty Cardy- Te Tai Tokerau Coordinator

Kirsty has a bit of a different background to many of the Papa Taiao crew. She has years of experience in the corporate and start up world. She has turned her attention to supporting the coordination of Papa Taiao in Te Tai Tokerau using her skills and passion for mental health and the natural world, especially the moana, to provide awesome opportunities for our ākonga. She is a PADI Mermaid Instructor, avid Freediver and Spearfisher, and loves to cook after starring on MasterChef New Zealand. 

Her impressive background includes founding The Menu, a high class catering company and The Online Group, New Zealand’s the largest independently owned online kitchen appliance retailer. She has management experience and under her leadership, organisations have thrived. An example of her achievement includes leading the company Zomato to win 3 gold International Stevie Awards - Start Up of the Year, Best App and Fastest Growing Company.

Most recently she built the platform Talk Mental the company that is dedicated to helping the 1 in 5 people in the world that could use a little online connection and camaraderie to maintain their mental wellbeing .