Simon Tipene Adlam welcomed to Starship Foundation Board

Aisha, Simon, and Martin

Simon Tipene Adlam (centre) together with Aisha Daji Punga, Starship Foundation Chief Executive (left) and Martin Wiseman, Starship Foundation Chair (right)

26 May 2021

Simon Tipene Adlam has joined the Starship Foundation Board of Trustees, bringing a fresh perspective and global expertise in cultural diplomacy to the governance team of the charity organisation at our national children’s hospital.

Tipene Adlam works globally as a Senior Executive Advisor for governments, cultural organisations and museum initiatives, projects and programs specialising in organisational transformations.

Recently returning from Los Angeles, Tipene Adlam is currently establishing Toi Ātea - a new initiative for change leadership within creative and wider communities in Aotearoa centred on Te Ao Māori lenses.

He describes that working alongside civic organisations his passion lies in how they contribute to wellness and to our future generations, so he’s excited to bring his expertise to the child health field.

Tipene Adlam says, "It’s a great honour and privilege to be appointed to the Starship Foundation Board. While also bringing great pride to my whānau, I am proud to be part of an organization that is moving into the future. There’s a continued commitment here to encourage and embrace diverse ideas to deliver outstanding health outcomes for all children in Aotearoa New Zealand."

"Access for all is our guiding model and promise to the children of Aotearoa. Starship strives for the best possible healthcare for our whānau, so we understand our responsibility to deliver equitable healthcare no matter where they are born, to whom they are born, or what language they speak. Our commitment to future generations of healthy New Zealanders is what drives me to support, guide, and embrace the Starship Foundation."

Aisha Daji Punga, Chief Executive of the Starship Foundation, says “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to have Simon join the Starship family. He is a world-class New Zealander who brings strategic expertise from a global perspective through his involvement in cultural and philanthropic projects across the world. Enabling philanthropy is a strategic focus for the Starship Foundation on our mission to accelerate and sustain world-class healthcare at Starship, our national children’s hospital and Simon’s knowledge and expertise will be enormously valuable to us.”

Tipene Adlam’s arrival coincides with the Starship Foundation’s ambitious growth plans, and its most challenging fund-raising project ever - to raise $15 million to help expand the Starship intensive care unit.

The Starship Foundation Board of Trustees is a voluntary group of dedicated individuals who give their time to oversee the work of the charity.

Click here for a full list of Starship Foundation Trustees.