Appointed as Chairperson in May 2023, Tatiana is a highly experienced business professional capable of running diverse business and government entities. She has over 10 years of Board governance experience in the public sector in the Cook Islands. She has strengths in strategic and risk management, marketing and personnel matters and in organizational design and development which are relevant to both private and government entities.
Tatiana is a Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors as well as gaining an MBA (Honours) at the University of the South Pacific undertaken after many years of commerce experience. She has been, and continues to be, a successful entrepreneur, director and employer in local companies with her husband.
Tatiana has always taken an active part in the local community through, for example, roles in Business & Professional Women’s Association, Miss Cook Islands Pageant and Cook Islands National Arts Theatre.
Rebecca Wood was appointed to the Board in April 2020 and brings to BCI her extensive experience from working in the legal profession for over 15 years.
Rebecca completed her tertiary education at the University of Auckland and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws. She is also a current practicing Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of the Cook Islands.
Rebecca’s career spans across a broad legal spectrum, including working as a lawyer in the Cook Islands and providing a range of legal services, to both domestic and international clients.
Rebecca has also been involved in a number of voluntary groups and organisations over the years, and now runs her own private practice.
Janet Maki, appointed to the Board in May 2023 is a former Solicitor-General and Ombudsman of the Cook Islands having worked for the Cook Islands Government for 20 years before moving back to her home island of Aitutaki in 2011 to help her parents run their family business. She brings with her a wealth of experience from working in both the public and private sectors and from serving on various boards and committees including Te Mana Uira o Araura, Proprietors of Aitutaki Airport Lands Inc, Social and Economic Advisory Committee to the Aitutaki Island Government, CISNOC, Cook Islands Canoeing Association and the International Va’a Federation. She is also a presiding Justice of the Peace of the Cook Islands High Court including the Cook Islands Land Court.
Kirikaiahi Mahutariki was appointed on the Board of BCI in November 2019. She is of Tongareva, Tahitian, and New Zealand Māori ( Te Arawa and Mataatua) descent and her overall drive is to contribute to the development of her people to be prosperous and successful, as Māori.
She has a legal and professional services background spanning 24 years, having advised various global and multi- national organisations across a range of industries, iwi and Māori entities and various government agencies.
Outside of BCI her governance portfolio has covered a range of sectors including law and accounting, sport, international development, health and housing. Her cultural strengths and upbringing, professional experience as a lawyer, tax consultant and banking specialist; together with her leadership and governance experience, form the foundation of her consultancy business which focuses on strategy, risk, and governance.
August Meyer ‘Gus’, has been fully immersed in the private sector for 35 years. A recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year and former director the Cook Islands Development Bank contributed to ‘spearhead’ the transition to the BCI as deputy Chairman. Former Chairman for Tereora College. Currently the Group GM for the locally owned Raromart and Rarocars. He brings to the BCI Board a wealth on hands on knowledge of ‘doing business’ in the Cook Islands at a ‘grass root level’, with a strong Christian faith.
BCI welcomed Gus back as a Director in September 2022, and in November 2022 Gus was appointed to the Risk & Audit Committee.
Simone Fe’ao is a established finance and accounting professional with over two decades of experience in the industry. She has held pivotal roles at KPMG Cook Islands, progressing from an auditor to the Resident Director, where she led the office for over four years. Simone's extensive expertise includes Cook Islands tax compliance and advisory, budget preparation, internal controls, and financial statement audits. She currently serves as the Chief Accounting Officer at CIC Ocean Research as well providing private business and tax advisory consulting services. Simone places high value on contributing to our Cook Islands community, being the President of Athletics Cook Islands and a founding board member of Autism Cook Islands. Her strategic leadership, deep knowledge of local regulations, and commitment to excellence make her a valuable addition to the Bank of the Cook Islands board. Simone holds a conjoint degree in Commerce and Science and is a Chartered Accountant and registered mentor with CAANZ.
We are pleased to welcome Simone to the BCI Board and Risk and Audit Committee from July 2024.
