Our executive team
Kaiwhakahaere matua
Chief Executive Officer
Henare Walker
Ngati Porou, Te Whanau A Apanui, Whakatōhea, Ngai Tahu
Henare is a Chartered Accountant with extensive commercial and investment expertise. He has previously worked in accounting firms, family office investment entities, multinational business groups, including Springer Healthcare, Wolters Kluwer, and was GM at Summit Forests NZ, a division of Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corporation.
He has governance experience in property development, Iwi investment entities, maori land entities and ministerial advisory appointments. He is currently a director with PF Olsen, and is committed to driving optimal land use as a trustee on Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust.
Chief Commerical Officer
Josiah Cook
Ngāti Whakaue
Josiah has over 15 years extensive knowledge building and practicing experience within many commercial environments with a broad range of financial and operational oversight responsibilities. This includes serving in Māori Business in a range of senior management roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Commercial Officer, across activities including financial investments, energy, agriculture, property, tourism, and more.
Valuing collaboration and unity, Josiah has served in several governance roles, including Miro, with thirty partners, and Inshore Fisheries JV Limited Partnership, a JV between Moana and the Iwi Collective Partnership. With a background as a qualified accountant, qualified auditor, certified public practitioner under the institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Josiah brings a broad range of both operational and financial knowledge.
Josiah is passionate about utilising good business and commercial acumen paired with noble values to grow wealth for Māori, while enhancing social and environmental outcomes.
Chief Financial Officer
Michelle Hieatt
Michelle joined Nati Growth in 2024. She has over 20 years’ experience in senior financial positions, including extensive experience across the Property and Energy sectors.
Michelle commenced her career in Corporate Finance services at PwC New Zealand. She holds a BA/BCom majoring in Finance, Accounting and Ancient History from the University of Auckland, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.
Michelle was previously CFO of Todd Property Group, one of New Zealand's largest property development companies and a division of Todd Corporation. She has also held CFO roles at listed dairy company The a2 Milk Company (NZX ATM) and NZ PropCo Group.