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Always supportive and deeply knowledgeable.
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About Ben
Ben Sommerville is the Kaiāwhina Māori for Te Kura Pākihi, the Otago Business School at the University of Otago, a role he has held for the past three years. In this position, he provides comprehensive support to Māori students, offering guidance on scholarships, campus services, pastoral care, and financial assistance. He helps students studying away from their whānau, hapū, and iwi to feel safe, supported, and connected. With a deep passion for the development of rangatahi, Ben understands the unique struggles associated with academic life and is dedicated to addressing them. He frequently delivers opening karakia at university events, including the Otago Business School Postgraduate Research Symposium. Ben was the inaugural recipient of a staff award at the 2024 Otago Business School awards, recognized for his exemplary qualities by the judging panel.
In July 2025, Ben commenced a new role as Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa, or Project Manager for Staff Engagement, within Toitū Te Taiao, the University of Otago's sustainability office. Drawing on his extensive experience in meaningful kaupapa, he connects with diverse groups and teams across the university to promote sustainable approaches in their work. His efforts aim to make sustainability engaging and enjoyable through the Tī Kōuka Ora strategic framework. Ben graduated from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2017. His prior professional experience includes serving as a recruitment consultant for Talent Network, contributing to rangatahi development through Mana Rangatahi—an award-winning leadership and entrepreneurship programme based in Otago—and currently acting as Chair of Southern Youth Development, formerly known as Malcam Trust. As a member of Rangitāne o Wairau, Ben co-authored the peer-reviewed article 'Tā Te Tamariki Mahi, he wāwāhi Tahā: Gamifying Māori Data Sovereignty Education,' published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2026, with affiliation to Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, University of Otago. He has also participated in university sustainability initiatives, such as neighbourhood gardens and curriculum-wide reviews of sustainability integration.