Rowena is of Samoan and Danish heritage and proudly calls West Auckland home. Her villages are Amaile, Vaimoso, Solosolo, Matautu, and Lalomanu. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Whitecliffe College of Art and Design and a Master of Philosophy (with Honours) from AUT.
With a diverse background in academia, Rowena has worked across a range of roles including supporting learners with disabilities, championing Pacific learner success, lecturing in the Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts, and supervising postgraduate students for over 13 years.
She went on to hold senior leadership positions, including six years in Senior Management at Unitec and most recently as Director (CE) of Tautai Arts Trust. Now, Rowena is excited to return to education and rejoin the creative sector she’s so passionate about.