INDIGENOUS CREATIVITY + INNOVATION + TRANSFORMATION + DESIGN
Originally trained in Industrial Design, Karl's 35+year career has traversed nearly every sector of design you can name, including entering design thinking, and development of indigenous creative processes and methodologies, to design futures and lead transformation projects across a wide range of organisations and sectors.  Karl works at the strategic end of transformation, innovation and design.

TAIORA MĀORI COLLECTIVE
Māori business global sustainability mark and movement
Karl was engaged to support a collective of Māori B Corp licensed exporters and allied companies to explore development of a global Māori sustainability mark and movement, based on Māori knowledge and values. Karl carried out a deep dive into each individual business needs and aspirations alongside analysis of their B-Corp journeys and wider eco-system analysis of existing sustainability marks and credentials in both NZ and global. Ultimately the project resulted in some clear proposals and recommendations for a path forward and new system model and programme. In the process of developing this an initial brand, name and associated brand story for the collective was developed.

FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Innovation pilot programme
Karl was engaged by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao to provide cultural and creative leadership for a post-Covid innovation pilot programme exploring the future of international education.  Karl led a number of Māori pilot projects whilst also being part of shaping the entire programme from development of a white paper on the future of education, to programme design including target innovation areas and portfolio oversight.  This also included development of pilot selection criteria and applicant assessment, then commissioning and ongoing programme evaluation.  This programme broke new territories in edtech, global indigenous research, fintech, tribal futures, medtech and blue economy futures, with a range of providers and PTEs.

PROJECT SHAPE-SHIFTER
Reimagining the National Aquarium of New Zealand
Karl was part of a consortia contracted to reimagine the aging National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier and build a business case for development. His initial role was as engagement lead undertaking a series workshops and wānanga throughout the country and offshore with diverse interest groups.  That resulted in a shift from an antiquated notion of an Aquarium, to a Pacific Ocean Centre focussed on marine protection, science, and fisheries futures, connected around the Pacific Rim, with strong indigenous grounding. Karl was further engaged as design lead and partnered with the world leading aquarium design firm EHDD of San Francisco to bring the cultural narratives and experience design concepts to life based on Te Whai-nui-a-Māui, the giant Stingray Māui pulled from the ocean.  Covid arrived, stalling any further development.

PAIHERETIA TE MUKA TĀNGATA
Kaupapa Māori Justice Pathways Programme
This project drew on the strengths of the Whānau Ora, Māori well-being, approach to support tāne Māori (Māori men) and their whānau (families) engaged in the Corrections system to develop their own pathways to achieve their aspirations. It was jointly led by Te Puni Kōkiri, Department of Corrections and Ministry of Social Development in partnership with Māori.  Karl was engaged to lead pilot projects at the Hawke’s Bay and Northland Regional Corrections Facilities with a focus on tāne Māori under 30 years of age with minimum 2 year sentences.  This entailed marrying data with deep dive insight work with tāne and whānau exploring and mapping their lived experiences and lead design of new pathways and solutions from birth, to and through the justice system.
This is one of the most comprehensive and innovative approaches Karl have developed involving ‘deep dive’ mahi and solution design.

HEALTH NZ TE WHATU ORA HAWKE'S BAY TE MATAU-A-MĀUI
Kaupapa Ōrite.  2023-2025
Karl was engaged by Health NZ  Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay Te Matau-a-Māui to lead two pieces of work with a view towards delivery of more culturally responsive facilities and services to improve Māori health outcomes. This resulted in leading development of a Māori Health Equity Plan which married available outcomes data with conducting deep insights mahi with both service users and front-line staff, as well as building leadership and agents for change within the system. The codesign approach went beyond typical data driven strategy to internal planning and system design addressing structural and systemic issues. In parallel Karl also led development of a guide and framework for the use, care and protection of taonga Māori (valued Māori cultural assets) within the organisation, particularly cultural narratives such as the story of Te Matau-a-Māui.

TOI MAI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Reform of Vocational Education
Initially Karl was nominated by his Māori design peers onto the establishment board of the Workforce Development Council for culture, creativity, recreation and technology.  The board members were responsible for leading development of the operational blueprint for Workforce Development Councils including development of governing Orders in Council and key policies.  Karl was also a founder of Kāhui Ahumahi, the cross WDC group of Māori Governors and was part of leading Te Tiriti (Treaty) focus and responsiveness to give effect to section 4(d) of the Education & Training Act 2020. This required navigation of legislation and development of governance, policy and operations informed by sector data and engagement with industry and Iwi. Karl is currently on the Toi Mai Board leading disestablishment of Toi Mai due to current government directed VE sector changes, entailing 43 redundancies and transfer of functions, assets and IP.