Joanne Nowak
Senior Youth Worker
Senior Youth Worker
Joanne grew up in Te Awa Kairangi / the Hutt valley, she hails from Ngāti Awa and holds a Bachelor in Youth Development. Joanne joined BGI as a Senior Youth Worker and coordinator of a new youth entrepreneurship programme, Side Hustle.
Her background is in supporting young people in mental health and addictions, where she focused on building trust, creating meaningful opportunities, and helping them develop confidence. Many faced challenges in securing or sustaining work or study, which highlighted the importance of connection and skill-building.
At BGI, her goal is to empower young people through our entrepreneurship programme, grounded in the Mana Taiohi youth development framework. The programme aims to enhance young people’s mana while developing skills in business literacy, leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. She also connects participants with mentors and supports them in applying for seed funding through the King’s Trust.