Joanne Nowak
Senior Youth Worker | Anamata Motuhake Programme Lead
Senior Youth Worker | Anamata Motuhake Programme Lead
Joanne grew up in Te Awa Kairangi / theHutt valley, she hails from Ngāti Awa and holds a Bachelor in Youth Development. Joanne joined BGI as a Senior Youth Worker and helps coordinate our youth entrepreneurship programme, Anamata Motuhake
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.