Karena is a Samoan-Kiwi who is currently the Vice President & Director of Research at the East-West Center and Director of the Pacific Island Development Program (PIDP).
Prior to this she worked as one of NZ's youngest ambassadors as ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau and was the Consul General to Hawaii.
Karena has also represented NZ at the UN Security Council as a Negotiator, and before that worked as a commercial lawyer and worked in higher education for a period of time.
An inspiring woman whose broken glass ceilings and ankles on her journey through some really pivotal positions - and the best is yet to come.
East-West Center: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/
PIDP:https://pidp.eastwestcenter.org