Our Team
Board Directors
![Cameron Smith](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd212e_Cameron-smith-pc9nuyn7ewi3cavvtl00wynlnozxor3t2dhqmoc7fk.jpeg)
Prior to founding Take2, Cameron's experience spanned investment and recruitment, where he observed first-hand the disadvantages of those with a criminal record. Cameron is an Edmund Hillary Fellow, an Asia Pacific Leader for the Obama Foundation and was a finalist for New Zealander Innovator of the Year in 2022.
![Marco Morawec](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd212f_Marco-Morawec.png)
Marco is an EdTech entrepreneur, who co-founded and ran the leading online coding bootcamp FirehoseProject as its CEO, from inception to successful acquisition by the fastest growing EdTech company at the time, Trilogy Education. He then scaled the entire online education division at Trilogy, culminating in a $750M acquisition by 2U (TWOU), the largest EdTech acquisition at the time.
![Shama Amalean Skinner](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd2152_Shama-Amalean-Skinner.png)
Shama is the former Chief Operating Officer of Thinx Inc., the revolutionary period and incontinence underwear company. She held a key role in Thinx’s transition from a startup to a growth stage company, overseeing operations at a time when Thinx's sales grew exponentially. She served as the company’s interim CEO three times. In February 2022, Kimberly Clark Corporation acquired a majority stake in Thinx. In 2020, New Zealand's Hillary Institute named Shama an Edmund Hillary Fellow.
Advisory Board
![Sam Schaeffer](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd2174_Sam-Schaeffer-1-1.png)
Advisory Board Sam Schaeffer is the CEO of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), America's leading transitional jobs program for men and women returning from incarceration. Sam oversees CEO's flagship in NYC and 31 other offices across the US. Prior to joining CEO, Sam served as Director of Economic Development for US Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York. In that position he oversaw job creation and retention efforts, transportation and infrastructure policy as well as social policy.
![Cathy O’Sullivan](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd21b0_Cathy-OSullivan-1.png)
Cathy O’Sullivan is the Editor for CIO New Zealand, based in Auckland. Cathy has worked in digital, print, and broadcast media for two decades in newsrooms in NZ and Europe. Cathy has held roles as Editor-in-Chief at Stuff and Editor at NZ Herald. She is a mentor with Pillars, a charity that supports the children of prisoners, and is on the board for St Patrick’s Festival Trust and the Irish Business Network of NZ.
![Ben Daniels](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd21d5_Ben-Daniels-1.png)
Ben Daniels is a Take2 graduate currently working at Datacom. Ben is an ex-gang member and proud Māori, who served a 10-year sentence in prison. Ben will help Take2 with program design, specifically with a Māori lens.
![Paul Wood](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd2212_Dr-Paul-Wood-1-1.jpeg)
Paul Wood is a Doctor of Psychology, motivational speaker, best-selling author, leadership and development specialist, media personality, husband and father. He is also a convicted murderer. Paul utilised education while in prison to turn his life around and become New Zealand’s most prominent redemption story. He is also the Personal Development Facilitator for Take2 students.
![Heather Polaschek](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/64f95021f521d978efdd2213_Heather-Polaschek.png)
Heather Polaschek is the Head of People & Culture at RUSH and former Senior People Business Partner at Vend. In addition to being an experienced HR professional in the tech industry, Heather's family has worked in the justice system for decades.
Staff
![Jennifer Jin Ma](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/656da7ca0f6eba5989d8d20b_Jennifer-Jin-Ma.webp)
Jennifer is an accomplished entrepreneur and educator, who has been internationally recognised for her previous education business, which she scaled from inception to over 200 staff. Currently a Master’s student at Harvard in Education Leadership, she seeks to bring world-class learnings into practice and create a transformative impact for her community.
![Nick Saltis](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/656da82e45a4362486eed93e_headshot-1.webp)
Nick has a deep appreciation for the accessibility of tech and its capacity to empower and transform lives. He experienced this himself when he transitioned from working hospitality during a global pandemic to employed and thriving in the tech industry after graduating from Coder Academy. Nick is not only a skilled full-stack developer but also an advocate for non-traditional adult education. Recognizing the transformative power of technology in his own journey, he is enthusiastic about guiding students at Take2 to unlock their potential, fostering an environment where they can thrive and embrace the opportunities that tech-driven education provides.
![Chibuike Uzoechina](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/656da8d0e8d3682045fdbb0e_Chike_picture-1.webp)
An experienced educator and software engineer, I bring over three years of expertise in teaching information management and web development at the University of Nigeria, coupled with more than two years of practical software engineering experience at Nawill IT Solutions. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Information Systems at Victoria University of Wellington. My research focuses on utilizing a design science approach to investigate the potential of AI chatbots in medical consultations, particularly for stigmatizing conditions. This interdisciplinary expertise positions me uniquely at the intersection of technology, education, and healthcare innovation.
![Cameron White](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/6655affe88a16c4a699295df_cam-headshot-new.webp)
Cameron White is an expert Digital Marketer and Junior Developer at Take2 Elevate, bringing over ten years of extensive experience in digital marketing and development. A proud alumnus of The University of Waikato with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Cameron has contributed his expertise to various projects ranging from multinational e-commerce platforms and apps to local lead generation websites. His skills span full-funnel Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), with certifications in growth marketing, CRO, CX, and UX from the Measurement Marketing Academy and CXL Institute. Recently, Cameron expanded his technical abilities by earning a junior web development qualification at Take2. Outside his professional life, he is passionate about football and enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking.
![Natalie Howard](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/664f5331a58682300191e13b_Nat%20Howard.webp)
Natalie Howard is the driving force behind operations at Take2, leveraging over a decade of experience across the healthcare, education, technology and non-profit sectors. Natalie served for 4 years as a director of the Massey University Council, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary). She also holds a Professional Certificate in Strategic Management from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (USA), and is a BVOP Certified Project Manager (UK). Natalie has a proven track record of developing and executing impactful, human-centred strategy; and brings a deep understanding of the importance of education and reintegration programs. Beyond her professional life, Natalie is an avid reader, a passionate gardener, and a lifelong Liverpool FC fan.
![Josh Garth](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/664f5373f73aa0586dd1adfe_Josh%20Garth.webp)
Josh is part of Take2's teaching team. He started his engineering career in 2006 as a full-stack engineer and co-founder, building in-house products for SMBs and corporates. After exploring more managerial engineering positions in the logistics and consumer health sectors, he shifted his ambitions towards teaching and consulting. When he's not in front of a computer, he enjoys music, running, and working towards his private pilot license.
![Neil Tarar](https://assets-global.website-files.com/64f95021f521d978efdd210d/664f549c738b187c7c48cd48_Neil%20Tarar%20(1).webp)
Neil is a Full-Stack Developer with a background in social work, skillfully blending technology and education. Driven to integrate social advocacy with coding, he transitioned to software engineering, fueled by a profound passion. As part of Take2's teaching team, Neil empowers individuals with technology skills for rebuilding their lives. His enthusiasm for teaching complements his industry experience, where he led R&D initiatives and developed solutions for socially focused startups. His career demonstrates the powerful impact of merging technology with meaningful actions.