Jesse is a visionary leader with a strong passion for Creativity and Innovation. He has a broad range of skillsets and specialised expertise in 3D printing, product design, instructional design and Workshop Facilitation. Jesse was born and raised in Papakura, South Auckland and is of Māori descent from Ngāti Hine and Waikato. He is a natural-born maker and creator who loves to work with people in helping them to become the innovators and creative entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Andrea is the teine toa at the helm of Growth at VAKA. She has skills in Business development, communications, creative Writing, instructional design and workshop facilitation. Andrea has a passion for using Moana-centric pedagogy in business and education with hopes to make it more accessible and relevant for Māori and Pasifika people. Her parents are from Afega and Sale’aula in Sāmoa. She lives with her husband and their wild toddler in Manukau.

Kynan is a self-taught creative with a passion for helping rangatahi discover their own pathways to success. He has years of experience in working with youth and now works closely with schools and community organisations to help them develop their own 3D printing education initiatives. He is of Māori & Black American descent, with whakapapa to Ngāti Hine, Waikato and Arizona. Born and raised in Ōtāhuhu, Kynan has always held a deep love for South Auckland and it's people.

Xavier loves exploring the possibilities of 3D printing. He is interested in a variety of things from automotive engineering to sci-fi movies, manga and video games. Xavier enjoys helping others to develop their own creative skills and comes with experience in 3D design and has a natural ability to make learning environments exciting and engaging for all. Above all, he loves making people smile and finds great satisfaction in helping others. Xavier is of Samoan and Niuean descent with connections to Hakupu and Mutalau.

Valerie is a newly emerging creative with experience in videography, visual art and many other fields. She loves the magic of 3D printing and its potential to make ideas become reality. Valerie is passionate toward building sustainable projects and helping others to enhance their lives. She comes from an engineering background with skill sets in teaching, facilitation and rangatahi engagement. Valerie is of Samoan, Swedish and Irish descent with connections to the villages of Eva and Vaitoloa.

Leilani is comes from a creative background in Photography with skills in logistics, systems development and HR. She is highly organised and works with precision and care to ensure all of our logistical needs are locked in. Leilani is deeply rooted in a strong sense of family and spiritual identity. She loves to take care of her people and ensure they can work to the best of their abilities. Leilani has a keen interest in many fields such as product design, & event management. She is of Samoan and American descent and was raised in South Auckland.

Stacey is a highly skilled creative with a broad skillset. From professional photography to jewellery and décor design, Stacey has always drawn inspiration from people around her and the natural environment. She is a mother to 6 children and loves helping them try many creative things. This has led to her work in teaching 3D printing to others so she can help them to develop their full creative potential. Stacey is of Māori descent with whakapapa to Ngāti Hine and Waikato. She is the creative behind Kākano Designs, a jewellery brand that uses 3D printing and laser cutting to make beautiful earrings and pendants.

Rose has a passion for creativity, culture, and hands-on learning. With a background in health, business, working with youth and more, she is excited to explore the endless possibilities of design and innovation through 3D printing. Having learned different languages and being inspired by the stories behind different cultures, Rose aims to blend creativity with function, crafting useful, meaningful pieces that reflect diversity and innovation. Born and raised in South Auckland New Zealand, to Samoan parents from Matautu Lefaga and Maagiagi, she hopes to inspire others to bring their endless ideas to life.

Patrick is a young entrepreneur with a wealth of business and youth work experience. He is driven by his newfound passsion of 3D printing and its capacity to bring concepts to life. Building his work ethic and values from his family, his values and his faith are the few things that has shaped who he has become today. He has a history in youth mentoring and entrepreneurship, and he is skilled in youth involvement, teaching, and facilitation. Born and bred here in Auckland, New Zealand, Patrick has ties to the villages of Lepuiai (Manono Tai) and Taga/Satuiatua (Savaii) and is of Samoan heritage.