From Hastings, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Mrs Cowan is a descendent of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou Iwi (tribes), and is the Chief Executive Officer of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa (KMA).

From Hastings, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Mrs Cowan is a descendent of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou Iwi (tribes), and is the Chief Executive Officer of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa (KMA). Her work in indigenous eye health spans over thirty years, with her representations including: Eye Health Aotearoa Trust; RANZCO Māori and Pacific Eye Health Committee; RANZCO Māori Data Working Group; Eye Health National Clinical Network; IAPB IPSIG; United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Independent Monitoring Mechanism Governance Group; United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities New Zealand Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) Coalition.

Mrs Cowan’s focus lies in fostering Te Ao Māori (Māori world view) centred approaches and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi Māori version) grounded social, education, health and wellbeing models that centre on the lived experiences of kāpō (blind, vision impaired, low vision and deaf blind) Māori and their whānau (immediate and extended family).  Her most recent collaboration was the completion of the Society’s ‘Declaration on Engagement and Exchange’, a guideline on how to work with kāpō Māori and their whānau.

About KMA:  Established in 1983, KMA is an indigenous led, national charity founded by kāpō Māori and their whānau.  KMA aspires to supporting kāpō Māori, their whānau and communities’ wellbeing and prosperity.