Talofa! My name is Pale Sauni. I was born in Faleula, Western Samoa, and moved to Aotearoa with my family in the late 50s. I have six siblings and was blessed with wonderful parents who have now passed on. My journey to the SMSF Board began with my background in social work and my role in founding Lotofale, the first Pacific Islands mental health service in Australasia. Following this, I managed several key services, including Marinoto Child, Adolescent and Youth Services, The Regional Coordination Services, and set up Isa Lei, the second Pacific Islands mental health service.

Over the past 25 years, I've been dedicated to delivering programs in health and education to improve literacy, mental health, and financial wellbeing for Pacific Islands communities. I'm married to Marlane (Ngati Porou/Ngati Whatua), and we live in Tamaki Makaurau with our four young adult kids and five grandchildren, all of whom reside in Australia. They keep us grounded and informed about how we should live our lives. I'm excited to work for SMSF and value the opportunity to contribute to the health and safety of all our communities. Malo!