Elisapeta Heta

Principal and leader of Waka Māia, Elisapeta Heta is helping to guide Jasmax on an inter-generational journey towards becoming an authentically bicultural design practice. Waka Māia was founded in 2015 to provide a Māori design voice within Jasmax and Elisapeta is one of its founding members. Elisapeta has not only contributed significantly to cultural design outcomes for major projects at Jasmax, but she is also an advocate for change, speaking internationally to provide Māori and Pasifika perspectives on the importance of place to both design and cultural identity. Elisapeta draws on her lived experiences to create opportunities for future generations of Indigenous designers, and importantly, to demonstrate to young Māori and Pasifika that it’s possible to achieve equal commitment to career and community. In 2022, she received the prestigious NZIA President’s Award, reflecting her influence as a cultural leader in indigenous design in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. jasmax.com