Career & Leadership Journey

Mary Los'e's career began in media and communications, where she developed the storytelling, communication and audience engagement skills that have shaped her leadership ever since. Her early work in journalism gave her a grounding in how information is gathered, shaped and shared with the public.

Her experience in this period connects to Pacific media, including NiuFM, the national Pacific radio network, and to Shortland Street. Working across these settings built an ability to communicate clearly with diverse audiences and to operate confidently in public-facing roles. These foundations in communication and audience engagement would prove valuable across every later stage of her career.

From media, Mary moved into housing and public-service leadership, marking a transition into large and complex systems. Her experience in this area connects to Housing New Zealand and its successor organisation, Kāinga Ora.

Leadership in this environment centred on transformation, community outcomes and stakeholder management. Working within national housing organisations meant operating inside major programmes of change, coordinating the interests of government, communities and delivery partners, and keeping the people that housing serves at the centre of decision-making. This stage established Mary's capability to lead within large public-sector systems.

Mary's career also includes private-sector leadership experience through her association with BNZ. This stage broadened her experience into banking and the commercial sector.

The themes of this period centred on innovation, business engagement and partnerships. Working within a major bank added a commercial dimension to a leadership record otherwise rooted in public service and community work, and reinforced her interest in how business capability can connect with community benefit through partnership and innovation.

In the health sector, Mary's experience connects to Whakarongorau Aotearoa, the national telehealth service that delivers health advice and support, including Healthline services, by phone and digital channels across New Zealand. Telehealth has become an important part of the country's health system, extending access to care beyond the limits of location and clinic hours.

This area carries particular significance for equity of access. Telehealth pathways can help close gaps in reach for communities that have historically faced barriers to care, including Māori and Pacific populations. Mary's involvement in health systems reflects a focus on the infrastructure and services that make care more accessible and more equitable. Coverage relating to health systems and Pacific health pathways has appeared in outlets including Tagata Pasifika and Te Ao Māori News; readers are encouraged to refer to those sources directly.

Mary Los'e served as Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Trust, an executive role at the centre of Pacific economic development in New Zealand. She was appointed in January 2023 and commenced in the role in February 2023.

In this position, her leadership focused on Pacific entrepreneurship, business ecosystem development and strategic partnerships. The work centred on supporting Pacific entrepreneurs and businesses, strengthening the wider ecosystem that enables Pacific economic participation, and building the partnerships across government, business and community that sustain Pacific enterprise. This stage represents Mary's leadership contribution in economic development and her sustained focus on Pacific business growth.