Josephine Singh - Waikato Women's Refuge
Te Whakaruruhau
Leading with Heart
In 2025, Josephine Singh completed our Waikato Leadership Programme, marking a significant step in her leadership journey and professional growth.
Alongside the programme, she continues her work at Waikato Women's Refuge - Te Whakaruruhau, supporting finance, human resources, administration, and stepping into the different spaces needed to strengthen outcomes for whānau.
Empowering Ourselves to Empower Others
The programme arrived at a moment when Josephine was ready to deepen her understanding of herself as a leader. Her path towards leadership involved a process of reflection, introspection, and reconnection, grounded in identity, whakapapa, and personal truth.
Through the CELF leadership process, Jo identified her core strengths to help build a leadership style that felt true to who she is.
“I learned that leading others must begin with leading myself with radical honesty. It showed me that my strength as a leader doesn't have to look hard. It can be soft, it can be graceful, and that is its own kind of power.”
Through the He Piko He Taniwha change model, Josephine developed a deeper understanding of change as a human journey, one that includes emotional and spiritual dimensions as well as practical ones.
“Our He Piko He Taniwha model... taught me to lead with empathy, to empower the early adopters, and to guide those who are cautious not by pushing them, but by walking the path alongside them.”
Walking the Path Together
Today, these learnings shape how Josephine shows up in her work and community and enables others to find their own voice.
“This journey has reminded me that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about daring to ask the right questions and holding space for others while we find the answers together. It's about courage and quiet moments, connection and uncertainty, and the belief that change begins long before the spotlight ever finds you.”
At Te Whakaruruhau, her behind-the-scenes work strengthens the systems that allow frontline teams to deliver life-saving and life-changing services to whānau experiencing family violence.
Serving Whānau, Strengthening Futures
Te Whakaruruhau Māori Women’s Refuge was established in 1986 by local Māori women determined to save lives and reduce the harm caused by domestic violence. From an early 24-hour crisis response and a single safe house, the service has grown to four safe houses across Hamilton and a whole-of-whānau support model focused on long-term healing and change.
Josephine represents a generation of leaders who bring cultural grounding, emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and creativity into how they lead. Her journey reflects the importance of leadership development that centres identity, belonging, and courage.