Our Ambassadors

Maiakawanakaulani Roos, also known as Maia, is a young rugby star who has quickly made a name for herself both on and off the field.

Her career fast-tracked debuting for the Auckland Storm in 2019 while she was still a student at Tamaki College. Her talent was evident early on, as she was selected to play for the New Zealand Barbarians in 2020. In 2023, at just 21 years old, she achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest-ever captain of the Black Ferns.

In August, Maia visited her former high school and facilitated a Mind Set Engage workshop, where she shared positive mental wellbeing messaging around team deselection and being away from home as a professional rugby player.  

Raised in Christchurch, Will Jordan is a prominent player for the All Blacks and Crusaders. Will is not only recognised for his rugby skills but also for his commitment to promoting wellbeing and youth participation in sports.

In 2024, Will was ruled out of the entire Super Rugby Pacific season due to a shoulder injury, which sidelined him for at least six months. Back now in the All Blacks 2024 touring squad, Will has unique story to tell around what it takes to return from a serious injury, how to take care of yourself mentally and self-motivation.   

Proud of her Māori and Tongan heritage, Katelyn Vahaakolo is making a significant impact both on and off the field.

A well-known personality on TikTok, Katelyn uses her channel to promote mental health awareness. She also has an authentic story to tell on cultural preservation that includes her journey of self-discovery and learning Te Reo Māori.

On the field, she had her first taste of Farah Palmer Cup with the Auckland Storm, having previously played rugby league for the Newcastle Knights NRLW side. After an exceptional debut for the Black Ferns in 2023 the talented winger was later named World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. In 2024, she was also named Blues Player of the Year.

Blues first five-eighth Harry Plummer was raised in South Auckland, where he and his whānau still reside.

Harry has overcome many setbacks during his rugby career including a heart condition in 2023 that sidelined him for a period of time. Resilience is evident in Harry which saw him named Blues Player of the Year followed by a Super Rugby Pacific Championship title in 2024.

Harry views golf as a way to look after his mental wellbeing and has his own golf brand called Next Shot Golf. As a mental wellbeing advocate, Next Shot Golf partnered with Mental Health Foundation to create limited edition trucker caps with all profits being donated to the Foundation.

Born and raised in Christchurch and proud of his Samoan heritage, Anton Lienert-Brown is a midfielder for the All Blacks, making his debut in 2016 during the Investec Rugby Championship. He has also been a key player for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific since his debut in 2014.

Beyond his achievements on the rugby field, Anton has become passionate about mental health awareness. His vulnerability and openness about his own struggles with anxiety has helped to normalise conversations about mental health in the rugby community. 

Ben O'Keeffe is a prominent professional New Zealand rugby referee who has officiated at the highest levels of the sport including two Rugby World Cups. Ben has become an advocate for referee wellbeing, particularly in the face of online abuse and has spoken candidly about the challenges referees face in the digital age.

Ben’s unique position as both a top-level referee and a medical professional gives him a valuable perspective on the physical and mental wellbeing of sports officials. His advocacy work is an important step in addressing the challenges faced by referees in modern rugby.