Our Leadership
Our leadership team is comprised of highly experienced professionals dedicated to driving excellence and innovation in the aviation industry. Through strategic realignment and a focus on talent development, we ensure clarity, efficiency, and succession planning to meet our organizational goals.
Together, we are committed to fostering growth and delivering exceptional outcomes for our stakeholders.
Board of Directors
Patrick Arioka
Interim Chairperson
Edward Herman
Deputy Chairperson
Nancy Matapuku
Director
Shona Lynch
Director
Ngapare Tatira
Director
Tokoa Pera
Director
Patrick Arioka was appointed Interim Chairperson of the Airport Authority Cook Islands in 2024, bringing over 30 years of experience in policy development and public sector services.
As former Minister for Tourism, Telecommunications, and Business Trade and Investment, he aims to contribute significantly to the aviation sector. Patrick’s professional expertise in agriculture and climate change adaptation highlights his commitment to critical issues, particularly during his previous role on the CIIC board, where he concentrated on enhancing strategy strengths in state-owned enterprises.
The diversity in his background will bring invaluable insights that guide the advancement of the Cook Islands’ aviation sector.
Edward has been a board member since November 2021. He has been a financial auditor for the Cook Islands audit office learning specific financial and administration structure of the public service and managing investigations related to use of public funds. He held a Senior Compliance Officer role under the Financial Intelligence Unit which expanded his knowledge and experience on financial and legislative compliance from the private sector financial institutions perspective.
Edward was the Consumer Commissioner with the Cook Islands Internal Affairs and subsequently becoming CEO for the Porter/TOA group of companies for 8 years. He has now joined the Seabed Minerals Authority Cook Islands as the Partnership and Cooperation Director.
Appointed to the Board in May 2020, Nancy has completed a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Accounting and Economics from the University of the South Pacific (USP).
She has worked with KPMG Fiji, before accepting the role as Secretary to the Ambassador of the Cook Islands Embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
Returning to the Cook Islands, she formed her own accounting business and has over 20 years of experience in the finance and banking industry. She continues today to support MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in the Cook Islands as an accountant.
Shona is a highly respected Cook Islands woman, with many years of varied and outstanding work
in business and the community on the main island of Rarotonga.
Shona has served on numerous important, high level Government appointed Boards of Management, including the Cook Islands Airport Authority and Cook Islands Tourism Council. She has also worked in Government for many years with the Cook Islands Pearl Authority and Ombudsmans Office.
Shona has been involved in seabed minerals sector for many years and attended many International and national seabed minerals related events.
As the Director/Owner of a diverse range of businesses, including a Petrol Station, Takeaway, Bike and Car Rental, Bakery, Café, Hardware Shop, Water Bottle, Grocery Store, container and Haulage Transport Company, her goal is to provide exceptional products and services to our customers while ensuring efficient operations across all sector.
Ngapare has experience and accomplish in the hotel industry for 10 years. She had the pleasure of serving as the Chairperson for the Araura Primary School Committee PTA whilst also holding various positions in the Apostolic Church.
Tokoa Pera is the owner of an automobile body repair shop in Aitutaki and also operates a car and bike rental business.
He has served as a board director on the Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) for three terms and has recently been appointed as a director on the board of the Airport Authority Cook Islands (AACI).
Management Team
