Paula Tesoriero, MNZM
Paula Tesoriero is chief executive at Whaikaha - The Ministry of Disabled People.
She is a Paralympian, a world-champion athlete and a former senior public servant.
Paula has served on several boards including the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, New Zealand Artificial Limb Service, Sport Wellington and Paralympics New Zealand. She is also a current member of the New Zealand Sports Tribunal.
A law, Politics and Public Management graduate from Victoria University, Paula previously worked in private and public practice in law and policy.
Winning gold in a world-record breaking time at the Beijing Summer Paralympics in 2008, in the women’s 500m time trial, and two bronze medals, as well as Word Champion titles, her services to cycling were recognised when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009. She retired as an athlete in 2011.
She was the Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 NZ Paralympic Team.
Paula lives in Wellington with her husband Peter and their three children.