Ulima Tofi

Researcher

Vaea Ulima Tofi is a doctoral candidate and researcher driven by the purpose of serving his people. With a background as a physiotherapist, he noticed a common pattern of cultural marginalisation and burnout among Māori and Pacific health workers. Supported by a Pūtahi Manawa Māori and Pacific Doctoral Scholarship and a New Zealand Heart Foundation Māori and Pacific Research Fellowship, his research aims to give Māori and Pacific heart health professionals a tool to assess whether an organisation is a safe and culturally ready workplace.

His work is deeply rooted in the legacy of his parents and the power of education. Ulima's research focuses on the lived realities of Māori and Pacific clinicians and seeks to "flip the script" by empowering them to evaluate the readiness of a workplace rather than simply seeking employment. His work has the potential to influence health systems locally and globally by reinforcing the importance of culturally grounded, values-based approaches.