Fujiko Kato

Service and Evaluation Manager, Presbyterian Support Northern

Presently I manage Service and Evaluation at Presbyterian Support Northern, a charitable social services provider. In this role myself and the team work to provide research, evaluation, contract management and reporting for Presbyterian Support Northern’s service divisions and external funders.

Whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts, I discovered a passion for sociology, social justice and social policy, alongside fulfilling a personal goal to learn the Japanese language. My postgraduate studies focused on gender and development, and the relationship between the dynamics of the ‘family’ as an institution, the state, and how women traverse these. In completion of my Masters of Public Policy dissertation, I analysed how the representation of sole mothers within social policies in the New Zealand context developed, progressed or have remained static over time.

Personally, I enjoy yoga, cooking, reading, exercising and spending time with family and friends. I’m also passionate about the welfare of animals and sustainability, and feel it is especially important we as a society make changes to reduce, reuse and recycle now for the future.

In both my personal and professional life, I am always considering how women navigate these realms and what it means to be a feminist in today’s world. The opportunity to join a powerful network of super-diverse women, brought together to broaden how diversity is viewed greatly appeals to me, as I appreciate how intersectionality affects our society and lived experiences.