Emily Hikaiti is a Māori and Australian lived experience advocate, speaker and emerging leader working across child welfare, community services and systems reform.

Drawing on her own experience of out-of-home care, Emily has spent more than a decade advocating for children, young people and families, with a particular focus on ensuring lived experience informs policy, practice, governance and decision-making. She is passionate about creating systems that are not only effective, but deeply relational, recognising that meaningful connection and belonging are central to positive outcomes for children and young people.

Emily currently works with Adopt Change in fundraising, projects and volunteer engagement, supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and improve outcomes for children and carers. She also serves as a Board Member with CREATE Foundation and as Secretary and Director of the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO), contributing to national and international conversations on family-based care, leadership and child welfare reform.

Alongside her professional work, Emily is undertaking postgraduate studies in International Relations at the University of Technology Sydney, where she is exploring the intersection of policy, advocacy and social change. She is committed to amplifying lived experience voices, building stronger communities and supporting the next generation of leaders to create lasting impact.