Nina Santos

Nina is a lawyer (BA/LLB(Hons), campaigner and advocate for ethnic communities, migrants’ rights and intersectional gender equity. A semi-finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year 2023, her lived experience as a first-generation Filipina migrant fuel her to champion fair pay, anti-racism and women’s rights across Aotearoa.

Nina is currently a Solicitor at E tū - the largest private sector trade union in New Zealand. Her background spans strategic communications, campaign management and social media with a track record of delivering and advising on equity-focused projects. Prior to legal practice, she was the head of Advocacy and Communications at YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau, a long standing non-profit for women.

Notably, Nina was Delivery Manager for MindTheGap;  a national award-winning campaign for pay transparency legislation to address gender and ethnic pay gaps. She not only managed operations but fronted the campaign messages. Nina’s work has been pivotal in shifting the narrative around pay discrimination – shedding light on its impacts to Māori, Pasifika, Asian and ethnic communities. Mindthegap launched the world’s first public pay gap registry, successfully changing the culture of pay transparency by lobbying over 100+ New Zealand businesses to report their pay gaps voluntarily and commit to change.

Recognised for her thought leadership, Nina was on the Board of the NZ National Council of Women. She has delivered a Guest lecture at the University of Auckland, and has become a sought-after media commentator with various TV appearances and op-eds for the New Zealand Herald and Stuff on crucial gender and race issues. She has also been invited to speak at several events and organisations, including the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Financial Services Council and TVNZ.

Nina is featured in Y25 and Asia New Zealand Foundation's '25 to watch' list.