Global Chair
Marama Mullen was born in to a life of poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, crime, hardship and social marginalisation. Despite being born a Māori, an Indigenous New Zealand woman, she was able to overcome her social health determinants, gain an education and rise above her HIV and social status. This ethnic pride restoration enabled her to work through the complexities of HIV and become a public advocate/activist for Indigenous people living with HIV & AIDS. Marama was infected with HIV in 1993. This experience has helped Marama to champion Indigenous People’s and HIV globally. And also has made her an advocate against the criminalisation of HIV. Marama’s qualifications include Maori language, Administration, Law and philosophies, and an advanced diploma of business systems (IT). Her interests currently lie with a public health diploma and her two young HIV free children.
Marama is the Co-chair of the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS, The Executive Director of INA (Māori, Indigenous, & South Pacific) HIV & AIDS Foundation, she has served on the International AIDS Conference program committee for 2012 (Washington DC) & 2014 (Melbourne), and she is currently the Co-chair of the Global Village and Youth Program.