Professor Yvonne Underhill, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to tertiary education and Pacific development
Professor Yvonne Underhill is a Pacific development geographer, undertaking research and teaching Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, and was Director of Development Studies. She was Deputy Chair of the Inaugural Pacific Performance Based Review Fund (PBRF) Panel, and has been appointed inaugural Deputy Moderator (Pacific) for PBRF 2026. She has led the establishment of ‘Tok Save’, the Pacific Gender Research Portal Reference Group. She served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Research Group for Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development. She has contributed to the establishment of the Pacific Feminist Fund, an innovative investment and grant-making initiative. Professor Underhill has contributed to the establishment of Oxfam in the Pacific.