Sharon grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau closely connected to her father’s iwi in the Far North (Ngāti Kahu ki Kareponia). Her mother was born in Ōtautahi from Ngāi Tahu, Scottish, English and German descent.
In 2016, Sharon began her journey at Laidlaw as a counselling student - with a long-held desire to study psychology and theology. She joined the Laidlaw team in 2018 and has held various roles – Group Facilitator, Conference Tutor, Bicultural Relationships Co-ordinator, Te Kaiāwhina Tauira/Student Support Advisor, Te Rūnanga member and was appointed to her current role in July 2022.
Sharon has been involved in pastoral leadership in various churches over many years and is currently serving in the Māori Anglican church with her husband, Rev’d Les Pihema.
In counselling practice, Sharon has worked with teenagers at Howick College, young adults at Excel School of Performing Arts and couples at the Parenting Place (Whiria). She also spent twenty years working in customer service roles in the corporate insurance sector across the Auckland area.
Sharon’s favourite people in the world are her two mokos, Maia and Jordi