Jacky McLaren, Borneo Bags Foundation
Originally from the UK, Jacky was invited to New Zealand to research mechanically harvested tomatoes for Watties in the ‘70s for a Masters Degree. She broke a few barriers as a female with Dalgety Stock and Station, then, as a solo mother, she began a teaching career in Hawkes Bay.
Two decades of teaching in Brunei and trekking across Borneo brought her into direct contact with one of the last semi-nomadic tribes in Asia, the Penan. As palm oil plantations replace the rainforest, the changes they are confronted with are challenging; lack of food, shelter and medicines take their toll.
The charities she helped to establish, the Penan Women Project and Helping Hands Penan, aim to educate and empower the women of the tribe. On returning to New Zealand in 2015 Jacky established the social enterprise, Borneo Bags, all profits being returned directly to the weavers and the charity.