Mariaelena is a Ph.D candidate from Peru (Quechua) at The University of Auckland in the School of Management and International Business - New Zealand.  Mariaelena has a Master of Management (with a major in International Business) from the School of Business, Massey University, Auckland - New Zealand. Mariaelena’s PhD research topic is: Indigenous knowledge able to contribute to food security?

She is investigating how the knowledge possessed by Indigenous people –Māori of Aotearoa and Peruvian Andeans – can contribute to improving food security. This comparative research focuses on the Māori principle of ‘Te Ātanoho’ or ‘good life’ and ‘Allin Kawsay’, the Andean principle of ‘good living’.  Her research explores traditional food production from an Indigenous perspective, Good living philosophies, economic resilience (whai rawa), and environmental sustainability (kaitiakitanga). Mariaelena’s research is guided by the development of an Indigenous research framework that is grounded on the principles of Kaupapa Māori and Peru’s bicultural protocol, referred to as the ‘Khipu Andean Model’.
Mariaelena has published in books series and in international journals such as the International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability and and in the book series: Critical Studies on Corporate Responsibility, Governance and Sustainability by Emerald group Publishing.

Mariaelena is a researcher with the Mira Száscy Research Centre - Māori and Pacific economic Development at the University of Auckland, and her professional experience is in corporate sustainability, public policy and as an educator.
Mariaelena’s research topics include: sustainable development, Indigenous knowledge, climate change, corporate sustainability and countries heritage.