Members - About us - Health and Disability NGO Working Group

Members

Note: If you would like to contact the NGO Working Group please contact the Secretariat in the first instance.

Jackie Edmond (Chair - NGO Working Group)
Sector: Personal Health
Chief Executive, Family Planning Association

Biography:
Jackie started working at Family Planning in 2002 and has been Chief Executive since late 2006. She is a registered Psychiatric nurse with over 20 years experience and has held various senior management roles in District Health Board mental health services prior to moving to Family Planning. She has been a member of a number of Ministry of Health advisory groups in the past and has been on the NGO Working Group since 2006. She is also currently a member of Evolve - youth health trust board.

Adri Isbister
Sector: Disability Support
Chief Executive Officer, Life Unlimited

Biography:
Adri has worked as leader of LIFE Unlimited for the past 12 years. A health and disability provider LIFE Unlimited carries its vision in its name, Living Independence For Everyone (LIFE). The organisation has worked in the greater Waikato community for 30 years and within the last 9 years has provided Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) services in Tairawhiti and the Hutt Valley.

With offices and clinics situated throughout NZ, LIFE Unlimited is a national organisation providing Independent Youth Benefit (IYB) assessments, National Hearing Therapy services, Altogether Autism NZ in Partnership with Parent to Parent, and facilitates a Diploma in hearing therapy.

An organisation and personal highlight in November 2006 was leading LIFE Unlimited to win the overall Westpac Waikato Chamber of Commerce overall Best Business excellence award, Newstalk ZB Not-for-Profit & Public Sector Organisation award and Hamilton City Council Innovation award. The pinnacle for 2006 was receiving the Vodavone Chief Executive of the Year award.

A mad passion for community Adri is also President of NZ Needs Assessment Service Coordination Association (NASCA), a member of the Waikato DHB Health Waikato Advisory committee, Trustee and sponsor of Hamilton Hydrotherapy Trust, Director of Netball Waikato and a Director of Netball Magic Franchise.

Married to Mark with two independent, adult children and five grandchildren, Adri is a keen boaty (when time permits), runner, and avid book reader and enjoys fine wine. With a qualification in Social Work Adri also has an executive MBA and Diploma in Business studies through Massey University.

Barb Long
Sector: Personal Health
Otago and Southland Operations Manager, Royal New Zealand Plunket Society (Inc)

Biography:
Barb is the Otago and Southland Operations Manager for the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society (Inc) and has been in an Operations Manager’s role for 7 years. During this time there have been restructures that have increased the geographical area and responsibilities of the role. She is piloting a model of having one manager being responsible for both volunteer and clinical services. Prior to this position Barb spent 11 years working as a nurse in community mental health for the Otago DHB, predominantly as a psychiatric district nurse.

Barb has an excellent understanding of governance as well as service delivery and she is an appointed community member on the Otago DHB Community Public Health and Advisory Committee (CPHAC). As a Nurse, CPHAC member and consumer Barb has excellent knowledge of the NGO sector as well as government departments and at a local level she is well known and has established relationships with managers in the NGO sector. Barb is passionate about facilitating change and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential and believes this can occur in the context of functional relationships between all parties.

Carole Maraku
Sector: Māori Health
Chief Executive Officer, Te Upoko Te Upoko O Nga Oranga O Te Rae

Biography:
Carole is the CEO of Te Upoko O Nga Oranga O Te Rae providing technical assistance to 17 Iwi Māori Mental Health and Addiction organisations within the Central Region. She is active in advocating on issues of disparities that impact on service delivery for Māori.

Chris Harris
Sector: Disability Support
Chief Executive, Spectrum Care Trust Board

Biography:
Chris has an extensive background in the NGO and DHB sectors in New Zealand with former roles as the Executive Director of Framework Trust and more recently the General Manager of Mental Health and Addictions Services for Waikato DHB.

Chris has a strong track record and personal interest in the 3 areas of working together identified by the NGO-MOH Forum namely: Communication, Consultation and Capacity/Capability Building. He is a strong advocate for the disability sector and is keenly involved in the development of a disability peak body. Chris is also a key influencer in the current moves to establish a regular tripartite forum between the Ministry of Health, the disability sector and unions as a means to influence greater attention to improved sector pay rates. He is actively involved in the national work to establish a transparent pricing model for residential disability services. These activities are developed from his position as deputy Chair of NRID (National Residential Intellectual Disability Providers Group). Chris has also been recently appointed to the executive committee of the Auckland Disability Providers Network.

Donna Matahaere-Atariki (Vice-Chair - NGO Working Group)
Sector: Māori Health
Position, Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora

Biography:
Donna has a background in Maori development having taught at the University of Otago and as a senior executive in the Office of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. She spent some time as a policy director in the public sector and more recently has returned home to Dunedin to take on a leadership role in Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora.

Donna has a passion for the NGO sector having been part of the establishment Trustees for Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora in 1997 and Chairperson up until 2008. She has worked on a number of issues with the Community and Voluntary Sector Office as a member of Te Wero and locally with her hapu Ngati Taoka at Otakou. She is currently a Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu appointee and Acting Chair of He Oranga Pounamu maintaining a keen interest in the primary health sector.

Donna is experienced in building effective relationships with a range of stakeholders (including PHOs) and believes that cross-sectoral knowledge is central to developing outcomes for Maori. She is familiar with issues of workforce development having contributed to building capability and leadership during her career. Donna views workforce development as an ongoing priority for not just Maori – who she considers as often more highly qualified than others – but for anyone engaged in working with others.

Donna is committed to ensuring that NGOs are duly recognised for the strengths that they bring to achieving health outcomes for everyone and is a strong advocate for equity and whanau ora. If selected she will bring a strong and confident voice on behalf of Maori.

Eleni Mason
Sector: Pacific Health
General Manager, Pacific Health Service Porirua Inc

Biography:
Eleni Mason – Director/Business Support Services Manager
Eljays IT Consulting, Business & Health Support Services
MMgt; Dip.Bus./Health Management

Eleni is an experienced Business and Practice Manager who has worked in Primary Health since 1988. Prior to this, she has held management positions in the non-government sector. Eleni is a “people’s person”, and being Samoan, her approach to and understanding of different cultures is highly valued by the team, as well as our clients.

Eleni is currently acting as General Manager of Pacific Health Service Porirua (PHSP) Incorporated. Under this umbrella, she is Project Manger of the Pacific Smoking Cessation Programme, which is a joint venture between PHS Porirua and Wellington. She also manages the Pacific General Practice which is a new arm of the Pacific Health Service Porirua Inc. Eleni values the work that NGO's bring to their various communities and is passionate about improving grass root services to all Pacific and low income peoples. In her current role, she has been instrumental in the re-branding of PHSP and has introduced a strong focus on prevention and healthy living programmes as a result. She also provides internal mentoring for staff members with regards to systems and process in all areas of the organisation. Eleni enjoys growth and encourages staff members and Pacific youth to aim high and study for higher qualifications.

Jane Poa
Sector: Pacific Health
Chief Executive Officer, CIFICAP Trust - Hawke's Bay Pacific Health Services

Biography:
Jane Poa, BA, PGDipBusAdmin, JP, CEO – CIFICAP Trust – Hawkes Bay Pacific Health and Social Services - Cook Islands Maori/Rarotongan who has worked in the Health and Social Services Sector since the early 1980’s. Currently in National roles as a Board Member of Volunteering NZ, Deputy Chair of HealthCare Aotearoa, a member of the Pacific Reference Group of Health Promotion Forum, a PIC Synod Executive Member of PCANZ, National Executive Member of the Cook Islands Uapou Fellowship of NZ and as an Executive Member of the Cook Islands Health Network Association (CIHNA).

Locally in Hawkes Bay Jane is continuing with contributing to the health and social services sector through collaborative partnerships with government agencies, NGO’s, Pacific Communities, Maori and with the Hawkes Bay District Health Board. Jane is mother to three wonderful children Richard, Matangaro and Marthalina.

Jo Fitzpatrick
Sector: Public Health
Director, Womens Health Action Trust
Email: jo@womens-health.org.nz

Biography:
Jo Fitzpatrick is Director of Women's Health Action Trust, an organisation she joined as Women's Health Advocate and Policy Analyst early in 2002. Jo has skills in advocacy, policy analysis, research and writing. Since joining Women's Health Action she has focused on key public health issues from a consumer viewpoint.

Women's Health Action has long had an interest in consumer and health Issues, particularly as they pertain to rights in health and disability services and issues of informed consent. We produce evidence based independent information on a range of women’s health issues. We are active participants in the processes and consultations around consumer and public health issues. A particular focus for the organization is breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support and we organize the ‘Big Latch On’ every year during World Breastfeeding Week.

Current representations
Womens Health Action Trust - Director
NGO Working Group - Chair
HIV Screening in Pregnancy Implementation group - Member
Auckland Women's Health Council - Trustee
Organ Donation NZ

Jo originally trained as a dental nurse, has an MSC in Psychology and has worked as a researcher and evaluator in the Department of Psychiatry at Auckland University. For some of that time she worked with Dr John Raeburn, at the Community Health Centre, evaluating health promotion programmes. At this time, she did voluntary work as a sexuality educator for the Family Planning Association.

Joanne Hayes
Sector: Māori Health
Chief Executive Officer, Taumata Hauora Trust

Biography:
Joanne Hayes, Atihaunui A Paparangi, Ngati Porou, Rangitane ki Wairarapa, CEO Taumata Hauora Trust MDPHO, Whanganui
Jo is the Chief Executive Officer of Taumata Hauora Trust and has been working in the health sector for 9 years. Her health experience includes working within Mental health, Maori health and Primary care at both senior and executive levels at service provider level and Funding and Planning within the Whanganui and MidCentral District Health Board’s.

Jo is a member of a number of national health groups including Te Matarau (the national group for Maori Development Organisation’s) and the NGO Working Group. She is also a member of Workstream 3 of the Primary Health Implementation Group (PHIG) programme with the Ministry of Health.

Jo is experienced in strategic, business and financial management, governance, organisational development, planning, services auditing and purchasing of services. She works very closely with nga Iwi me nga hapu o te rohe of Whanganui, a number of organisations including the Whanganui Regional Primary Health Organisations, Whanganui District Health Board, Te Puni Kokiri, NZ Trade and Enterprise, the Ministry of Health and others.

Kath Fox
Sector: Mental Health
Chief Executive,Richmond New Zealand

Biography:
Kath Fox is the Chief Executive of Richmond New Zealand - a national NGO providing community mental health and disability support services. Kath has held a range of senior executive and governance positions in the public, non-government and voluntary sectors.

Kath has been involved in the health, education and wider social service sector in a wide range of areas including strategy, organisational development, workforce development, clinical training, special education, Maori development, health service management, policy, funding, and research. Kath brings a range of governance, strategic and operational experience, particularly in the mental health and addiction sector. She is involved in various advisory groups, and is a Health Research Council Board member. Kath is strongly committed to collaborative approaches to service delivery, and to the key role of NGOs in health and community development.

Rachael Le Mesurier
Sector: Public Health
Executive Director, New Zealand AIDS Foundation

Biography:
Rachael has over 27 years of voluntary work and 18 years of paid employment in the not for profit community based organisation sector, covering sexual and reproductive health, social welfare, human rights and disability issues. She started her voluntary work in women’s groups in the early 1980s prior to qualifying as a lawyer in the UK. She then moved into volunteer and paid employment with community groups and became involved in community activism on human rights, racism, disability concerns, feminism and discrimination against sexual minorities.

Working back home in New Zealand since 1995 she has been in senior executive positions in the disability sector, community and volunteer sector, sexual and reproductive health, personal and public health sector, and is now the Executive Director of the NZ AIDS Foundation. She has extensive experience of working with grass roots community groups as well as many years of being both on governance bodies and servicing/reporting to Boards.

She chaired the organizing committee of the successful Pan Pacific conference on HIV and AIDS in Auckland New Zealand in 2005 where 520 delegates enjoyed the first Pacific focused conference of this size. She chairs the National HIV and AIDS Forum, has attended two UNGASS meetings on HIV as a civil society member of the government delegation and recently attended the UNAIDS Programme Co-ordinating Board as an invited guest of NZAID. She has been nominated onto the Executive Committee of AIDS Societies of Asia Pacific.

Rob Warriner
Sector: Mental Health
Chief Executive Officer, Walsh Trust

Biography:
Rob Warriner has worked in community based NGO organisations for the past fifteen (15) years, the last six (6) as the CEO of WALSH Trust, in Waitakere City. During his time at WALSH Trust, the organisation has grown considerably, doubling in size and range of services to the community. Rob has experience as a community leader and advocate for community based services that are relevant to its social needs. He is both a strategic and innovative thinker and articulates his thoughts and ideas. Rob has exercised his skills in roles locally, regionally and nationally.

Rob is a member of the Mental Health Advisory Coalition (MHAC), a Board member of Platform (Platform is the national association of non-government mental health and addiction services) and Co-Chair of the Waitemata DHB Provider Executive Group. In September this year, he was appointed to the Mental Health Commission Advisory Group. He has also been closely involved with PRIMHD (Programme for the Integration of Mental Health Data) over the last year.

Rob believes that community development initiatives and advocacy on behalf of communities are fundamental to community wellbeing – including mental health. His experience would enable him to bring a range of skills in management, strategic development and governance to the Health & Disability NGO Working Group.

Kelvin Moffatt
Sector: Group Manager, Ministry of Health
Contact details:
Ministry of Health
133 Molesworth Street
Wellington

Caroline Speight
Sector: NGO Relationship Manager, Ministry of Health
Contact details:
Ministry of Health
180 Molesworth Street
Wellington

Ph: 04 496 2062
Email: ngo@moh.govt.nz

Muno Richards
Sector: Secretariat
Contact details:
NGO Working Group
83 Frobisher Street
Island Bay
Wellington

Ph/Fax: 04 3835415
Mobile: 021 263 1389
Email: secretariat@ngo.govt.nz

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Page last updated: 11 February 2010