Profile
During my formal (and
informal) working life I have been involved with people and issues
impacting on their lives. I have consequently sought professional
training, education and development in the social sciences and human
dynamics areas including dispute resolution. I have a record of strong
advocacy skills which have derived essentially from a social justice
value base. More recently my focus has turned to procedural justice in
the form of research undertaken to examine the dispute resolution
processes contained in the Retirement Villages Act 2003.
Within a variety of settings, my training has enabled me to efficiently
and effectively assess situations, identify key issues, inconsistencies
and contradictions and provide verbal and written feedback, including
remedial options. I am an experienced mediator, facilitator, coach and
educator and have specialised in assisting organisations overcome
personnel and systemic issues that have lead to disharmony and
inefficiency.
I offer any organisation that employees me, wide experience and proven
ability to work within ethical and professional guidelines.
Combinations of counselling, mediation/conciliation and communication
skills, enhanced I believe through my knowledge and experience in the
Stopping Violence field, provide a unique blend of personal strengths.
These strengths allow me to work independently, flexibly and
conscientiously with diverse groups, within in a wide range of
personal/organisational settings.
Major Strengths
- Strong analytical and
assessment skills with ability to quickly identify key contextual
issues.
- Proven ability to research
and provide excellent written reports.
These include: organisational reporting for accountability purposes;
investigations undertaken for Court purposes - custody/access/alcohol
and drug/criminal; company and union initiated reporting on
conflict-ridden industrial sites (including mediation/negotiation
agreements); victim impact reports for Criminal Court; variety of
policy and legislation impact reports on family, victims, perpetrators
- especially domestic violence context; legal research for academic
purposes.
- Efficient time manager
successfully operating busy and diverse
private practice while maintaining strong professional networks and
continuing professional development and pursuit of relevant
qualifications.
- Proven ability to adapt to
changed work environment and become
familiar with regulating frameworks – i.e. relevant policy,
legislation.
- Demonstrated ability to be
involved in leadership roles and as a
team member, practising and supporting inclusive decision making
strategies.
- Sincere, empathic listener,
able to quickly establish trusting relationships and provide safe
environment in which to explore issues.
- Communications specialist -
providing workshops and coaching in interpersonal communication in
organisational settings along with individual work with people seeking
to improve communication skills for personal, business and professional
success.
- Sound knowledge of the
Treaty of Waitangi including partnership responsibilities and
obligations. Committed to life-long cross-cultural learning.
- Proven innovator, able to
demonstrate and support flexibility, stimulate ideas, create
environment of reciprocity and encourage sense of interdependence.
- Strong analytical and assessment skills with ability to quickly identify key contextual issues.
- Proven ability to research and provide excellent written reports. These include: organisational reporting for accountability purposes; investigations undertaken for Court purposes - custody/access/alcohol and drug/criminal; company and union initiated reporting on conflict-ridden industrial sites (including mediation/negotiation agreements); victim impact reports for Criminal Court; variety of policy and legislation impact reports on family, victims, perpetrators - especially domestic violence context; legal research for academic purposes.
- Efficient time manager successfully operating busy and diverse private practice while maintaining strong professional networks and continuing professional development and pursuit of relevant qualifications.
- Proven ability to adapt to changed work environment and become familiar with regulating frameworks – i.e. relevant policy, legislation.
- Demonstrated ability to be involved in leadership roles and as a team member, practising and supporting inclusive decision making strategies.
- Sincere, empathic listener, able to quickly establish trusting relationships and provide safe environment in which to explore issues.
- Communications specialist - providing workshops and coaching in interpersonal communication in organisational settings along with individual work with people seeking to improve communication skills for personal, business and professional success.
- Sound knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi including partnership responsibilities and obligations. Committed to life-long cross-cultural learning.
- Proven innovator, able to demonstrate and support flexibility, stimulate ideas, create environment of reciprocity and encourage sense of interdependence.
Major Achievements
- April 2008 awarded LLM
(Hons), University of Waikato.
- November 2007 presented
paper NZ Association of Gerontology conference: “Retirement
Villages and Dispute Resolution”.
- 2006-2007 undertook LLM by
thesis at the University of Waikato: thesis subject, “Dispute
Resolution and the Retirement Villages Act 2003: A fair and independent
process?”. Central components of thesis include (1) a model
that assists to evaluate how power is systematically distributed
through the integration of dominant ideology into policy, laws and the
social and economic conditions that shape peoples’ lives and
(2) the identification of key principles that should inform dispute
resolution processes including the DR processes contained in statutory
and private dispute resolution processes.
- 2004 influenced Government
setting up Commission of Inquiry to investigate Police rape allegations
in Rotorua during the 1980’s and the appointment of a female
Commissioner.
- 1999 involved in team from
University of Waikato with Government Restorative Justice Pilot
Programme. The aim of the programme was to reduce school suspensions
through family, school and community conferencing.
- 1997 conducted
communication/mediation/conciliation training with staff of the Office
the Race Relations Conciliator.
- 1996 completed post graduate
studies in dispute resolution at Massey University.
- 1996 undertook at request of
company, union, and workers an investigation of staff issues
surrounding a pending international takeover of large chemical plant.
Provided written report and later attended negotiations between all
parties which resulted eventually in decision within company not to
proceed with takeover.
- 1995 voluntary involvement
with fourteen students suspended from Cambridge High School. Assisted
with professional input aimed at returning students to school on
successful completion of drug rehabilitation programme and other
requirements deemed necessary by school BOT. Actively advocated for
students and parents when school refused to allow students back to
school following completion of agreed objectives. Continued advocacy
role and support of parents. Principal resigned and BOT dismissed
September 2004.
- 1993 Received commendation
from Board of Examiners University of Waikato for
“outstanding academic results”. Honours and Masters
Award offered by University Academic Registrar.
- 1993 Completed Bachelor of
Social Sciences, University of Waikato. Cross credited Maori Studies
subjects from partially completed Certificate in Maori Studies.
- 1990 Presented paper
“Addictive Families and Sexual Abuse - A Socio-political
Response” First New Zealand Child Sexual Abuse Conference,
Victoria University, Wellington, May 1990.
- 1989 co-presented workshop
entitled “Family Systems - A Different
Perspective”, 4th Australian-New Zealand Family Therapy
Conference, Canterbury University, Christchurch, September 1989.
- 1987 assisted setting up
first Maori addiction treatment centre in Rotorua. The Te Utuhina
Manaakitanga Trust remains principal community Addiction Resource
Centre in region.
- 1985 Completed Diploma in
Social Work, Victoria University of Wellington.
- 1984 as executive member of
NZ Committee for Children (Law Task Force) involved in conducting
regional workshops on legislation to protect children and young
persons. The workshops headed by Judge Ken Mason culminated in
submissions to the Government and succeeded in influencing provisions
of the CYP & F Act 1989.
- 1984 as member of Advisory
Committee on Foster Care (Representing NZ Foster Care Federation) wrote
“Minority Report” in Foster Care - A Report to the
Minister of Social Welfare, August 1984.
- 1982 presented paper
(representing NZ Foster Care Federation), “A Caring Society -
Fact or Fallacy?” in Child Abuse Prevention in New Zealand,
proceedings of National Symposium on Child Abuse, Mental Health
Foundation of N.Z., Palmerston North, November 1982.
- April 2008 awarded LLM (Hons), University of Waikato.
- November 2007 presented paper NZ Association of Gerontology conference: “Retirement Villages and Dispute Resolution”.
- 2006-2007 undertook LLM by thesis at the University of Waikato: thesis subject, “Dispute Resolution and the Retirement Villages Act 2003: A fair and independent process?”. Central components of thesis include (1) a model that assists to evaluate how power is systematically distributed through the integration of dominant ideology into policy, laws and the social and economic conditions that shape peoples’ lives and (2) the identification of key principles that should inform dispute resolution processes including the DR processes contained in statutory and private dispute resolution processes.
- 2004 influenced Government setting up Commission of Inquiry to investigate Police rape allegations in Rotorua during the 1980’s and the appointment of a female Commissioner.
- 1999 involved in team from University of Waikato with Government Restorative Justice Pilot Programme. The aim of the programme was to reduce school suspensions through family, school and community conferencing.
- 1997 conducted communication/mediation/conciliation training with staff of the Office the Race Relations Conciliator.
- 1996 completed post graduate studies in dispute resolution at Massey University.
- 1996 undertook at request of company, union, and workers an investigation of staff issues surrounding a pending international takeover of large chemical plant. Provided written report and later attended negotiations between all parties which resulted eventually in decision within company not to proceed with takeover.
- 1995 voluntary involvement with fourteen students suspended from Cambridge High School. Assisted with professional input aimed at returning students to school on successful completion of drug rehabilitation programme and other requirements deemed necessary by school BOT. Actively advocated for students and parents when school refused to allow students back to school following completion of agreed objectives. Continued advocacy role and support of parents. Principal resigned and BOT dismissed September 2004.
- 1993 Received commendation from Board of Examiners University of Waikato for “outstanding academic results”. Honours and Masters Award offered by University Academic Registrar.
- 1993 Completed Bachelor of Social Sciences, University of Waikato. Cross credited Maori Studies subjects from partially completed Certificate in Maori Studies.
- 1990 Presented paper “Addictive Families and Sexual Abuse - A Socio-political Response” First New Zealand Child Sexual Abuse Conference, Victoria University, Wellington, May 1990.
- 1989 co-presented workshop entitled “Family Systems - A Different Perspective”, 4th Australian-New Zealand Family Therapy Conference, Canterbury University, Christchurch, September 1989.
- 1987 assisted setting up first Maori addiction treatment centre in Rotorua. The Te Utuhina Manaakitanga Trust remains principal community Addiction Resource Centre in region.
- 1985 Completed Diploma in Social Work, Victoria University of Wellington.
- 1984 as executive member of NZ Committee for Children (Law Task Force) involved in conducting regional workshops on legislation to protect children and young persons. The workshops headed by Judge Ken Mason culminated in submissions to the Government and succeeded in influencing provisions of the CYP & F Act 1989.
- 1984 as member of Advisory Committee on Foster Care (Representing NZ Foster Care Federation) wrote “Minority Report” in Foster Care - A Report to the Minister of Social Welfare, August 1984.
- 1982 presented paper (representing NZ Foster Care Federation), “A Caring Society - Fact or Fallacy?” in Child Abuse Prevention in New Zealand, proceedings of National Symposium on Child Abuse, Mental Health Foundation of N.Z., Palmerston North, November 1982.
Employment and Educational History
| 2008-2009 | Dispute/Conflict
Resolution Consultant; Complaints Investigator - employment issues;
part-time Issues Assistant Parliamentary Service (from
April 09). |
| 2006-2007 | Conducted
research for LLM thesis, University of Waikato. |
| 1989-2005 | Employee
Assistance Programme (EAP) consultant involved in counselling,
mediation, coaching, training, critical incident debriefing. Family Court counsellor and mediator. ACC counsellor sexual assault survivors (1990-2001). Completed Bachelor of Social Science Degree 1992. Completed Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Dispute Resolution) 1996. Provider of professional supervision/mentoring to staff from Government and private sector organisations. Private and Government sector – Communication coaching and dispute resolution. Includes the health sector, specifically issues arising from findings and directives of the Coroner’s Court (2002-2004) concerning deaths of mental health patients. NZCYPS contracted family work - Taupo and Rotorua. Rotorua Family Violence Prevention Trust (1992-1995) trainer, facilitator, supervisor and Chairperson (1994-997). |
| 1986-1988 | Employed
by Waikato Hospital Board as Addictions Counsellor, Riverholm, Rotorua.
Later co-ordinated Rotorua A & D Community Services. Founder
member Te Utuhina Manaakitangi Trust. |
| 1984-1986 | Diploma in
Social Work, Victoria University of Wellington. |
| 1982-1984 | Member
Government Advisory Committee on Foster Care in New Zealand. NZ Foster Care Federation representative on N.Z. Committee for Children. |
| 1979-1982 | NZ Foster
Care Federation Executive member holding roles of Publicity Officer,
Education Officer and Vice-Chairperson. |
| 1976-1979 | Taupo
Citizens Advice Bureau volunteer. |
Qualifications
| Tertiary | LLM (Hons)
(University of Waikato) Bachelor of Social Sciences (University of Waikato) Diploma in Business Studies (Dispute Resolution) (Massy University) Diploma in Social Work (Victoria University of Wellington). |
| Membership | Associate Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute N.Z. Inc. |
Personal / Interests
Katikati Masters Swimming Club
NZ Masters Swimming Inc.
Friends, fitness, garden
Give me a call to discuss your requirements ...