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The following panel members were nominated for
the Disability Advisory Panel co-chairs roles. Below is brief summary of
interest for the co-chairs roles.
Martine
Abel-Williamson, QSM
Kia ora
koutou,
I wish to be
considered for a co-chair role. I’ve been one during the previous panel
term and can bring institutional knowledge and a sense of continuity if
elected. Apart from having served on the previous Disability Advisory Panel,
I worked for Auckland Council and other local government agencies for 11
years from 2007 to 2018 in roles covering disability strategy, policy and
action plan design and community engagement across multiple issues and
opportunities, so, I do understand very clearly what this role would entail,
working along-side Auckland Council staff, as well as fellow panelists.
I’ve
got a proven track record in meeting facilitation, effective time keeping
management and being flexible when required.
Áine
Kelly-Costello
I'd be
delighted to take on the privilege and responsibility of co-chairing the
disability advisory Panel this term.
Through many
collective advocacy kaupapa over the years, I understand the importance of
facilitation to keep meetings on track, ensure they're accessible for
everyone to participate their best, and ensure everyone feels their contributions
are heard and valued. I appreciate the co-chair model as I think shared
leadership leads to more robust decision-making and also builds in greater
flexibility to work to our capacities and strengths.
I value
strong working relationships and will endeavour to foster these both between
ourselves as panel members and with the Council staff and any other
stakeholders we work alongside.
I know that
as panelists we have diverse backgrounds, as indeed we collectively should.
Having been immersed in disability community for a while, I'm committed to
holding this breadth of perspective as a strength while guiding us towards
consensus-based decisions when appropriate. As tangata tiriti, I will
endeavour to ensure that we provide a receptive environment for the voices of
tangata whenua panel members to come through strongly.
Barry de
Geest
I wish to put
my name forward for the position of Co-Chair of the Auckland Council
Disability Advisory panel.
Diversity is
a fantastic thing that can lead to creative solutions however often we may
not agree. My style of Chairpersonship allows everyone to have the
opportunity to have their say and allow the out-the-box solutions to develop.
My current
roles as Director of Renaissance Group with 120 staff, Chairperson of
Taikura, which supports 16,000 disabled people, and Board member of
Workbridge, show I have the ability and skills to perform this role. I am
well versed at creating a cohesive productive group which maximises the
potential of people. I wish to encourage others, and be proactive, by
utilising our lived experiences to make a positive difference to all disabled
people in the Auckland area.
In previous
roles I have been on the Auckland District Health Board, DPA and CCS boards
as well as having worked for the Ministry of Health where in my role I
advised the Minister of Health of disability issues.
With all my
experiences I believe I can enable the panel to reach its potential and
together accomplish great things.
Gerard
Martin
I am putting
myself forward as a co-chair for the disability Advisory Panel.
I bring a
background of working within the panel for a term and a half and having
benefited from the positive relationships developed with our Council
colleagues. My lived experience has been from an acquired disability, gained
in my 20s which opened opportunities to seeing the inequalities that exist
for some that struggle to gain greater levels of independence that many of us
take for granted.
I’m driven by making things better,
be that strategically and by a pragmatic approach of improving on what has
gone before. For the panel, I bring a grounding in collaborating and managing
resources in government, not for profit and corporate settings, to achieve
the best that we can from a sum of all that we as a panel can bring.
I’m keen to work to represent the skills and approach of the
Panel - alongside our panel colleagues - in working with Council’s
decision makers and influencers to improve the quality of life for us all.
Chris Orr
I have
thought long and hard before putting myself forward as a candidate for the
position of Co-chair of the Auckland Council Disability advisory Panel. I am
confident that I have the requisite experience, knowledge and leadership
skills to bring to the role.
I lost my
sight as the result of a traumatic injury in 1974. I was an employee of the
Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (Now known as blind Low Vision
NZ.)for nearly 47 years. My roles there included:
·
Teaching Braille
to newly blinded people:
·
Regional
Fundraising manager:
Fundraising
and PR Manager at the BLNVZ Guide Dog Service. Over the 20 plus years before
my retirement I worked in the area Of Access and Awareness. This role
included working closely with many local and regional councils. This included
working on the development of both strategic and operational plans.
I believe the
experience and knowledge of the workings of councils will stand me in good
stead if I am successful in being elected as Co-Chair of the Auckland Council
Disability Advisory Panel, I have a proven track record as a team player and
leader in the Disability sector. I have worked alongside people with a lived
experience of disability in the preparation of both strategic and operational
plans.
I look forward to working with the other
members of the panel to deliver quality information and guidance to Council
staff over the term of the Panel.
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