Tāmaki Redevelopment Company’s CEO To Leave

Tāmaki Redevelopment Company’s CEO To Leave

The Board of the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company announces that the CEO Debra Lawson has resigned from the company, following two successful years at the helm. She will stay on for six months until the end of December 2014, during which time she will continue to help guide the company through the next phases of regeneration in the area.

Chair of the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company Brian Donnelly says that Ms Lawson has achieved a great deal for the organisation since she began her tenure unofficially in June 2012 (and formally in September 2012). “We are a whole lot further down the track in understanding and implementing the much needed regeneration of the Tāmaki area,” says Mr Donnelly. “Debra will leave the company having truly progressed the foundation projects, and having delivered an implementation plan for the future that has had genuine engagement on the ground with the community. The Board thanks her for her great contribution.”

“The last 18 months have seen the community move into a different phase,” says Ms Lawson. “Glen Innes, Panmure and Pt. England communities are now engaged with and actively participating in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods. Tāmaki Redevelopment Company was established with a legacy challenge but has now developed strong goodwill which came out of positive community engagement which used the community’s Tāmaki Inclusive Engagement Strategy (TIES). I’m proud to have helped achieve that.”

Ms Lawson has an extensive background in urban regeneration projects in the UK. Since taking office at the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, she and her team have achieved:

- Wide input and ownership from local people, groups and stakeholders on the strategic document that will define the housing, social support, educational institutions, open spaces and health support in the area for the future.
- Special Housing Area as part of the housing accord signed between Government and Auckland Council to fast track housing in the area, allowing ultimately for greater private ownership of affordable housing in the area.
- Appointing people from the community directly into roles within the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, ensuring true ‘ownership’ of the project and reflecting the diversity, culture and history in the community.
- Tāmaki Redevelopment Company’s regeneration programme is now prioritised as an important Crown/Council initiative.

“By the end of 2014, I will have been in the role more than two years. That’s a milestone for me because I will have delivered on everything I wanted to, to underpin the successful progress of urban regeneration for the area over the next decade. The building blocks for real change on the ground are now in place,” she says. “It’s therefore time for me to hand over to the next CEO who will find a fantastic team there for support.”

Mr Donnelly said that Ms Lawson’s six month notice period will give the organisation a good timeframe for identifying, appointing and transitioning a new CEO into the role. “Tāmaki Redevelopment Company is in good heart and has clear direction endorsed by the community. We are confident that there will be a smooth transition to a new CEO. We wish Ms Lawson the best.”

Ends

© Scoop Media