NZ Experts Join International Counterparts on Glenn Inquiry

New Zealand Experts Join International Counterparts on Glenn Inquiry

Wednesday 23 January 2013 – The Glenn Inquiry continues its ability to attract an impressive line up of experts to work on the inquiry, today announcing 23 New Zealanders from around the country who will join the international members selected on its ‘Think Tank’.

Director of the Glenn Inquiry, Ruth Herbert says the Think Tank, an informal networked group of 36 international and New Zealand members, will provide a critical role in the Inquiry.

“They individually and collectively provide extensive expertise that we can draw on throughout the inquiry process. There are names on the list that are well known in the fields of child abuse and domestic violence and there are some new names with outstanding credentials. I’m thrilled with who we have attracted and their passion to get involved and to making a difference.”

Similarly to the 13 international experts Herbert says they bring with them an impressive breadth and depth of expertise.

“I’m thrilled to have a mixture of academics and front line people from a GP to a social worker to community workers to those in advocacy roles. Sir Owen Glenn has always been insistent that this would be the People’s Inquiry and the make-up of our Think Tank will ensure that.”

Sir Owen Glenn says it has been this ground swell of support that has encouraged him that they are on the right track.

“This is not a traditional inquiry, it is very much about the people. It’s about the people who have been affected, who work in this area and see it every day, about the views of interested parties. Consequently a panel won’t be appointed until we have gone through this information gathering phase, which the Think Tank members will be heavily involved in.”

It is estimated this process will take around six to nine months and then a panel will be formed to review the findings and produce the Blueprint.

Dr Lance O’Sullivan, a doctor practising and living in his community of Kaitaia, is one of the New Zealand Think Tank members.

“I wanted to be involved with the Glenn Inquiry because I believe their approach is the right tone. Any strategy has to involve the communities and be culturally appropriate (whanau, hapu and iwi) from the start of its development through to the implementation. There is no value in a strategy being fully developed in Wellington and then being rolled out by local providers in Kaitaia. Generally those providing the service don’t have buy in to strategies that they didn’t have an hand in developing and this is evident by the end user. This Inquiry is desperately needed and I am passionate about being part of it.”

Similarly to the international appointees, the New Zealanders have generously agreed to contribute their time to the inquiry at no or heavily discounted fees.

Sir Owen Glenn has committed not only funds to this independent inquiry but much of his time also.

“I will be in New Zealand a great deal this year. I’m committed to this Inquiry and it is my aim to produce a blueprint, which will be a model for the future that will answer one fundamental question ‘If New Zealand was leading the world in addressing child abuse and domestic violence what would that look like?’ We owe this to our children and our grandchildren; we must reverse these ghastly statistics.”

Glenn says the calibre of the Think Tank members both from New Zealand and overseas is outstanding.

“To have these sorts of people committed is a huge boost but we still have a lot of work to do, we are just beginning. We are not going away, rest assured you be hearing a great deal about this Inquiry in 2013."

The Glenn Inquiry want to hear from anyone who has personal experience of child abuse or domestic violence or work with those who do or who has time, energy or expertise or wishes to donate financially to help the Glenn Inquiry. People can register their interest via the website www.glenninquiry.org.nz or contact the Inquiry via admin@glenninquiry.org.nz

New Zealand Think Tank Member Bios

Dr Susan Morton

An epidemiologist and specialist in public health medicine who currently holds a joint appointment as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the School of Population Health and the Liggins Institute. Also Director of a new longitudinal study of NZ children and families (Growing Up in New Zealand). Passionate about sharing knowledge gained from scientific research with the community.

Dr Annabel Taylor

A senior lecturer and Director, Te Awatea Violence Research Centre. She has also been involved in community-based and prison-based social work and specialises in criminal justice and social work as well as women’s criminal justice. Additionally she was a Community Representative to the Christchurch Benefit Review Committee for the Department of Work and Income from 2001-2007.

Dr Janet Fanslow

An Associate Professor in Mental Health Promotion at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, and Co-Director of the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse. She has been engaged in violence prevention research since 1989. Her work is widely used by advocates, practitioners and policy makers.

Dr Vivienne Elizabeth

A Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Auckland. Her research focuses on questions of gender, identity and power in family settings. She has recently published, with Julia Tolmie (Law) and Nicola Gavey (Psychology), a series of articles on custody disputes. She has also published in the area of domestic violence.

Dr Neville Robertson

A senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Waikato. Experienced in domestic violence work as a researcher, consultant, trainer and facilitator. His programme evaluation research has helped the development of social services. Other areas of interest are child abuse, the prevention of family violence, community development, gender and cultural justice and institutional responses to violence against women.

Dr Mandy Morgan

Associate Professor in Critical Psychology and Head of School at the School of Psychology at Massey University. Involved in a research programme on domestic violence services and interventions. Recently collaborated with other researchers and stakeholders at the Waitakere Family Violence Court, evaluating Court protocols and the services of NGOs providing community based interventions to those in court processes.

Dr Ian Lambie

Auckland University Associate Professor, who has worked with youth offenders for the past 20 years. A member of both the Ministry of Justice Independent Advisory Group on Youth Offending and the Ministry of Social Development advisory group on the treatment of conduct disorder. Has received the New Zealand Psychological Society Public Interest Award for community work with adolescent sexual offenders.

Dr Nicola Gavey

An Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Auckland. Her specialist research area is sexual violence. Interested in the role of dominant cultural norms and values around gender in shaping the social and interpersonal conditions that contribute to violence and abuse.

Dr Te Kani Kingi (Ngati Pukeko and Ngati Awa)

Employed with Massey University since 1995 on a range of research initiatives, collectively focused on social issues and social development. Has taught, written, and presented on issues like the Treaty of Waitangi, psychiatry, policy development, evaluation, and Māori development. Former member the National Health Committee, the Mental Health Advisory Coalition and the Government Green Paper on Children.

Dr Denise Wilson (Ngāti Tahinga)

Associate Professor Māori Health at AUT University, with teaching and research focused on Māori health and family violence. Currently a member of the Health Quality and Safety Commission’s Family Violence Death Review Committee, Nursing Network for Violence Against Women International, and a IOM Forum on the Prevention of Global Violence presenter.

Dr Nicola Atwool

Has worked in the social services for 35 years as a practitioner, educator, and advocate. She is currently employed as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work at the University of Otago having recently returned to this position following six years as a Principal Advisor in the Office of the Children's Commissioner.

Yvonne Crichton-Hill

Senior lecturer with the Department of Social Work at the University of Canterbury, with extensive experience in child protection social work, working with Pacific families. Research focus on domestic and family violence, specifically partner abuse and violence. Also on the Pacific Advisory Group (to the New Zealand Taskforce for action on violence within families) and member of the Te Awatea Violence Research Centre.

Dr Teuila Percival

Director of the Pacific Health Unit and a practising paediatrician. Currently working on a research project studying rheumatic fever in Samoa and has just received funding for a study based in South Auckland which will look at obesity treatment for Pacific families which focuses on the children, but still treats the whole family.

Dr Lance O’Sullivan (Te Rarawa, Ngati Hau and Ngati Maru)

A Maori general practitioner working and living in his community of Kaitaia for the last seven years. He and his wife Tracy have seven of their own children and a whangai child as well. Passionate about improving health outcomes for Maori and has a particular interest in seeing Maori children receive better services.

Manu Caddie

Has a background in youth work, community organising and activism. Lives in Gisborne and has been a Gisborne District Councillor since 2010, plus runs a small social research and project management company. Married to Tarsh, with two children.

Marama Davidson (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Porou)

Social justice and human rights advocate with a background in community work. Was an Advisor for 10 years with the Human Rights Commission, focusing on human rights issues for young people. This community insight led to her becoming a passionate voice and public commentator for seeking better outcomes for families.

Kirimatao Paipa (Ngāti Pōrou, Ngāti Whakaue, and Ngāti Tukorehe)

Director of Kia Maia Ltd - an indigenous independent organisation undertaking: facilitation, training, and tikanga based research and evaluation. Involved in a range of domestic violence prevention activities such as advocacy, programme development, facilitation, and research. A mother and grandmother.

Anton Blank (Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungungu)

Executive Director of Ririki (a national Maori child advocacy organisation) who had a first career in social work with Child, Youth and Family for almost fifteen years. Then transitioned into a career in communications in a wide range of private sector, government and public health settings, before becoming Ririki’s director in 2008.

Kim Workman (Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitaane)

Executive Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment. Former Head of the NZ Prison Service, and National Director of Prison Fellowship. Awarded the International Prize for Restorative Justice in 2005, and made a Companion of the Queens Service Order in 2007. Also served as a Families Commissioner from 2005 – 2008.

Carol Hirschfield (Ngāti Porou)

General Manager of Production for Maori Television, and has also been head of programming and an executive producer for the channel. Formerly an accomplished editor, producer and reporter, who delivered TV3’s nightly news and produced "Campbell Live", after working at TVNZ as a producer and presenter. Additionally involved with Teach First NZ, the LAM Foundation and the NZ Breast Cancer Research Trust.

ENDS

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