Child, Youth and Family managers appointed
16 December 2004
The Chief Executive of Child, Youth and Family, Paula Tyler, has announced the following senior appointments as part of
the department’s restructuring:
General Manager People and Capability – Jo Mika-Thomas General Manager Quality Assurance – Bernadine Mackenzie General
Manager Service Development – Shannon Pakura General Manager Operations – Lorraine Williams Chief Social Worker – Dr
Marie Connolly
“I am very pleased with the quality of the Executive Management Team, which comprises a wealth of experience, knowledge
and leadership abilities,” said Paula Tyler.
“I am looking forward to the managers coming on board and starting to make a real difference to our Department. “
In other appointments, Viv Rogers was confirmed as General Manager Organisational Services and Debbie Gee as
Communications Manager.
Recruitment is continuing for the General Manager Strategy and Planning..
“The quality of the Executive Management Team evidences the pool of talent which resulted from our internal and external
advertising,” said Paula Tyler.
“All appointees demonstrated absolute commitment to the Department reaching its goals, and to meeting the challenges we
face to get there.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the achievements and commitment of people currently holding
senior management roles in Child, Youth and Family. I have appreciated the support, knowledge and experience of the
senior managers since starting as Chief Executive in August.”
Regional Director appointments will be announced next week, and applications for third tier management positions close
on December 17.
Brief biographies of General Managers
General Manager People and Capability – Jo Mika-Thomas Jo is currently employed by Te Puni Kokiri as the General Manager
Human Resources. Jo is affiliated to Tuhourangi, Ngati Whanaunga, and Ngati Maru. Previous positions include being a
consultant to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, acting General Manager Organisational Capability and
Communications at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), and also Strategic Human Resources Manager at the DIA. Jo
started her career as a youth worker and later worked in the alcohol and drug field before joining the Human Rights
Commission. In 1997 she joined the Department of Social Welfare as Strategic Human Resource Manager. Currently studying
for her Masters in Business Administration, Jo’s academic qualifications include a post graduate Diploma in Business
Administration, majoring in Human Resource Management.
General Manager Quality Assurance – Bernadine Mackenzie Bernadine is the acting Director of Quality for Capital and
Coast District Health Board, and prior to this was the Quality Improvement Unit Manager. The Quality Society of
Australasia has certified Bernadine as an auditor. Bernadine also has a Graduate Diploma in Quality Assurance from
Massey University, a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma in Nursing. Bernadine has presented at numerous forums, including
the Asia -Pacific Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care and the C DHB Annual Clinical Pharmacology Course. Bernadine’s tribal affiliations are with Ngati Mutunga (Wharekauri).
General Manager Service Development – Shannon Pakura Well known to all Department staff, Shannon has 20 years’ social
work experience. She is Child, Youth and Family’s Acting General Manager of Social Work Operations. Prior to this
Shannon was the Chief Social Worker. Other positions she has held within the Department include National Manager
Residence and Caregiver Services, Area Manager – West, and Dunedin City Office Site Manager. Shannon has a post-graduate
Diploma in Social Work, Masters of Business Administration, a post-graduate Diploma in the Public Sector. Shannon is a
member of the Social Work Registration Board, and sits on a number of other committees, including community and Maori
organisations. Shannon’s tribal affiliations are Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi.
General Manager Operations – Lorraine Williams Lorraine has a wide range of operational experience in the health and
social sectors, covering a number of disciplines. Lorraine works for the Ministry of Social Development and following
her involvement in the Child, Youth and Family Baseline Review of Service Delivery last year, accepted, in February
2004, a secondment into Child, Youth and Family as Director Regional Operations. At the Ministry of Social Development
Lorraine was the General Manager Studylink, a new service line that became a top performing business unit within 18
months. Lorraine has also been the National Debt Manager for Work and Income NZ and the Industrial Relations Manager for
Income Support. Prior to this she was the Human Resources Manager at Hutt Valley Health.
Chief Social Worker – Dr Marie Connolly
Dr Connolly is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Canterbury and also the
Director of a leading edge research institution, the Te Awatea Violence Research Centre. She started her career as a
social worker with the Department of Social Welfare, spending 13 years with the organisation prior to taking up a senior
lecturer position with the University of Canterbury.
An international expert in child welfare, Dr Connolly also works as a consultant to governments, both here and overseas.
She was involved in exploring issues for Child, Youth and Family relating to the development of differential responses,
and is currently working on a report for Child, Youth and Family and the Ministry of Social Development about
cross-sectoral collaboration and responsibilities within children care and protection.
Dr Connolly’s qualifications include a Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Work, a Master of Arts in Sociology and Social
Work. She has authored several books and numerous articles and chapters.
ENDS