Alison Marshall
Alison is the chairperson of Volunteering New Zealand, a position she has held since 2002. She has also had a long involvement with Volunteering Waikato, having been a member of the steering committee established in 1992, a member of its inaugural Board and has recently completed a second term on the Board. It was through her involvement with Volunteering Waikato that Alison became involved with the establishment of Volunteering New Zealand.
Based in Hamilton, Alison is the National Manager Volunteer Services for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind and is also a Locality Co-ordinator for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty area working with the Foundation's Community Committees within this area.
Prior to joining the Foundation she worked with IHC in Hamilton as a Community Services Manager and before that with the Department of Social Welfare as a Social Worker in the Whakatane area. She was also employed by the Waiariki Polytechnic in Whakatane as a part-time tutor.
Married with 3 teenage children, Alison has been involved with Guides New Zealand as a District Co-ordinator and in a variety of activities related to her children.
She has a passion and commitment to volunteering and to community involvement, on both a professional and personal basis, with wide-ranging experience, interest, skills and enthusiasm.
Mary Woods
Mary has walked a long volunteer journey which followed the usual parental path of playcentre, schools, sports and church. She was a volunteer with Pregnancy Help NZ Inc since it started in 1976 became National President 1986 -1990 and was their first paid national field officer 1991 -1993
In 1991 she received a Churchill Fellowship to explore volunteering in Canada, USA and Britain. Since then she has been a supervisor and trainer for volunteers and paid workers from many NZ voluntary organizations. She has presented workshops on volunteering at conferences in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
She has worked in a variety of roles including setting up spiritual and community support for people with intellectual disabilities who were deinstitutionalised from Templeton Centre, Canterbury, NZ. This involved recruiting, training, working with, and supporting church volunteers from all denominations.
She has Bachelor of Science from Otago University and Certificate in Volunteer Management, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA . She is author of:
- "Volunteers : A Guide for Volunteers and their Organizations" Hazard Press NZ 1998
- A chapter : "Spirituality and Volunteers" in "Spirituality and Social Care" edited by Mary Nash and Bruce Stewart. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. UK 2002
- Various articles on volunteering published in NZ and USA. She also writes poetry.
Russell Ness
Russell's passion is working with leaders in organisations to create high performance working teams and environments.
After leadership roles in a number of organisations, a career highlight was heading up the Telecom NZ national training function.
He initiated his own management consulting company early in 1997, concentrating on the design and implementation of performance improvement initiatives. In 2003 he formed another company, Correda, marketing several internet based software products.
Russell has held positions on several boards including Awataha Marae Education and Management Boards. He is currently a board member of Volunteering Auckland.
Russell is married with four children and, although a South Islander by birth, has lived in the Fiji Islands and Auckland for most of his life.
Russell Ness
Company Director
Russell Ness Associates Limited (T/A Ness Consulting)
Company Director
Correda Limited (Extranet and Intranet Products)
POSTAL ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 31 401
MILFORD
CONTACT DETAILS:
Ph. 027 434 3127
A/H 09 479 6697
Email: russell@nessconsulting.co.nz
Website: www.nessconsulting.co.nz
Meredith Stokdijk
Meredith joined the board in 2003 bringing with her over 10 years of public sector experience in various operational, policy and research fields for organisations such as Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Department of Corrections.
She has been a volunteer with Literacy Aotearoa Wellington and member of its Executive Board for 3 years including service as its Chair.
Inÿher previous life in Christchurchÿshe was involved as a tutor with the Adult Reading Scheme, an advisor with the ChristchurchÿBudgetÿAdvisory Service, a volunteer with Friends of the Christchurch Theatre Royal and as a member of the Red Cross Refugee Resettlement Committee.
Heather Clark
In my current role I provide both strategic and hands on volunteer advice and support to a national membership of 8,000 volunteers.
In my 4 « years with the NZ Fire Service, I've provided a Human Resource Consultancy service to both paid and volunteer firefighters within the upper half of the North Island - from providing training programmes in all aspects of the volunteer relationship to legislative and people management skills. The NZFS has a history of volunteering going back 127 years so I feel honoured to be part of this significant tradition.
My professional career includes ten years as a human resource practitioner with the Royal NZ Foundation for the Blind. Like the fire service, the Foundation has a proud history of volunteerism, enabling them to achieve phenomenal results whilst working within a not for profit environment. In my work with the Foundation, I learnt the value that volunteers bring to an organisation and how frequently we fail to fully recognize their worth and expertise.
I am a qualified Nurse and Human Resource Practitioner and am currently working towards a post graduate diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution. I am married with two adult sons and live in Auckland. It is my privilege to be a mentor for a young girl with the Project K Programme which gives me the opportunity to volunteer my time to a cause that I have a great belief in, namely our young people.
The skills that I believe I can offer Volunteering New Zealand would be my knowledge in the human resource management sector, both paid and volunteer. I have a strong understanding of the challenges that face managers and leaders of volunteers from recruitment, motivation, recognition and performance management. I relate well to people of all backgrounds and abilities and develop strong interpersonal relationships with those around me both professionally and personally.
Dianne Denny
I am currently working for the Waitemata District Health Board as a co-ordinator of Volunteers for the Volunteer Stroke Scheme (20 hours a week.)
My work background has been in the health field working in Australia for various Disability Services. I have also worked for the Australian Red Cross as a Fundraiser and Public Relations Officer.
My volunteer experiences have also been many and varied; Make a Wish foundation, (Trustee) Loddon Campaspe Disabled Council as a trustee and President,ÿ Regional Convener for the Office of the Public Advocacy and Guardianship Board (Melbourne) Probation Officer (volunteers in Melbourne)ÿto name a few.
I was on the Board of Volunteering Victoria, Melbourne, for three years as trustee. Most recently I have been Chairperson of Volunteering Auckland since 2006
Jane Poa
Jane Poa (Board representative for Pacific Peoples Members) is currently the Managing Director of Hawkes Bay Pacific Health & Social Services and Director of Pacific Business Trusts that works with Pacific Businesses. She is a graduate of Massey University's MBA programme. Jane brings with her a Pacific perspective on voluntary sector to the organisation with the ability to work across all Pacific cultures. She has had extensive experience in the voluntary sector and not-for-profit community groups. She is also a past member of International Year of Volunteer Ministerial Reference Group.
Olwen Taylor
Olwen Taylor was previously on the board of Volunteer Wellington from 2000 to 2006 and chairperson from 2004. She was also on board of Zonta International Club of Wellington from 1998 to 2001. She brings with her a wealth of public service experience primarily from Income Support and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Her experience within the public sector includes District Manager for Income Support in Porirua, Manager of the Rapid Response team in the Ministry of Social Policy, Senior Management Advisor with the Social Services Policy Group in the Ministry of Social Development.
She is currently the project manager of the Family Violence Intervention Programme under Work and Income.
She was appointed to the board in November 2006.