Be. Leadership Profiles 2012

Table of Contents

Welcome - Minnie Baragwanath....................................................................2Foreword - Hon. Tariana Turia, Minister for Disability Issues....................5Programme Directors – Lesley Slade and Philip Patston...........................7Alex Smith.......................................................................................................9Brent Macpherson........................................................................................11Sonia Pivac...................................................................................................12Tony Howe....................................................................................................13Layla Rudneva-Mackay................................................................................14Kim Silvey.....................................................................................................15Genevieve McLachlan..................................................................................16Ross Livingstone.........................................................................................17Kim Eruera....................................................................................................18Neelu Memon................................................................................................19Carol Waterman............................................................................................20Judy Small....................................................................................................21Simon Atkinson............................................................................................22Rachel Mullins..............................................................................................23Gerri Pomeroy..............................................................................................24

1

Welcome - Minnie BaragwanathLeadership can seem like a very abstract word at times and as New Zealanders we often struggle to feel comfortable with this concept, perhaps fearing that we will appear arrogant or on some elevated and lofty plane.

Everyone seems to have different opinions on what it means to be a leader, what a leader looks like, and its place in creating a better world! Yet one thing is certain, New Zealand and the world needs great leadership if we are to flourish and to deepen our humanity.

It is my hope, as well as the hope of our Board, and the hope of our Be. Leadership Directors Lesley Slade and Philip Patston, that Be. Leadership can forever change the way we think of leadership and the advancement of a more inclusive world for all people. It is our hope that Be. Leadership and its sister program Be. Accessible, can in fact forever reframe the way we see leaders with disability and the contribution that they continue to make to the world around us. Shifting leadership away from a notion of power and control, to one of deep support and generosity of spirit. Away from a notion of linear mechanistic thinking to one which embraces the complexity of life and what it means to be fully human.

Margaret Wheatley talks about the fact that as a society in the 21st Century we continue to look for leadership in all the wrong places, well I believe that Be. Leadership is exactly the right place for New Zealand to Be. Looking for its future leaders!

In 2007 I participated in a highly respected Leadership programme and it was an utterly life changing year of growth and learning for me.

As a partially blind woman, I became what was possibly the first person with a disability to take part in this programme and over the course of the year, I became more and more aware of the fact that well-resourced, high quality leadership development such as this seemed to be so inaccessible to so many amazing leaders with disability across New Zealand, whether financially or for other access reasons.

I knew so many people who through circumstance had been thrown into very challenging leadership roles but often with little or no leadership development, or real support.

I also saw, and still see, a world that is not always ready to embrace the leadership that disabled leaders can bring to the world around us. As a society we still seem to struggle with the notion that disabled people can be great leaders and powerful change makers!

2

Some years ago a small group of us in Auckland began to develop a vision for sustainable leadership development. We wanted to find a way to ensure leaders with disability not only had every opportunity to succeed and thrive, but who could also model a resilient community of great leadership for the next generation.

Be. Leadership was born out of a series of community forums and out of the call of a community believing in a better world and a better way of doing things.

Under the incredible guardianship of social entrepreneur Philip Patston and Leadership development consultant Lesley Slade Be. Leadership, has almost had a life of its own. Over the last couple of years, it has attracted incredible support including from our very own Minister Tariana Turia. Whilst it is modeled on the extremely well-respected and successful Leadership Victoria and Leadership New Zealand programmes, Be. Leadership is quite unique!

Be. Leadership provides an authentic and accessible space for a deep programme of leadership development that is tailored to the challenges of leading a more accessible world in the 21st Century. Each programme year is filled with rich learning and opportunities for reflection, imagination and innovation. Through the course of the year the leadership participants have the unique opportunity to delve into deep conversation with many of our countries finest leaders from across the private sector, government and community, as well as leaders from justice, the arts, media and civil society!

I know that in the extremely fast-paced world that we live in, we often feel that further education and development programmes won’t fit in with our career, family and community commitments. However paradoxically, these are the times when we actually need to stop and reflect the most…

The Be. Leadership programme really is a gift; how many countries around the world are fortunate enough to have a programme like this? It is an opportunity to challenge ourselves to think differently and become more effective and fulfilled in both our professional and personal lives. Even if we have been in leadership roles for many years the need to learn and grow never stops, it only deepens.

In this book, you will read the personal stories of the fifteen 2012 Be. Leadership Participants. Each one of them is extraordinary in their own right and possesses their own unique leadership style.

What I think this group demonstrates well is that there is never just one type of leader, but rather it is a role that we can all nurture within ourselves; we can always develop and improve our own leadership styles, and humbly appreciate the opportunities to lead.

The Be. Leaders also highlight the importance of a solid and cooperative leadership community around any kind of social change movement. As a

3

society we are truly better off because of their courage and readiness to step into leadership!

I encourage you to reflect on these stories slowly and thoughtfully. Contemplate their leadership lessons in your own life, and think about the incredible opportunity for New Zealand if all our leaders could embrace the challenge of leading a more accessible world!

I would also like to dedicate this book to Shaun McKinney, a 2011 Be. Leadership graduate who passed away in November 2012. Shaun was an incredibly compassionate and kind young man, who at 26 was only beginning to fulfil his leadership potential. Although his life was short, Shaun made a huge impact on his peers and community and we will always carry his message of compassionate leadership with us.

4

Foreword - Hon. Tariana Turia, Minister for Disability IssuesIn July I joined members of the Be. Institute in the 2012 celebration at Te Papa. When I thought about all that Be. Leadership represents, I came across a wonderful poem by Douglas Malloch which captures the possibilities and the excitement of the Be. Movement; Be the Best of Whatever you are:If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,Be a scrub in the valley — but beThe best little scrub by the side of the rill;Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,And some highway happier make;If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass —But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,There's something for all of us here,There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,If you can't be the sun be a star;It isn't by size that you win or you fail —Be the best of whatever you are!

Congratulations to you all on your journey this year to be the best leaders you can be. This year has been a year of possibilities and opportunities. You will have been challenged, inspired and supported in ways you never conceived of. You will have experienced the calling to Be The Change – and now we celebrate the fifteen thought-leaders; movers and shakers that you have become.

This is your moment – your moment to mobilise your courage and embrace the greatest challenge imaginable to be role models in paving the way towards a more inclusive society.

You are ‘change makers’ and I believe you have and will make a difference to the lives of others, and in doing so, you will create a ripple of hope which has the power to influence so many more.

A former alumni, the late Rena Savage once said: “I have to acknowledge those who have been in my life, who have gone before me but have left a

5

lasting impression; who have ensured that the path they have paved is one of accessibility, is one of inclusion to the best of their ability.”

I think that at the heart of Rena’s vision, is that our aspirations for our community are really based on manaakitanga – the act of generosity towards one another. Giving of ourselves – our time, our dedication – can be the most simple act, and yet it is something that can change lives, and build resilience. I encourage you not to underestimate the importance of family and community and their collective opportunity to change lives.

Be Leadership is about exploring what you can do and seeking out that potential. We must believe in fostering potential, knowing as a leader that you have the opportunity to not only challenge yourself but to support others to be the best they can be. I thank you for your contribution to creating an inclusive world and I wish you well for your future. There’s big work to do – and together, we must Be the Change we want to see. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.

Na, Tariana

6

Programme Directors – Lesley Slade and Philip PatstonThe incredible duo at the head of the Be. Leadership programme are Lesley Slade and Philip Patston. You wouldn’t even know that their first encounter was rather rocky; to put it nicely, they didn’t quite get on like a house on fire!

However, proving that first impressions can sometimes be extremely wrong, Philip and Lesley are now an inseparable team and direct the Be. Leadership Programme each year with passion and grace.

Philip Patston began his career as a counsellor and social worker, but also spent a large portion of in the entertainment industry as a comedian and actor. Bringing his passions for creativity and social change together, Philip established his own company, Diversity New Zealand, in 2001, and then four years later founded Diversityworks Trust as a vehicle to create social change.

Highlights of Philip's professional life include being appointed the Patron of Rainbow Youth, becoming one of New Zealand’s first recognised Social Entrepreneur Fellows, speaking at the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship in Oxford and setting up not-for-profit organizations including the Diversityworks Trust, Ripple Trust, Manawanui inCharge and Auckland Disability Law.

Philip’s ambition, he says, is to “lead a global redefinition of diversity to effect unique social change and increase human creativity.” In 2012, Philip was one of only a handful of people from across New Zealand invited to speak at the TEDxAuckland Conference. Here she shared his thoughts on diversity and challenged the audience to think differently about uniqueness.

Philip is not afraid to push the boundaries and challenge the status quo and therefore enables the Be. Leadership participants to dig deep within themselves to discover their true potential.

Lesley Slade has a long history in leadership development working with individuals, organisations and communities. Lesley originally trained to be a teacher, then went on to work as a community worker, initiating and setting up community programmes.

Lesley then went on to be Manager of Human Resources at Housing New Zealand, and Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Auckland Regional Council.

In 2005, Lesley was involved with the set up of Leadership New Zealand, of which she became the inaugural Chief Executive until 2008. In this role,

7

Lesley worked with established and emerging leaders to grow, nurture and celebrate leadership throughout the diverse communities of New Zealand.

Lesley has the ability to bring the very best out of people in leadership. She is one of only a handful of people in New Zealand who are truly reframing the entire notion of what leadership is and what it means for our future wellbeing as a nation and as people.

The Be. Leadership participants are fortunate to share in Lesley’s wealth of knowledge around leadership, especially in the arena of social change. As co-Director of the Be. Leadership programme and a leadership consultant for individuals and organisations, Lesley offers guidance and insight into leadership, people, and organisational development. Through her gracious and intelligent presence she truly challenges each person she meets to be the best version of themselves.

Together, Lesley and Philip create the stimulating programme that is Be. Leadership. The balance of their sense of humour with their robust depth of knowledge creates a familiar environment full of questioning, exploring, and reflection.

Lesley believes that a programme like this offers refreshing breathing space for leaders. “We’ve got to step back sometimes, and just stop doing, and start imagining a different way to Be.”

As the Directors of this programme, Philip and Lesley see their role as creating a community of leadership that will enhance the broader Be. Accessible message as they believe that effective leaders are integral to the success of creating true social change.

Philip says, “My vision is for Be. Leadership to be known as the most prolific social change development initiative in the world.”

8

Alex Smith“Alexandra as a name means ‘defender of mankind’ – maybe this was a sign of what I was going to be focused on in the future and where my leadership journey would head. I ‘ve been instilled with a strong sense of social justice.”

Alexandra Smith, a creative spirit from Wellington, prides herself on having retained her childlike curiosity and imagination about changing the world and what this could look like.

As a thinker, writer, and educationalist, Alex is particularly interested in how people learn and create stories of their world. Observing people in movement in dance class and in how they tell their stories gives great insight into who people are and what they want others to see. Arts are like this; you can capture how people are in the moment and any self-expression in this form is an expression of how artists and creators think about the world. Alex completed her MA (Education) thesis in young disabled people’s views of physical activity as portrayed in the media. Following on from this, she is keen to do some research into enhancing the health and well-being of young people with impairments, eventually leading to the creation of resources to create greater awareness and quality of life for all. Further to this study, she wishes to extend into exploring the differences in physical identity between those with life-long impairment and acquired impairment.

Although she prides herself on retaining her childlike curiosity and unconditional trust, you get the sense that Alex is an old soul; her insight and perception of New Zealand’s future reflects such wisdom. “I think as a nation we swing between wanting to be the same and wanting to be different. The challenge will be in losing our self-conciousness enough to focus on a future direction and the bigger picture for both access and diversity.”

These two pillars, accessibility and diversity are part of what Alex believes will make New Zealand stand out on the world’s stage in the future. She believes that we will only get there by working together, a notion that many believe is far too rare in New Zealand’s current leadership landscape. “The leadership challenge may be in accepting and taking responsibility for both successes and perceived failures as a collective group, rather than silo those who have stuck their head out to make changes.”

And what about her own personal qualities as a leader? “I am most proud of my integrity, I will change course if it does not feel okay with my personal sense of trueness to values of relationships, honestly speaking our truth, standing up for others and ourselves, compassion, and humanitarianism.” In fact that is how she ended up as an Education major; other courses she had done seemed irrelevant to what was current in the world and were very

9

isolationist- they stuck with their own patch. Education lived diversity of thought, theory and practice, and looked at current world problems. Alex is also extremely tenacious, never giving up and always finding a way to bounce back when challenges are thrown her way. Further, she truly believes in the value and ability of all people; that we all have something to offer.

10

Brent Macpherson“I was given a book from my father about Winston Churchill when I was about 12 years old and in there it said, ‘if you are going to go through hell, keep going’. That quote always reminds me to never let anyone take away your dreams”.

Brent Macpherson is an outgoing and charming film producer and entrepreneur with a passion for celebrating cultural diversity.

The establishment of Stretch Productions, his own production company, was Brent’s greatest aspiration and one of the proudest moments of his life, second only to raising four wonderful children. Through this experience he learnt the value of hard work and persistence and says that it was sheer determination, working long hours, developing networks and thinking of different strategies on a daily basis that got him there in the end.

It is this work ethic that makes Brent stand out as a formidable leader. “I’m not afraid of hard work to achieve the best possible outcomes, being consistently committed to my goals, and most important of all, respecting whom I work for to earn respect from them.”

As a young school boy, Brent struggled without access to New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters. Later at Massey University, he lobbied for access to an interpreter to support his studies. The battle fought by Brent and his peers has now resulted in support grants for all students with disabilities at Universities all over New Zealand.

Not being afraid to speak up or take risks is part of what Brent believes makes a good leader; as well as being able to praise those around you who are doing a great job for the community.

“Be creative, be surrounded by people who support you, be firm and passionate but listen to other people’s views, and accept that change takes time.”

Brent’s light-hearted and jovial presence is infectious and one can’t help but look up to him as a leader. His ability to allow others to grow and prosper under his leadership is a wonderful gift that he offers to the communities he belongs to.

11

Sonia PivacNicknamed “Sonic” in her youth, Sonia personifies vibrancy, passion, and dedication.

Qualified in cultural anthropology and sociology, Sonia also has many years experience teaching New Zealand Sign Language and enjoys being an active member of the Deaf community.

Sonia is deeply passionate about the work she does as Creative Director of Deafradio, a Deaf-led video production and resource company. Access to all spheres of society, via NZSL, is the mission and purpose of her work and she strongly believes that the time is right to explore social change and push for social justice.

“Deaf people need and deserve direct, unrestricted access to sign language, right from birth and throughout all aspects of life. As a society we are a long way from achieving this, and other equalities, so there is a long journey ahead.”

With New Zealand Sign Language being one of New Zealand’s official languages and around 28,000 Kiwis using it, Sonia identified the need for an easy online service that could translate between NZSL and written and spoken English. So in March 2012, Seeflow was born and already it is being used effectively by countless organisations to communicate with their Deaf customer base as well as Deaf employees.

Being a leader that tackles life at full-speed, Sonia is making the most of this new opportunity. “It’s an enthralling adventure, and I’m enjoying the challenge to innovate.”

Through the Be. Leadership programme, Sonia has really enjoyed having the community of equally passionate and dedicated people to learn from and with. “Being amongst a group of people who have the same attitudes, the same way of thinking, and being a part of the energetic atmosphere is really great.”Sonia is a clearly a vivacious woman who inspires all people around her to take action through her energetic presence. We will be sure to see her advancing the rights of Deaf people in New Zealand as she grows and extends her reach even further.

12

Tony HoweOnce you peel away Tony Howe’s very thick layer of humility, you discover a man with extraordinary talent, profound intelligence, and admirable values.

Tony is a well-respected Access Advisor for Independent Living Services (formerly Disability Resource Centre Auckland) and a Be. Coach with Be. Accessible. Early in his career, Tony recognised meaningful employment as an aspect of his life that he would like to enrich, so began work as a volunteer for nearly six years before taking a full time position with ILS.

Tony represented New Zealand in Wheelchair Rugby and went on to coach the New Zealand Wheelblacks through the 1996 and 2000 Paralympic games. In 2011, he received one of 24 limited edition rugby balls for his contribution to the Rugby World Cup Accessibility Programme.

Through his sporting experience, Tony developed great integrity, dedication and teamwork skills. Yet despite the many achievements as a sportsman and coach, Tony regards his daughter as the thing he is most proud of in his life. “Becoming a father in my mid-twenties was the greatest learning curve of my life, and twenty-one years on has proved to be the biggest and best achievement for me to-date.”

Tony believes that his experience of living with a progressive impairment has taught him to look beneath peoples’ face value. His father, who also lived with an impairment showed him “that you didn’t need to have a body full of muscles to be a man” allowing him to grow up with the freedom to be himself.

As a result, Tony possesses great compassion as a leader. He is motivated by the goal of true equality throughout humanity, whereby we all accept each other as equal and fellow human beings, regardless of our cultures, backgrounds, or experiences.

13

Layla Rudneva-MackayLayla Rudneva-Mackay is a thoughtful and poised leader, artist, and mother. She may speak softly but commands great attention through her art.

Growing up with dyslexia posed numerous challenges for Layla as she and her mother tried to navigate the education system without much support for this “invisible” disability.

Layla’s dyslexia means that she has difficulty participating when it comes to reading and writing. “This is a challenge that I have worked with since I became aware that I could not do what it seemed that everyone else around me could; the challenge of feeling included in society when you cannot fully engage with it.”

Layla has acknowledged that this sense of exclusion can make it difficult to maintain self-confidence. Through her art, she has found a voice, demonstrating her intelligence, depth of thought, and attention to the nuances of life.

Layla’s unique perspective is an asset to society so she believes that it’s important that her voice is heard. Whether it is through her art or other mediums, sharing her experience with others will enable them to see and think about society differently.

Through Be. Leadership, Layla has found a community of people who are equally passionate about social change and equality. Being on the 2012 programme has given Layla the confidence to back herself. It has also taught her to be honest with herself and others, to listen, and to accept that we will all make mistakes.

She truly believes that there is a great leader in each of us if we wish to unlock it. In her nonchalant manner, she says “it’s our abilities, not disabilities that we lead with.”

14

Kim Silvey“The only constant in life is change and the only variable is speed!”

Whangarei-born Kim Silvey comes from a family of strong female leaders, which is evident in the graceful way she commands a room. Kim balances a busy family life with a thirty-year career as a paediatric nurse.

The biggest challenge in Kim’s life, she says, was the onset of Multiple Sclerosis. Having spent many years caring for people with impairments and experiences of disability, she found herself with unique first-hand experiences of some of the challenges her clients were facing.

The outcome was that she longer sympathised, but rather had much greater empathy for people with disabilities. Kim is now determined to ensure a more levelled playing field in society so that all people have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their access needs.

“I have become increasingly ardent about everyone having a voice within their community and deconstructing the barriers which have for so long, excluded so many.

My greatest aspiration is to have everyone being viewed through a similar lens; eliminating the distortion which currently exists.”

Kim has unearthed even greater optimism for the future through the Be. Leadership programme; she says it has provided her with the energy to go further in levelling the playing field for all of humanity and “wiping the lenses clean.”

“World change is achieved through small and simple steps by many – not giant steps by the powerful few.”

15

Genevieve McLachlanGenevieve McLachlan is a determined entrepreneur whose business was inspired by her own experience of using technology to overcome challenges.

Growing up with five siblings, Genevieve was always encouraged to give everything a go, an attitude that has stuck with her to this day. Now, as well as running her own successful business helping people with disabilities access technology, she volunteers with the Guide Dog Alliance in several capacities and is part of the SailAbility Wellington’s racing squad, through which she hopes to compete in the 2016 Paralympics.

It was Genevieve’s own experience with technology that led her to set up Adaptive Solutions. Through this business, she hopes to enhance the lives of people with disabilities so that they are able to fulfil their greatest dreams.

“Making a difference in her community is an extremely rewarding part of this business”, says Genevieve. It means she can share the skills and knowledge that she’s developed as a woman living with the effects of disability in the business world.

During the Be. Leadership programme, the various guest speakers have reminded Genevieve that there is a huge variety of leaders in our communities. Rather than leadership being a rare gift, it is in fact a skill that must be worked at to be effective. “A good leader is someone people respect and want to follow. That’s the sort of leader I want to be.”

Genevieve’s own leadership mission is to contribute to a country which has a rich and diverse employment landscape. “The challenge is how do we create more opportunities for people to gain the skills necessary to gain employment, then of course the jobs need to be there as well.”

Many may see this as a lofty goal, but Genevieve loves a good challenge. Some of her greatest leadership role models are Sir Edmund Hilary and Sir Peter Blake, two individuals who had huge goals and weren’t afraid to put in the hard yards to achieve them.

16

Ross LivingstoneRoss is a pragmatic leader and proud family man.

Taking pride in both his adoring family, and his dynamic work life, Ross works hard to be a committed and valuable member of his community. He lives in Wellington with his wife and their two primary-school-aged children.

As a young man, Ross learned work ethic and business principles from participating in his family business, skills which built a solid base for his career. From 2000-2008, he worked in various roles advising on and implementing action plans for accessibility with the Wellington City Council. “This was an opportunity to lead others to change the way they developed and ran the city by sharing personal experiences and connecting people for the benefit of all” he says.

Ross’ personal interest in accessibility stems from his experiences using a wheelchair after sustaining a spinal injury at age 19. He would now like to see access and inclusion as “business as usual” for everybody.

More recently, Ross furthered his work in Disability Support Services at the Ministry of Health where he was the Contract Relationship Manager, looking after several disability support contracts for the Ministry.

2012 saw Ross coming on board with Be. Accessible both as a participant of the Be. Leadership programme, and as Be. Accessible’s first Regional Relationship Manager in the country. Through this role, Ross represents the Be. Accessible programmes in the Wellington region to grow and nourish the accessibility community in the area.

His knowledge and experience working in this space in Wellington are invaluable to the Be. Accessible movement. Through the leadership programme, Ross says that he’s discovered the importance of understanding that we’re all ‘in this together.’

17

Kim Eruera“Above all else people are people. We are just humans trying to make the world a better place in our own small ways, however we decide to do that.”

Kim Eruera’s diverse background and interest in the civil rights movement have made her particularly passionate about true equality in our world and being proud of our different backgrounds and experiences.

As a Peer Support Co-odinator at Kites Trust in Wellington, Kim works with people of all different backgrounds and life experiences. Her passion for diversity no doubt stems back to her family ties to iwi in Northland, and family from Canada, including her Grandfather who would always share his strong interest in world news and social issues with her.

Kim took this interest further through her study at AUT where she gained a Bachelor of Maori Development majoring in Youth in Development. It was there at University, that her interest in the history of Aotearoa and Maori Leaders was really ignited. Kim also discovered that her diverse family background was a true asset in becoming a leader in today’s world because of the range of different perspectives she is able to identify with.

Kim believes that there are already many leaders doing some amazing work but as a society we need to work on increasing the visibility of these more diverse leaders. She thinks this could “contribute to the wealth of diverse ideas, innovation and creative solutions to some of the most challenging issues Aotearoa faces at this time.”

Although she believes that anyone can be a great leader, those with disabilities bring a perspective to our national landscape that is unique and diverse due to their own life experiences. This could teach us to all have a little more compassion and think more laterally about solutions for challenges that face us as a country.

We will no doubt see Kim among those who are truly working to make a difference to New Zealand’s future, “Walk the talk, stand up for what you believe in, even if you are the only one standing, and always be willing to be open to the possibility of what is possible.”

18

Neelu MemonNeelu is a vibrant young woman with an insatiable passion for the outdoors.

Neelu has been active in outdoor sport since a young age, participating wherever she could in tramps, water-skiing, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding. Living in Canterbury provided her with a limitless array of outdoor challenges to tackle.

Certainly the biggest challenge she had to face was when she fell into a coma for 4 months while at high school as a result of a post-viral auto-immune reaction, which then left her with limited vision and balance.

However, Neelu’s hunger for the outdoors was not hindered. As a young girl, her two goals were to climb Mt Aspiring and complete the Coast-to-Coast race, the world’s benchmark multi-sport event.

Not only did she complete both goals, but she also became the first blind woman to do so. She says that a penny dropped as she stood atop her dream after reaching the 3,060m high peak of Mt Aspiring. “I realised standing at the top of the mountain that I didn’t have to give up on my dreams, I just had to change the way I did them.”

Neelu has now transferred this passion for removing barriers to her career and has recently begun working for New Zealand’s first profoundly deaf MP, Mojo Mathers. Through this role, Neelu hopes that she can shape the future of our country so that all New Zealanders are supported and encouraged to fulfil their dreams in the way that she has.

Like many sportspeople, the lessons learnt from long, hard days of training now put her in good stead to be a role model and a leader in her community. “Through these experiences I’ve learnt that you’ve got to follow your head and your heat, even when others talk you down; and that anything can be achieved by determination, support and planning!”

19

Carol WatermanIf you assumed that semi-retirement meant slowing down and taking a back seat in life, you only have to meet Carol Waterman to be proven wrong.

Carol describes herself as a passionate advocate for social justice, a passion made even stronger through a colourful, fulfilling life of working as a teacher and youth worker. She still has her fingers in several pies with organisations dealing with domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, and diversity. However above all else, it is with her grandchildren that she most likes to invest her time and share her life’s learnings.

Her two ‘flowers’ will no doubt reap the benefits of Carol’s own rich upbringing where she learnt about diversity at a very young age with her grandfather being an atheist and her grandmother a Buddhist nurse. She says that strong statements from her grandfather still stick in her head, such as “uneducated young people are just cannon fodder.” Statements like this were difficult to overcome when the education system was proving extremely difficult for Carol. Reading and writing never came easily so she had to find other ways to learn.

Her father, who she now knows was dyslexic would tell her the most incredible stories as a child; although his eyes would be fixed firmly on a story book, the fact is the words came purely from his imagination as he pretended to be able to read. Thirty years later Carol had to face this challenge herself as she taught herself to read by telling stories to her own daughter.

These experiences as a child, as well as the work she has done as a teacher and youth-worker have led Carol to be extremely dedicated and committed to the health and well-being of young people.

Among many of the extraordinary things that Carol has done in her life, she set up a house in Mt Eden that would, at any given time, be home to up to six young people who were high risk individuals in society. These youth had often been given up on by society and deemed to be “lost causes” with their alcohol and drug filled lifestyles and criminal records.

Carol’s ability to help others achieve their dreams is what makes her such a valuable mentor and member of society. She is extremely experienced and talented in group-work, facilitation, conflict resolution and therapy.

She has bold ambitions not only for herself but for her family, community and country, taking after her revolutionary-type role models like Emma Goldman, Marilyn Waring and of course her mother. “My mother always said I was too bolshie for my own good.”

20

The ultimate challenge that she’d like New Zealand to rise to is creating a culture of respect where we celebrate our similarities and differences.

21

Judy SmallAs a mother of three children, all with varying vision impairments like her own, Judy’s ambition is to create a more accessible world for her children’s future.

Judy’s sense of justice and equity comes from having an extremely strong role model growing up. “I am indebted to my father for his wisdom, council and dogged staunchness; standing up and saying what he believed he and others deserved, not because they were blind people but because they were citizens of New Zealand. This is true leadership and a principal I aspire to achieve as well.”

With a Masters in Sociology from the University of Waikato, Judy is particularly interested in how disabled people participate in society. She believes that there is no prescribed way to be inclusive other than to just be yourself, be open to meeting others, and sharing ideas and opinions.

As an adult student, Judy enjoyed examining peoples’ differing perspectives of the world and looked at how we might find creative solutions to attitudinal discrimination. She has been able to further explore these ideas while working as an analyst at the Office for Disability Issues for the past ten years.

At a personal level, Judy’s authentic assuredness of her own character is subtly present through her quietly confident disposition. She is a deep thinker and enjoys discussing people and society at a philosophical level.

“Leadership is like a tree. It needs nurturing, watering, to be well cared for, and extra care after a bad season of weather. Leadership, like a tree, needs support from others in order to sustain a meaningful, healthy and fulfilling life.”

Participating in Be. Leadership has given Judy the space to dream and be ambitious about her future. While she acknowledges that big dreams are achieved with many small steps, Judy highlights the importance of always having the confidence to continue being brave and bold to live a fulfilled life.

Along with her Be. Leadership peers, Judy hopes that she’ll be able to lift the presence of creativity and diversity in the national leadership landscape in order to enrich the lives of all New Zealanders, and provide a wider range of role models for future leaders.

22

Simon Atkinson“To be a leader is to be strong and really put your message out there.”

Creating inclusive communities and bringing people together is what drives Simon Atkinson. As an advocate for People First, he believes that networking and meeting new people are some of the best things for people with disabilities. Most of all, Simon would like to provide others the support and encouragement that he has received in his life and which has given him the confidence be who he is today.

Growing up with Aspergers, Simon has had to work hard on social skills and reading other people. “Sometimes I have to look at a situation really carefully and analyse what people might be thinking.” Be. Leadership has played a big role in his exploration of this aspect of his personality and he is now more aware of the social dynamics in these situations.

Simon is a highly creative person with a passion for music and the arts. It is not often that we stop to truly analyse the world around us, however Simon is constantly looking for the subtle beauty in the music he listens to and in his own photography.

It is this curiosity of the world around him that makes Simon an asset to the groups that he belongs to. In 2009, he was selected to represent New Zealand’s disability and volunteering sector at the Young Core Leaders of Civil Society Groups Development Program’s Japanese Mission.

Simon was able to meet with delegates from around the world to discuss and compare their volunteering systems. These travel opportunities are what has driven Simon to want to network with as many people around the world as possible. He believes that the most important thing he can offer to society is a way to make others aware of the opportunities and experiences that are out there in the community for them.

Through Be. Leadership, Simon has been inspired by his fellow participants and is always looking for ways to collaborate and work with them on various projects.

His hope for the future is that we start to see more people with access needs, including learning disabilities in leadership roles in New Zealand. He admires activist, Robert Martin for his work in drafting the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“To have greater diversity in the landscape of our national leaders would broaden the country’s outlook on many important issues.”

23

Rachel MullinsRachel is a proud Cantabrian and passionate leader.

Like many other Christchurch residents, Rachel’s life was rocked by the February 2011 Earthquake. While some may feel defeated by such a significant event, Rachel is more motivated than ever by the prospect of rebuilding a 100% accessible city, both physically and in terms of people’s attitudes around diversity and inclusiveness.

In her role as the Inclusive Communities Coordinator at the Christchurch City Council, Rachel is responsible for ensuring that community activities are accessible to all; a role that is even more valuable in such a difficult time.

Rachel’s dedication to community inclusiveness stems back to her childhood and having to fight to attend her local school. Her parents always held high expectations for her, expecting that she would share the same life as her siblings. This, Rachel believes, set her up to have high expectations of herself and what she could achieve in her own life.

One of the most defining moments in her life, she reflects, was gaining employment with Kiwi air. “It was the first time anyone ever said to me ‘Your personality will be worth more to my company than how fast you do the work’.” Rachel has since advised Air New Zealand on providing aircraft boarding options for disabled people - now a standard part of the booking procedure.

Rachel is known for her perseverance when working for a cause and is determined to be part of creating a more accepting world that embraces diversity. “This would make the world a better place for everybody, including disabled people.”

24

Gerri PomeroyGerri is a loving and caring parent and grandparent with a glass-half-full outlook on life.

At 22, a life-changing experience with cancer steered Gerri’s life in a direction that she had never imagined growing up. “I didn’t realise immediately the impact that this would have on my life. I thought that I’d have the chemotherapy and radiotherapy and go back to life as it was. Which didn’t happen of course! It has really made me appreciate every day since then as a gift; I don’t sweat the small stuff as much as I once did.”

It is this genuinely appreciative and positive attitude that makes Gerri such a valued member of her family and workplace. Currently she is the Access and Mobility representative on the Waikato Regional Transport Committee but she actively promotes accessible transport system infrastructure and service delivery wherever possible. She’s particularly interested in making transport systems accessible in order to enable all people to move around communities freely.

Sharing the year with fourteen other Be. Leaders on a similar social change mission has taught Gerri the importance of collaboration. “No one can change society’s attitudes on their own” she says. Being on the Be. Leadership programme has opened up a community of like-minded leaders with equally ambitious goals for a New Zealand that is the best place in the world to Be. for all people.

Gerri believes that as leaders of social change, it is their responsibility to challenge others around them and share the vision of an enabling, inclusive society, while at the same time being true to who they are as an individual.

Gerri’s personal life in the Waikato is made rich with a family who love and are most certainly loved. “In my life, I am most proud of my children and grandchildren. They’re awesome, wonderful people!”

What does Gerri hope for in her life? It’s simple. “To live a good life, rich with love and relationships.” At the end of the day, we just all want to Be. in the world.

25