Board

Bonnie Robinson has many years experience working in policy, research and social service management roles within the not-for-profit social service sector including: Manager of Policy for Age Concern New Zealand, Executive Officer of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, National Executive Officer for Presbyterian Support New Zealand, Deputy Director of The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit and Manager of the Community Liaison group at Presbyterian Support Northern.

Bonnie has also worked on a range of government policy projects and participated in a number of government committees and reference groups.

Bonnie currently works as the General Manager of Alzheimers Auckland Inc.
As well as her professional experience Bonnie also brings personal experience of disability to her role on the Board.

Ruth is proud to have iwi / tribal affiliations with Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Ngati Porou.

As a person with lived experience of disability, Ruth is committed to ensuring that disabled people have equal opportunity. Ruth is a qualified social worker, and has worked in the disability sector as a practitioner and manager. Ruth has also worked in the tertiary education sector and as an advisor to local council and NGOs. Ruth was a member of the Disability Support Advisory Committee with the Canterbury District Health Board from 2002 to 2005 and a long-term member of the Disabled Persons Assembly contributing at local and national levels.

Ruth and her husband Gary live in Christchurch and have established their own consultancy business. Outside of work they enjoy spending time with whanau and friends.

Anna Jameson was the Awareness Education and Community Development Co-ordinator for CCS Disability Action in Dunedin and is currently working as mother to baby Kyle.

She has extensive experience delivering workshops and working in the disability sector, including being the Vice President of the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) Dunedin and previously a National Executive member of DPA.

Anna has a MBS Degree in Communications and has worked in various communications/public relations roles. She has worked as a researcher for the EEO Trust and put together a literature review on disability and employment issues.

Three months spent backpacking around Italy and Europe in a wheelchair and writing and self publishing a book on accessible walks in the South Island with her brother, has given Anna a good overview of the access issues faced by disabled people. She is currently a founding member of the Dunedin based Transport Action Group which aims to enable disabled people to use public transport systems in an ordinary way.

In 2004 Anna developed and presented the "Becoming an Adult" workshops to 20 CCS Disability Action branches throughout New Zealand, targeting young disabled people to develop positive goals for their future.

Anna lives in Queenstown with her husband Bruce, baby Kyle and their two crazy cats and she enjoys getting out and exploring the Otago region.

David is an experienced Company Director, Chief Executive and Consultant with a career spanning the corporate and state sectors. He has recently completed a consultancy role as Special Advisor to the Tongan Minister for Finance and Acting Chief Executive of Tonga Power Limited establishing and managing the business as a public enterprise until the appointment of a permanent Chief Executive.

David previously held senior appointments in the meat, dairy and transport sectors including Chief Executive and Director of the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) and Chief Executive of Dairy InSight Inc. He is currently Chair of Tonga Power Limited, Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Blood Service and a director of New Zealand Domain Name Registry Limited.

David has an MBA awarded with Distinction and a B Tech (Food) (Hons) degree.

John joined the Workbridge Board in August 2007.

He is Chief Executive of H & J Smith Limited, a regional department store group based in Invercargill with substantial retail interests in Southland and Queenstown. He has extensive experience in the retail sector and held a number of senior management roles along with previous experience at Director level in not-for-profit organisations.

John's interest in the disability sector stems from having a son with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in addition to a strong belief that employers have an important role to play in providing employment opportunities for people with differing needs and capabilities.

Louise's family has had a long term association with pro-active disability action for several generations.

After seven years working for CCS- Disability Action (then known as CCS), Louise had developed a passion for Injury Prevention so moved to ACC as an injury prevention consultant in 1990.

Louise has enjoyed the flexibility and opportunity experienced in ACC, and held eight different roles in four different parts of New Zealand over the last 17 years, with a break in the 1990s.

In the 1990s the role of ACC Principle Case Manager was made redundant and Louise chose to expand her skills by taking on the role of Centre Manager with Workbridge in Invercargill. Louise thoroughly enjoyed the role, and met many special people who she still counts as important in her life today.

In 2000 Louise returned to ACC when the opportunity to be the Branch Manager of ACC Alexandra became available. Louise is currently in a National role of Rehabilitation Practice Advisor.

Recently Louise was successful in passing the National Institute of Disability Management – Certified Disability Management Professional qualification, a qualification sponsored into New Zealand from Canada and now available nationally via the Otago Polytechnic. Louise also holds university qualifications in Rehabilitation, Social Work , Occupational Safety and Health and Economic Development.

Louise is excited about the opportunities the future offers and wants to be thoroughly involved in every aspect of rehabilitation and disability action available.

Richard is an experienced company director and leader. He has been involved in the establishment and management of three of New Zealand's most prominent human resource consultancies. These have had a strong focus on the executive recruitment market. Most recently, he has been the Executive Chairman of Powerhouse People. His knowledge of the labour markets has a direct relevance to the business of Workbridge. In a governance capacity he has served as Chairman of Unicef in New Zealand for ten years, has been a Trustee of the Victoria University Foundation, is currently Vice President of the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been involved as an advisor or director in a range of other commercial and community organisations. Richard is a graduate of Victoria University