Media Release, 12 February 2013

For immediate publication

New Directors Join Board of Committee for Auckland

The Committee for Auckland is pleased to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors for 2013, Anne Blackburn and Alastair Carruthers. The Committee for Auckland Limited is a not-for-profit organisation set up to contribute to making Auckland one of the world's great places to live and work. It is an independent, evidence based, thought leadership organisation promoting an innovative approach to a range of complex issues.

Anne Blackburn is a fulltime professional director. She is currently on the boards of TSB Bank, Fidelity Life, Forsyth Barr, New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, Eastland Group, Auckland Council Property Limited, Warren and Mahoney Limited, RDNS NZ Limited and UNITEC. With these companies she holds a number of committee positions in Audit and Risk, and in Remuneration and Human Resources.

Anne has watched the Committee’s evolving sense of purpose and action since first speaking at one of its early forums. The topic was “Auckland speaks with one voice….yeah right” and the time was just as the debate about amalgamation was on the increase. “I am just as excited to be at the table as the Committee continues its nimble work in thought leadership on the business and social issues that will determine the city’s place in the country and beyond” she says.

Alastair Carruthers is an independent company director with more than 20 years' experience leading and advising significant NZ organisations, including in Chief Executive and Director roles. He is on several governance and advisory boards and is currently Kensington Swan’s Chief Executive. He has wide ranging interests across business, the legal industry and the arts, and is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and Christchurch College of Education. He has studied Writing at North Carolina State University, and completed executive education in Strategic Planning at Cornell University and Professional Services Firm Leadership at Harvard Business School.

“The Committee of Auckland has played a critical role in helping to unify Auckland. It’s a privilege to be part of the next phase of initiatives that will make the city an internationally compelling place to live in and do business” he said.

Committee Chair, Richard Didsbury says “Our organisation is fortunate to have an influential and highly engaged Board of Directors who all give their time and their ideas freely to help make Auckland great. Alistair and Anne’s experience and skill sets will enhance a high calibre thought leaders and provide fresh thinking as the Committee expands its work programme in 2013 and beyond”.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>