New Chief Executive appointed to Skylight

13 November 2014

New Chief Executive appointed to Skylight

Skylight, a highly regarded national not-for-profit social enterprise that supports people of all ages through times of change, trauma, loss and grief, is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Henare as its new Chief Executive. Ms Henare is currently the Chief Executive of Women's Refuge and will take up her new post with Skylight in February 2015.

Heather Henare is a qualified Senior Social Worker and has held positions at Child Youth and Family as a Senior Practice Consultant and Senior Advisory Officer. She joined the Women’s Refuge in 2005 as Chief Executive Officer and is currently a member of the Ministerial Taskforce For Action on Family Violence, set up by the Government three years ago.

Jim Donovan, Chair of Skylight’s Board, commented, “We were inundated with extremely high-calibre applicants for the role of Chief Executive here at Skylight, and we are absolutely thrilled to have appointed someone like Heather, who is well qualified to support people from all walks of life, given her long involvement in working with families and children.”

Says Heather, "I am sad to be leaving a pioneering organisation such as Woman's Refuge, but I leave at a time when this organisation is in a strong position to move ahead as I take on new challenges."

Outgoing Chief Executive Bice Awan, who founded Skylight over 16 years ago, will be greatly missed.

Says Jim Donovan, “Bice has been an amazing driving force; she started the organisation armed with just a chair and a telephone in the corner of an empty office, and built it up to what it has become today, supporting over 16,000 New Zealanders each year through difficult times. She leaves Skylight a strong and successful organisation, with an amazing team of talented staff.”

Women’s Refuge governance chairs, Janet Lorimer and Rangianiwaniwa Pehikino, thanked Ms Henare for her near 10 years as the organisation's Chief Executive. "Heather has nearly 30 years history in social work and last year she was made Zonta Woman of the Biennium. She has given so much to this organisation and although we will miss her, we are confident a new replacement will be found in time to take us forward in the New Year."

For more information about Skylight, please see our website at www.skylight.org.nz

ENDS

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