Foundation of the Blind Names New CEO

Media release
22 May 2007

Foundation of the Blind Names New CEO

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind has appointed Sandra Budd as its new Chief Executive Officer. She will take up the position in July.

Don McKenzie, RNZFB Chairman, said Ms Budd is extremely well-suited to lead the Foundation boldly into a challenging future.

"The Foundation is at one of the most exciting points in its 117-year history. The challenges and opportunities ahead are huge. We were extremely impressed by Sandra. She is an excellent leader, manager, innovator and communicator. She has wide experience in human services organisation and delivery, and familiarity with governmental processes. She has consistently built consensus amongst disparate stakeholder groups as she led her various organisations forward. We are the Foundation 'OF' the Blind and absolutely committed to working with members, our community committees and our eight consumer organisations. Sandra is the right person to build on our past successes and lead us into the future.”

Mr McKenzie, who has been blind since birth, said members' expectations and demands for services continue to increase, placing additional pressure on the Foundation to be more efficient, innovative and bold.

Ms Budd has been a leader in New Zealand and Australian health services during her 35-year career.

She is presently Executive Director, Workforce Development, Greater Southern Area Health Service, New South Wales, where she is responsible for strategic leadership on workforce planning, workforce organisational development, and human resources strategy for over 5,000 staff in 154 facilities. In January she began a six-month secondment to help integrate cross border health services for NSW and Victoria.

Born in Taranaki, she has a partner, Paul, a son Tony and daughter Angela, who are both currently working overseas.

Since 1995 her roles have included:

- Executive Director, Clinical Services, Children Youth and Women's Health Service in South Australia

- Executive Director, Clinical Services (Nursing/Midwifery), Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia. (Served as Acting Chief Executive Officer for a period)

- Maternity Manager, National Women's Hospital, Auckland where she managed the largest community and tertiary maternity service in Australasia. (Served as Acting General Manager of National Women's Hospital during much of 1995)

She began her career in health in 1972 as a Registered General and Obstetrics Nurse and then a Registered Midwife. She remained on the "front lines" of health for over 20 years before moving into general management in the health sector.

Ms Budd is a strong advocate for the rights of individuals to participate fully in society. She has long admired the work undertaken by the Foundation and was “keen to use the skills I have to help the Foundation do even greater things in future."

"I am excited at the Foundation’s future plans to develop leading edge services. And I am delighted to bring my commitment and experience in developing consumer-focused services to assist the Foundation and its members in the next phase of development.”

Ms Budd has been actively involved in volunteer service with the Royal NZ Plunket Society and Meals on Wheels, and she is also a member of Hohepa Homes Family Association.

The Foundation begins a new three-year strategic plan in July, its second three-year plan since the organisation made the epic shift from Foundation "for" the Blind to Foundation "of" the Blind. Foundation members have elected their own Board since 2003. Six of the 10 Board members are blind or vision-impaired.

Mr McKenzie said 45 applications were received for the CEO position, some from overseas. A robust vetting process included five candidates meeting with senior Foundation managers, a representative from a consumer organisation and a Board panel. The top three candidates made formal presentations to the full Board last Friday.

Ms Budd succeeds Paula Daye, who had been at the Foundation for eight years, the last four as CEO. Mrs Daye announced her resignation in January. She will continue to head the organisation until approximately the end of June.

The Foundation is the primary provider of vision-related rehabilitation services to approximately 11,700 blind, deafblind and vision-impaired members. It costs approximately $22 million a year to deliver a wide range of member services, with just one-third of the funding coming from government sources.

ENDS

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