Tēnā koutou katoa

I was born in Pahiatua and now reside in Te Awamutu. My parents were from English descent. He Māori aku tamariki.Ko Shannon, Ko Phillip, Ko Nastassjia and Ko Talitha Te Huia. Nō pare te kawa-Ngāti Maniapoto rāua. He tokomaha aku mokopuna. Ko Suzette au.

I feel very honoured to have been elected as College President to provide professional leadership in partnership with the Kaiwhakahaere, College board, Māori Caucus, branch chairs, Fellows and members.I am looking forward to co-creating a plan to boldly lead our profession into the 2020s and beyond.

I have been a member of the College since inception and have served as Chair of the practice board as well as a dedicated board member and more recently as the events director for the College.

My career in mental health began in 1980 as a Psychiatric Assistant. In198, I qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse at Tokanui Hospital. I specialised in forensic mental health. Previous leadership roles include: Clinical Nurse Educator, Clinical Nurse Director(Waikato DHB), Nurse Advisor –Health (Nursing Council of NZ), Clinical Lead(Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui) which including work on supervision; trauma informed care; women in secure mental health careandco-existing problems. My Masters of Nursing thesis was on structural and psychological empowerment among NZ mental health and addiction nurses. I am an honorary lecturer at the University of Auckland and recently appointed to the editorial board of Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Nursing.

My current role is – Clinical Advisor: Mental Health, for the Waikeria Mental Health and Addiction Service project, Ara Poutama Aotearoa-Department of Corrections