Leigh Auton, Chair of the Challenge Trust Board of Trustees, today announced the appointment new Chief Executive, Derek Wright, who is returning from a major role in the mental health sector in Australia to lead the Recovery Solutions Group and its related entities, including the Challenge Trust.

“We received overwhelming interest in the position from a number of high calibre candidates and we are delighted that Derek is joining the team,” said Leigh. “Derek embodies everything we sought in a Chief Executive – strong leadership, strategic, management skills, combined with clinical and commercial skills and proven, strong collaborative relationships across the health sector. We are thrilled to have him on the team.”

Derek Wright has held senior roles in New Zealand and Australia and was most recently the Executive Director of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services at the Department of Health in South Australia where he had responsibility for the provision of mental health services to the metro Adelaide population (1.3 million) and led a team of 2,000 people during a period of major reform.

In New Zealand, he has held notable leadership roles including Regional Director of Mental Health Services, Northern Region, at Northern District Health Board Support Agency; General Manager for North Shore Hospital and General Manager Mental Health and Regional Alcohol & Drug Services, Waitemata Health.

Leigh Auton also announced the appointment of Lope Ginnen and Pat Snedden as Board Trustee members effective from 28 March. Current Interim Chief Executive, Stephen McArthur, will also join the Board as a Trustee effective from July 2012.

“These appointments are hugely exciting and signify a new phase in the continued success of Challenge Trust and its related entities. The depth and mix of experience and skills of the new Chief Executive and Board members, combined with the capability of the current team is a very powerful one. I am confident that, together, we will continue to raise the bar in delivering exceptional, innovative recovery services to our clients that enhance social outcomes and community well-being,” said Leigh Auton.

“I would like to extend a warm welcome to Lope, Pat and Stephen to the Board and look forward to working alongside such talented individuals who share the same commitment to making a difference to people’s lives and contributing to a better New Zealand.”

Lope is a barrister at Halcyon Chambers and her work almost exclusively focuses on care arrangements for children. Many of her cases involve families who struggle with violence, physical or mental health issues, addiction and poverty. She is Chair of Brainwave Trust Aotearoa and of the Audit Risk & Finance Committee for Ngati Whatua o Orakei Corporate Board. She has previously been a Board member of the Housing New Zealand Corporation, of the Hobsonville Land Company (a fully owned subsidiary of Housing New Zealand Corporation that is overseeing the development of Hobsonville peninsula) and Counties Manukau District Health Board.

Pat Snedden is well-known and highly regarded for his extensive senior corporate governance experience in large New Zealand public entities in health, housing and infrastructure. He was Chief Crown Negotiator, Ngati Kahu and Te Hiku o Te Ika (Muriwhenua) and was involved in the settlement of major Treaty of Waitangi claims.

He is current Chair of Manaiakalani Education Trust and is former Chair of the Auckland District Health Board, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Housing New Zealand Corporation, Hobsonville Land Company and Tamaki Transformation Board. He was also Regional Chair for the Auckland Regional Health Board’s Community Laboratories recovery project and was an advisor for Health Care Aotearoa Inc, where he was involved in the establishment of an alliance incorporating Maori, union and community health providers.

Stephen McArthur has been Interim Chief Executive of Recovery Solutions Group and its related entities since November 2011. He is a Director of Tinakori Group Ltd, (a management consultancy), and was previously Chief Operating Officer at Housing New Zealand where he was responsible for the delivery of services to more than 200,000 customers. Prior to this, he has held a number of senior executive leadership roles at Christchurch City Council, Hutt City Council and the Otago Regional Council.

These announcements follow the recent appointment of Leigh Auton, former Chief Executive of Manukau City Council, as the new Chair of the Recovery Solutions Group and its related entities, including the Challenge Trust. Leigh replaced Allan Duffy who had been Chair since 2006, as part of a planned refresh of the leadership and governance of the organisation.

Allan Duffy will stay on the Board for up to 12 months and Jane Latimer and Pamela Rankin will continue as existing Trustees. The Board is still seeking a Maori Trustee.

Source.