Waitakere Community Law Service is governed by a Board comprising of members of the local community including the legal profession. It comprises:
- Catherine McClintock (De Paul House, North Shore), Chairperson
- Hayley Miller (Lawyer, Bell Gully), Deputy Chairperson
- Gary Stewart (Henderson Budgeting Service)
- Paulette Main (Barrister)
- Poto Williams MBA (Western Refuge)
Kia Orana Koutou Katoatoa, Turou Oro Mai.
Poto is of Cook Island heritage with family links to Manihiki, Palmerston and Penrhyn islands.
Poto has been Chief Executive at Western Refuge for the last 20 months and has a background in Community Services that spans 15 years, covering Health, Disability, Family Violence, Supporting Single Parent Families and Mental Health. Poto is currently undertaking a professional Doctorate looking at the key elements of Pasifika Women Leadership with a view to developing future leaders.
Her key driver is the wellbeing of our children and strengthening families and supporting the most vulnerable in our community. Collaboration is a key feature of her practice as well as a strengths based approach to management, team work and life in general.
Being the mother of 1 terrific daughter continues to be the most satisfying job of all.
- Jennie Michel (Age Concern)
Jennie is currently employed by Age Concern North Shore as Coordinator of the Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service. Jennie is a registered nurse with a Diploma in Nursing (Distinction) from University of London and as Masters of Health Science (Hons) from AUT. Jennie trained at Barts Hospital in London and held many post-graduate positions and qualifications before arriving in New Zealand in 1979. Jennie has worked in the Aged Care Sector for much of her time in New Zealand except for 2 years working at the Human Rights Commission. In 1989 Jennie attended the Hui that led to the development of Elder Abuse Prevention in New Zealand, was one of the authors of the seminal text on Elder Abuse Prevention. Jennie is recognized as expert practitioner in elder abuse prevention.
- Russell Vickery, Consultant
Over the past 25 years I’ve worked within the disability sector in a number of roles. Specifically working with disabled people in trying to achieve outcomes that will enhance their life options. In the late 1990’s I was employed as the research assistant looking into the interface between people with an intellectual disability and the criminal justice system. Specifically this role was looking at how people with an intellectual disability were not catered for under the current Mental Health Act (1999), and needed new legislation to cover them. In 2001 I again was a part of the research team that created training packages for upskilling police and lawyers for the 2003 Intellectual Disability and Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation Act (2003).
I have also lectured on various topics within the Bachelor of Social Science (Human Service) on how to support disabled people in the community of their choosing. I have also delivered numerous conference papers both here in New Zealand and around the world (Australia, Canada, United States). As well as being a speaker at conferences I have also had the experience of organising them and this includes the 2006 National Conference for CCS where for the first time in the histories organisation Open Space format was used. At the end of the conference each participant was given a cd which included all the papers and the outcomes of all 43 sessions. This cd included both word documents plus a sound files which enabled the participants to listen to the cd if they weren’t able to read the documents.
Within the last number of years I’ve moved from working and supporting individuals to organisations within the not for profit area. And this includes various organisations both here In New Zealand and within the US.
My current roles include being the disability consultant on a project looking at the Care Managers role under the IDCCR Act, plus leading the organising of the 75th Jubilee for the Wilson Home Trust. I also have various other roles within a number of disability organisations, plus still involved in my own consultancy business which sells books and other resources both here in NZ and in Australia.
Please click here for our latest Annual Report (pdf)
