HPF Board

HPF Board members in 2010 are:

Donna Leatherby - Chair

Ko Taranaki te Maunga
Ko Taranaki, Ko Te Atiawa, Ko Nga Ruahine raua ko Ngati Toa Rangatira oku Iwi
Ko Parihaka, Ko Potaka, Ko Katere Ki Te Moana, Ko Oeo raua ko Takapuwahia oku Marae.
Ko Denis McLeod taku hoa tane,
Toko wha aku tamariki, toko wha aku mokopuna,
Ko Donna Rawinia Leatherby taku ingoa.

I entered the Health workforce in a part time (Kaiawhina) position working one day a week with Public Health Nurses in Coastal Taranaki. Over the years, I have moved my way through the pathways available within the Health Promotion Public Health sector. Currently I co-manage a Maori Health provider Toiora-Healthy Lifestyles, and coordinate Health Promotion and Community Development programmes for our PHO Hauora Taranaki. Last year I completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health from Auckland University of Technology and planning to commence my Masters in Public Health in 2011 - 2012.

John Wong QSM Dip.M.S. B.Com. M.Ed.(Couns) (Hons) MNZAC, MANZASW - Treasurer

John Wong had a business and management background when he migrated to New Zealand in 1992. He is the Asian Services Director at The Problem Gambling Foundation where he has extensive involvement with many different communities.
John has a strong interest in problem gambling and is committed to helping people who are affected by problem gambling and to work towards eliminating gambling harms.
John has been invited by universities to conduct lectures to public health students. He has also presented papers in public health conferences nationally and internationally.

John was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 2010 New Year Honours List.

Grant Hocking - Secretary

Like most people who give up smoking, quitting my 25 a day addiction was the best thing I ever did.
One of the key motivators for me to finally quit was attending a health promotion session by the wonderful Daryl Suasua. His succinct explanation of how nicotine works was just the information I needed to grasp why my previous quit attempts had failed and why the next one would succeed.
That session with Daryl put me on the path to my current position as Senior Health Promoter for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH NZ) and occurred while I was teaching graphic design to long term unemployed adults at a central Auckland private training establishment, a position I had for nearly ten years.

Smokefree health promotion has been the perfect career for me as a big mouth Australian ex-smoking anti-tobacco zealot!

Currently I live in Auckland with my partner and two daughters and I am really honoured to be on the board of the HPF. I hope that my health promotion experience with ASH over the last seven years will be of some use to HFP members and to the work of the board.

Lisa McNabb - Deputy Chair

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga karangaranga maha tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Ko Kotipo te maunga
Ko Mangataiore te awa
Ko Rangaunu te moana
Ko Te Paatu te haapu
Ko Te Paatu te marae
Ko Tokitahi te wharenui
Ko Ngahinu te wharekai
Ko Taotu raua ko Waireti Walters oku matua
Ko Lisa McNab ahau

As the current chair of the Te Taitokerau Branch of the PHA NZ I bring to the board position a rural grass roots, whanau perspective on how HPF could better provide support to the growing numbers of kaimahi Maori in Te Taitokerau, I also provide another link and alignment of the current national relationship that these organisations have. My governance experience has been gained with the PHA NZ as a Board member, Treasurer, two terms as a Maori Caucus and the planning, coordination and delivery of the '08 PHA NZ conference. I am also Board member to the Obesity Action Coalition.
I currently manage the Health Promotion team at Te Hauora O Te Hiku O Te Ika

Pesio Ah-Honi Siitia

Pesio is currently the Pacific Manager of Mapu Maia, the Pacific Unit of the Problem Gambling Foundation of NZ (PGF). PGF is a national non-profit organisation predominantly funded by the Ministry of Health with funds received from the gambling levy.

PGF is the largest single treatment provider for problem gambling in Australasia. Pesio leads the Pacific unit working towards reducing gambling related harms within Pacific families and communities. Prior to this position Pesio was the Public Health Practice Leader for PGF.

Pesio Ah-Honi Siitia is of Samoan and Asian decent, born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand with over 20 years experience working with Pacific Island communities.

Her background in Pacific marketing and media complements her vast experience in the area of public health and community development. Her experience and background includes Public Health training and education, Health Promotion, strategic planning and program development, drug and alcohol education, community action and community development and resource development.

Deborah Petersen

Tēna koutou tēna koutou tēna koutou katoa

Debbie began her health promotion career when she undertook Certificate in Health Promotion training that was offered by the Health Promotion Forum and the Central Institute of Technology in the early 1990’s.

Since then she has worked in a number of health promotion roles in the public health and primary care settings including owning her own consultancy business. Debbie is currently employed as a Professional Advisor for Health Promotion for Population Health, Waikato District Health Board.

Debbie brings to the forum a range of governance experience which includes being the Waikato representative on the Public Health Association (PHA) of New Zealand Council for the past fours years. As part of this role she recently convened the 2010 PHA conference.

Debbie says “she is excited to be a part of the Health Promotion Forum board and is looking forward to the new experience”.

Tau Huirama

Tau is from Tainui waka and of Waikato and Ngati Maniopoto descent. He is the CEO (Strategic Relationships) at Jigsaw which reflects his passion for thriving children and flourishing families. Tau also plays a leading role in the development of national strategies for the prevention of child abuse and family violence across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Jigsaw is an organisation of great agencies working daily to inspire, motivate and help families to be the best they can possibly be for their children.

Tau says “I am a loving father and grandfather, with four adult children and three fantastic grandchildren. I am also Koro to very many grand nieces and nephews. My desire is for all children to be nurtured and encouraged to achieve their dreams.” Both Jigsaw and HPF are committed to the importance of the early years of life.

Richard Wallace - Kaumatua