Anne Blakeway of Tauranga City Council, Dennise Elers, of Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Libby O’Brien of Taupō District Council, Sarah Matthews also of Taupō District Council, are the winners of the 2023 Overseas Managers Exchanges sponsored by AskYourTeam, Civic Financial Services, and Marsh respectively.
The Taituarā Overseas Manager Exchange Programme is designed to provide local government managers with an opportunity to focus on their management development and career in local government through a short exchange with a partner manager in another country.
This is one of a range of Taituarā initiatives that provide leadership and development opportunities specifically tailored to the local government environment.
The AskYourTeam Overseas Manager Exchange to New South Wales, Australia
Anne Blakeway, Manager for City Partnerships at Tauranga City Council has been awarded the AskYourTeam Overseas Manager Exchange to New South Wales, Australia.
Anne led the development of fundraising strategies for Te Manawataki o Te Papa, Tauranga's new civic precinct development, as well as managing the relationship with and governance of their council-controlled organisations, and leading the economic development portfolio.
She began her career in the tourism and hospitality industry in the UK and USA and has a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from the University of Waikato. She has also led the economic development portfolio during the COVID-19 era and launched HeretoHelpU – an online social wellbeing support service, in partnership with other agencies.
This award is sponsored by AskYourTeam. AskYourTeam helps organisations build cultures that involve their people and lift their productivity. AskYourTeam is based in New Zealand and its system is based on evidence from the world’s leading management thinkers and leadership coaches. Their team of local support people work with organisations across the public and private sectors, in schools and membership organisations to make the small changes that grow their culture of involvement. AskYourTeam helps them tailor systems to organisation's needs, measure their progress, benchmark against their industry peers and report to their key stakeholders
The AskYourTeam Overseas Manager Exchange to Queensland, Australia
Dennise Elers, Group Manager for Community Partnerships at Central Hawke’s Bay District Council has been awarded the AskYourTeam Overseas Manager Exchange to Queensland, Australia.
Dennise has over 20 years' experience. Her role of community partnerships was highlighted while applying for this exchange. She is committed to working with and within communities to support them to reach their goals, dreams, and aspirations.
She has extensive experience in social and youth development, having developed several approaches that support communities and rangatahi self-determine their futures. Dennise worked with communities dealing with the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, and she is looking to embed an indigenous lens to the recovery.
This award is sponsored by AskYourTeam. AskYourTeam helps organisations build cultures that involve their people and lift their productivity. AskYourTeam is based in New Zealand and its system is based on evidence from the world’s leading management thinkers and leadership coaches. Their team of local support people work with organisations across the public and private sectors, in schools and membership organisations to make the small changes that grow their culture of involvement. AskYourTeam helps them tailor systems to organisation's needs, measure their progress, benchmark against their industry peers and report to their key stakeholders
The Civic Financial Services Exchange to the United States
Libby O’Brien, General Manager, People and Customer at Taupō District Council has been awarded the Civic Financial Services Exchange to the United States.
Libby is an experienced young leader who has spent time working across central and local government motivating people with her infectious passion to empower people to be their best.
In her current role she is leading the charge to put people at the heart of everything, giving the tools to enhance their wellbeing so they are at their best to care for their communities.
This award's sponsor Civic Financial Services Ltd is owned by local authorities and has been exclusively servicing local government for more than fifty years. Civic Financial Services is a specialist superannuation provider for local government. It administers the SuperEasy superannuation schemes - SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme and SuperEasy employer scheme. It also administers the New Zealand Local Authority Protection Programme (LAPP) Disaster Fund.
The Marsh Overseas Manager Exchange to Canada
Sarah Matthews, General Manager, Finance and Environment at Taupō District Council has been awarded the Marsh Overseas Manager Exchange to Canada.
Sarah Matthews is GM Finance and Environment (CFO) at Taupō District Council. She is a young executive leader and was winner of the ‘Emerging Financial Manager’ award at the 2021 New Zealand CFO awards. She credits the sector for her leadership style and is passionate about making a difference in the community. Outside of work, she is a Mum to a blended family of five children.
This award's sponsor Marsh is the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor serving commercial and individual clients with data driven risk solutions and advisory services. Marsh New Zealand has a presence across 14 locations, access to even deeper risk expertise and specialty capabilities, greater talent, broader geographic reach, and more capacity in digital, data, and analytics. Our strengthened capabilities are harnessed to create value for your business in the moments that matter.