Our Team | Spectrum Care

Spectrum Care Board

Garry Smith BMS, CA (Non-executive Chair)

Garry joined the Spectrum Care Trust Board in June 2013 and was appointed Board Chair in November 2015.

Garry is CEO of The Selwyn Foundation and has more than 20 years’ experience at a senior level with healthcare organisations throughout New Zealand. Prior to his appointment to The Selwyn Foundation in 2012, Garry spent nine years as CEO of Auckland District Health Board.

A qualified accountant, Garry has expertise at both a governance and a leadership/management level. Garry is passionate about ethical and values-based leadership, ensuring integrity, warmth and respect.

Aroha Hudson ACA, MBA

Aroha joined Spectrum Care Trust Board in June 2013. Her current role is the Chief Executive Officer of HealthWEST, a non-government organisation, and is also a chartered accountant with a Masters of Business Administration.

Aroha holds other governance positions on the boards of the Heart Foundation and Te Hononga o Tamaki me Hoturoa, and is currently chair of Auckland PHO.

Colin Theyers CA, GDip (Finance), FInstD

Colin joined the Spectrum Care Trust Board in June 2013 and is currently Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Colin is a professional director and business strategist and sits on eight other boards in professional services, property, finance, investment and logistic companies. Colin also serves as a Director of Homes of Choice.

Jane Bawden LLM

Jane joined the Spectrum Care Trust Board in November 2015 and currently chairs the Service Design and Continuous Improvement Committee.

Jane is a lawyer and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and is currently CEO of Parent to Parent.

Jane has long-term experience in medico-legal, compliance and risk management, and is an experienced health and disability sector adviser.

Vicki Lee

Vicki joined the Spectrum Care Trust board in November 2015.

Vicki is an experienced businesswoman having held CEO positions on both sides of the Tasman and Internationally, in advertising, marketing, health research and healthcare communications. She is passionate about using her skills gained throughout her career to give back to the community in which she lives and was a NZ women of Influence finalist for her work in the Social Enterprise Sector.

Vicki is a member of the Institute of Directors, she is currently CEO of Supporting Families in Mental Illness New Zealand and her other board positions include the New Zealand Standards Approval Board (NZ Govt appointment), and Deputy Chair of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union.

Red Nicholson

Red joined the Spectrum Care Trust Board in June 2018.

Red brings to the Board experience of working alongside young people in the education sector, as well as a background in social marketing and advertising. He also has lived experience of disability, as a wheelchair-user with cerebral palsy.

Red is passionate about creating a more inclusive Aotearoa, where disabled people are respected, empowered and well supported to live great lives.

Jade Farrar

Jade joined Spectrum Care Trust Board in June 2018, and brings a vision of a prosperous and abundant society where all people succeed regardless of ability or background.
Jade is passionate about the power of social media and what it can do to promote a more positive and realistic perspective of everyday disabled people.

Currently a director of a communications and strategic advice consultancy, Jade has previously served as Community Engagement Advisor for Manawanui Support. Jade has contributed to the advancement of disabled people and their whānau as a member of Auckland Council’s Disability Advisory Panel and the Disabled Person’s Assembly’s National Executive Committee.

Jade is fortunate to bring seven years of perspective and experience serving Systems Transformation as a member of the National Enabling Good Lives leadership group.

Spectrum Care Executive team

Sean Stowers Chief Executive Officer

Sean has been an active contributor to the disability support sector for more than 25 years, in a variety of roles primarily focused on the strategic and operational management of support delivery.

In his drive for social justice, and outcomes that support choice and control for people with disabilities, Sean aims to build on the strong, person-centred foundation upon which Spectrum Care is based, and ensure people with disabilities and their families have a lead role in the design and delivery of a continuum of tailored and sustainable support options.

Ray Finch Chief Operating Officer

Ray has held an array of senior management, leadership and executive roles in the medical, insurance and corporate consulting sectors in New Zealand and internationally.

With a passion for business strategy and development, operational and financial management relationship building, Ray brings a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a track record of building relationships and growing businesses.

Since joining Spectrum Care, Ray has launched a number of new support options that are not funded by government, but which satisfy high levels of unmet family need.

He is committed to making a difference in the community and delivering tailored support options that meet individual needs.

Annette Bisacre Chief Financial Officer

Annette is a Chartered Accountant who has worked across a variety of industries in NZ and the UK in Senior Financial Management and Leadership roles for 20 + years including 8 years in the Healthcare sector.

With additional experience as an IT Consultant, Annette brings a range of skills that provide great benefit to her role at Spectrum Care.

Annette is passionate about contributing to the sustainability of organisations that are helping others live the best lives they can.

Simon Dunn General Manager – People and Culture

Simon leads a team of senior managers who are responsible for the provision of a continuum of tailored support options. The goal of this team is to meet customer and stakeholder expectations, and actively support people with disabilities to ‘live a great life’.

Simon is a long-term Spectrum employee and has worked in a number of different roles, including as a Community Support Worker, Service Coordinator and Human Resources Manager.

Simon graduated with a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and later completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business.

Irene Allen Manager – Safety and Risk

Irene is a professional health and safety practitioner with more than 16 years’ experience in diverse, high-risk organisations.

Irene has a strong background in leading health and safety in a proactive and practical manner, along with a wealth of experience working with health and safety and other relevant legislation.

Irene has a qualification in Social Service Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science, along with Prince Project Management and Exemplar Global Audit certificates.

Her role is pivotal in ensuring we all understand our obligations and contributions towards a healthy and safe working environment, and getting us all home safely at the end of the day.

Justin Walsh Manager – Communications and Marketing

Justin has more than 20 years’ experience working with brand, marketing and communications strategy in a variety of roles in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

As the father of a young man receiving disability support, Justin is dedicated to ensuring the sector aspires towards the highest standards of support, practice and professionalism, and believes strongly in empowering people to be leaders in their own lives.

Since joining Spectrum Care in 2009, Justin has brought a focus on excellence and innovation.

Justin holds an Accreditation with the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.

Peter Sanders General Manager - Homes of Choice

Peter has more than 30 years’ experience in the building industry and has held a wide array of senior roles in property development and management.

Peter is passionate about providing people with disabilities the home environments of their choice and believes strongly in supporting increased freedom and independence through smart technology and intelligent home systems.

In pursuit of these goals, Peter has built partnerships with a variety of tertiary institutions to support pioneering innovations in technology and design, and to develop landscaping enhancements which improve outdoor living environments for people with disabilities.
Peter is a member of the Master Builders Association.

John Burns Business Technology Consultant

John has over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, working in a variety of roles in the US, Europe, Middle East, Australia and at home in New Zealand. He is a highly experienced IT consultant and an accredited trainer for various frameworks, including Project Management (PRINCE2), Agile Project Management, Organizational Change Management and Better Business Cases.

John has been a technology advisor to Spectrum Care for several years, is a member of the Institute of Directors and sits on the board of Ember Korowai Takitini Services (a mental health and addiction services provider), and hopes to expand his governance work and bring technical experience and knowledge to more boards in the future – especially focussed in the not-for-profit space.

John brings a passion for sharing knowledge and enabling Spectrum Care to achieve its goals through the optimal use of technology for their staff and clients

Spectrum Care Service Delivery Team

Sue Robertson Change and Practice Manager

The role of Change and Practice Manager aims to provide specialised advice and leadership in relation to the quality of life of people and whanau supported by Spectrum Care.

Sue brings a deep understanding of the disability sector, with over 30 years’ experience providing leadership, mentoring, advocacy and capability building to support social change.

Sue’s focus is on co-designing support options with people and whanau, managing projects and initiatives that influence how our current services are delivered, and building our future capability.

Maui Paraki Service Manager - South

Ko Maui Paraki taku Ingoa
Ko Mataatua taku waka
Ko Tuhoe Taku Iwi

Maui joined Spectrum care in 2004 and has worked across the mental health and disability sectors for more than 20 years.

Maui qualified with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, before entering the mental health and disability sectors as a Community Support Worker.

Now a senior manager with Spectrum Care, Maui extended his learning through a long-term relationship with the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation and the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence.

Maui is passionate about developing leadership, working collaboratively and supporting others to realise their potential.

Kirsty Allison Service Manager - North West

Kirsty completed a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology at Auckland University, before beginning her professional career at Wairau Valley Special School in the role of teacher aide.

Joining Spectrum Care in 2003 as a planned breaks carer, Kirsty then moved into the role of Service Coordinator and, in 2012, joined the senior team as Service Manager of our community support, in-home planned breaks and independent living options – Choices in Community Living and Supported Living. In early 2018, Kirsty became the Service Manager for our North West region.

Kirsty believes in the promotion of independence and choice for people with disabilities and is focused on creating pathways for families which deliver flexible, efficient and effective supports.

Saveatama Amerika Wilson Service Manager - Central

Amerika has spent nearly 30 years in a variety of disability sector roles.

In that time, he has gained both a certificate and diploma in teaching people with disabilities, along with an introduction to psychology and sociology and a graduate diploma in not-for-profit management.

As part of the Faiva Ora Leadership Group, Amerika provides advice and support to the Ministry of Health on issues relating to Pasifika people with disabilities and their family members.

He feels he is living his dream of ensuring a best-practice approach is followed in the delivery of support to Pacific people with disabilities and their families.

Piri Rutherford Service Manager - Mahi

Originally from Northland, Piri lived and worked in Australia for a number of years in a variety of support and coordinator roles in the disability sector.

Piri has extensive knowledge of and a passion for inclusion, both in terms of the individual and a focused approach to linking people with their community.

He brings a tertiary qualification in Executive Management and Business Administration from New South Wales Business School and will be looking to utilise this, along with his experience and passion in his role with Spectrum Care.

Sarah Engelbrecht Service Improvement Manager

Sarah has held a variety of social sector roles, focused on international development, enterprise portfolio management, strategy and governance.

Sarah’s current focus is on improving Spectrum’s organisational practice, integrating our Practice Framework and deploying other fit-for-purpose practice tools.

This is being achieved through collaborative partnerships with people, staff and families to create cohesive and continuous improvements in the way we provide support.

Sarah is a qualified PRINCE2 practitioner and is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Social and Community Leadership, with the aim of increasing the voice of the people with disabilities in the design and deployment of the support services they receive.

Rachel Cooper Service Manager - Wellington Region

Rachel has worked in the social care sector for more than 30 years, starting in her home country of Wales, then onto the USA before settling in Aotearoa in 2003.

After training as a mental health nurse, Rachel went on to work with asylum seekers and youth in the care system, and then moved into running a broad range of mental health clinical and community services. Her strong connections with children and teens with intellectual disabilities in Wellington led to her advocating for the creation of services that make sense for this younger generation as they reach adulthood.

From working to shut down intellectual disability institutions in the 1980s through to setting up new Spectrum services in Wellington in 2018, Rachel's commitment is to listening to what makes a good life for people, and working towards making that happen.

Now as Service Manager for the Wellington region, Rachel is inspired (and occasionally exhausted!) by the amazing young adults supported there who are making their mark in the world, and who constantly challenge her team to keep up with them.

Darryl Benge Business Lead (Senior User for CRM renewal programme)

Darryl holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy, as well as a diploma in business.

Prior to joining Spectrum, Darryl held the role of training manager with New Zealand’s statutory child protection agency, now known as Oranga Tamariki.

Darryl’s focus is on sustainability, ensuring efficient and effective support provision which realises Spectrum’s Vision, and on building strong relationships with the people we support and their families.