Board of Trustees
Mark came onto the Board in April 2020 in the midst of the first COVID-19 lockdown.
For the last 30 years Mark has worked in various roles in the health and disability sector both with the funders, the Regional Health Authority (RHA) and Ministry of Health, as well as with several provider organisations. Formerly he was CEO of Life Unlimited, a disability organisation based here in Hamilton. He is currently undertaking consultancy assignments, including with the Ministry of Health on system transformation based on Enabling Good Lives principles and approach. Mark admires and respects the work the Progress to Health team do and the vision we share of enabling people to live great lives in their community.
His wife Gillian and he have lived in the Waikato for 35 years. They have 3 adult sons and are blessed to have 6 grandchildren living close by - and another in South Australia.
Hayley Arnet
Hayley is an experienced programme manager with an extensive history of working in the health care industry. She is skilled in managing complex projects in primary care and is currently leading implementation of the integrated primary mental health and addiction programme in Taranaki.
Hayley has loads of experience establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including the MOH, DHB, general practice, allied health providers, and Māori and community organisations. She has managed research projects in the past, and is developing knowledge in te ao māori, and proficiency in te reo māori.
Hayley has three young girls, and a garden that fills her time outside of the workplace. She is passionate about equity and supporting whānau to reach their potential, making Progress to Health a great organisation for her to be involved in.
Rae Gunn
Working in various finance roles for 30 years, Rae is a Chartered Accountant Fellow, a certified coach of the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Rae has had a wealth of roles and experience both in New Zealand and internationally and early this year, moved on as Financial Controller at DairyNZ to run her own businesses Gunn Coaching and Advisory and OptiFi Business Solutions. Rae serves on the Board of Trustees of Rototuna High Schools and is currently Chair of the CA ANZ Waikato Local Committee, is a Mentor for Business Mentors NZ, and has been an active Mentor and speaker at many Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand events.
Rae is proud to join the Progress to Health Board of Trustees, as it will enable her to further fulfil her purpose of supporting and helping others. Rae is married with two teenage sons and absolutely loves living in the mighty Waikato.
Josh Maniam
Josh is currently a senior manager at Te Whatu Ora – Taranaki, where he works with the commissioning team and has particular interests in contracting, analytics and hospital commissioning. Previously, he spent a decade working for a large multinational company providing competitive intelligence solutions to the pharmaceutical sector. During his time there, he gained responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region and had the pleasure of working closely with top pharmaceutical companies around the world. A hallmark of his working style is the ability to transform complex information into digestible and actionable insight. Since moving into the health sector, Josh has a developed a drive to reduce the inequities seen in society and is a strong advocate for a whānau centric health system.
Josh currently resides in Taranaki, to which he returned in 2018 after spending 15 years in Auckland. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his wife and two whāngai nieces. As a whānau they enjoy travel, learning te reo Māori and pitmaster style BBQ!
Tama tū, tama ora; tama noho, tama mate
Mark is a Financial Advisor working as a senior Investment Advisor with Craig’s Investment Partners where he has been for over 20 years. Mark has extensive experience in the global investment world where his primary focus is on managing the investments of individuals, Trusts, companies and charitable groups.
Mark has extensive experience in governance within the charitable sector in particular the disability sector with a number of board appointments at both a local and National level spanning over 15 years.
Mark is also a member of the Institute of Directors.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends enjoying the many outdoor activities the country has to offer.
David has extensive leadership experience across a range of sectors. Currently he is the Area Manager, Maniapoto for the 2023 census at Statistics NZ. Previous roles include Director Strategy and Performance for a nationwide social enterprise; CEO of a disability provider, an Operations Manager within a District Health Board and a Project Manager in the Public Service.
David also works as “The Optimist Cynic”, an independent sounding board, business coach/mentor and an author. He is passionate about the concept of sustainable communities and the fundamental belief that business is a resource for doing good.
David also has governance roles with Impact Hub Waikato Trust, NZ Williams Syndrome Association and until recently, on the Community and Public Health Advisory Committee for Waikato DHB.
Cheri-Lee Atkinson
Cheri-Lee is a solicitor for Tompkins Wake, supporting clients in a variety of commercial matters which include managing risk, governance and all aspects of commercial operations. Cheri-Lee’s focus is on understanding her client’s objectives and delivering solutions, and she enjoys contributing her legal skills and experience to the community.
Cheri-Lee is of Ngati Toa and Ngati Koata descent.
Along with being on Progress to Health’s board, Cheri-Lee is also a board member for the WaiBOP Football Federation and a committee member with both the Hillcrest United Football Club and New Zealand Christian Lawyers.
Executive and Leadership Team
Karen has been chief executive for Progress to Health since 2004. And for the last 17 years, has had the challenge and opportunity to lead the organisation through several change processes.
In 2015, Progress to Health launched PressGo, its professional service with the vision of creating healthy and vibrant workplaces. As well as being part of the consultancy part of the business, Karen also has operational oversight and responsibility for it.
Before that she was chief executive for Epilepsy New Zealand, a support and information agency for people living with epilepsy. Karen has worked in and around health her entire working life, specifically within the NGO sector since 1997. This has given her a wide knowledge and understanding of health and disability issues both at a local, regional and national level and specifically for non-government, not-for-profit, and community organisations having spent the last 20 years in this sector.
She is Chair for the Waikato DHB mental health and addiction services local advisory group; co-chair of Navigate Midland; and until recently, an NGO representative for the Te Manawa Taki clinical governance leadership group. She is also a Manu Taki for the Waikato Wellbeing Project SDG3 working group. Progress to Health is a member of both Platform Atamira and the New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN).
In the past, she has participated in the MoH’s Health & Disability NGO working group (now known as the NGO Council); the HR Emergency Toolkit advisory group; and National Population Outcomes Framework for Mental Health and Addiction working group. She was President of Inclusive NZ, prior to its disestablishment in 2019.
Being involved in such a wide and varied selection of groups and networks have helped her to develop her strategic lens and widen her understanding of the everchanging environment that is the health and disability sector.
Her strengths include leadership, management, change management, organisation development and strategic planning. She can see both sides of an issue and enjoys working with a diverse group of people to achieve a common goal.
Team Leader - Waikato & Taupō
Patty has worked in Mental Health after her own personal experience of accessing mental health services in 2000. Starting as a volunteer, she went on to gain Certificate in Mental Health Support Work and is trained in Aukiti kaipipa kaimahi (Quitcards).
The passion that drives her is the support, help and encouragement she was given while on her own journey and a great belief in community/ Social Inclusion and reconnecting individuals with their communities. I continue to develop and up-skill where and when needed to provide those who live with mental health and addictions, the best support.
