Introducing Robyn Shearer, our new chief executive

I've worked in the mental health sector for nearly 20 years, starting my career working as a psychiatric assistant at Oakley and Carrington hospitals during my nursing training in the late 80s. Despite the conditions of those hospitals, I could see that if you worked well with someone with a mental health illness, their potential could be realised. 

Shortly afterwards, I spent some time consolidating my medical nursing experience then came back to mental health to work in acute inpatient, community and crisis team settings in general adult mental health. 

I became one of "those people" who quickly wanted to change the system. With the development of operational management roles, I took up the challenge of leadership at Waitemata DHB and later at Taranaki DHB as general manager for mental health and addictions.

From my experience as a manager and clinician I developed a strong interest in workforce development, realising that our workforce is our ‘tools of the trade'...people need people to help with their journey of recovery and people with the right skills and attitudes would help to make the recovery journey a success.

So when the opportunity arrived I embraced the challenge to set up the national mental health workforce development programme at the Health Research Council.  This programme has now morphed into the Te Pou workforce development programme.

Over the last three years I have been with the Ministry of Health leading mental health workforce development. A challenging role that included working across the national workforce centres funded by the Ministry of Health to develop Tauawhitia te Wero - Embracing the Challenge: National mental health and addiction workforce development plan 2006 - 2009.  I also worked across the Ministry of Health, actively seeking opportunities to have ‘workforce' embedded in all aspects of planning and delivering services. 

Over the last year I have been acting for Dr Janice Wilson as Group Manager for Mental Health and Addictions within the Ministry of Health. This experience has been invaluable in cementing relationships with the sector, across the Ministry and understanding government processes. 

In doing all of these roles, I observed some common ingredients for successful mental health teams and services - effective leadership and service users at the centre of service and workforce development. 

I aim to make a positive impact on the delivery of mental health and addiction services in New Zealand.  As a leader this means establishing good relationships with stakeholders, enabling others to become great leaders, being focused on delivering quality services and keeping the needs of service users at the heart of my actions. 

I have a great opportunity to live this dream at Te Pou. I truly love working in mental health and feel the experience I have gained puts me in good stead to be in the role of Chief Executive.  My values form my leadership and I bring these with me everyday - integrity, hard work, respect, valuing others, honesty, listening and compassion underpin my need to produce quality results in the work we are doing at Te Pou. 

Delivering tangible outcomes in the work we do at Te Pou is important - so service users, families, DHBs, NGOS, and all our respective agency partners can see the value we bring to their efforts. 

I came to Te Pou to make this happen.

I am inspired by the many stories of people who have ‘given up hope' or those who were told they didn't have a future...yet through the right supports they have achieved things in their lives that at one time could not even be dreamed about.

I like challenges in my work and personal life - over the last couple of years I have run four marathons! The training has been a great teacher of patience and discipline - and it sure pays off when you reach that 35km mark - and have to pull out all stops for the last 7kms of the run! Going over the finish line and feeling that sense of achievement makes the hard work all worthwhile.  This same feeling is something I aim to bring to my work - a sense of achievement, results and then aiming for a better result next time...always aiming to improve and better myself. 

Learning from others is also important - new experiences and listening to others.  Learning doesn't just occur in traditional environments - but in conversations, stories and through hearing the experiences of others, so enquiry and curiosity is an important aspect of my work. 

My door is always open to feedback, and I want to know how we are doing. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Robyn

Page last updated: 20 June 2008