Team Profile Partnership & Enablement.
Meet our Senior Leaders.
At ConneXu, all that we do is centred around those we work with, supporting our disabled partners to choose how they live their life.
And that focus is razor sharp for our Partnership and Enablement team. Their main focus is our disabled partners. Whether it’s the senior leadership, or our huge team of amazing community facilitators, every piece of work is based around the people we work with.
Led by Kate Shaw, General Manager, Partnership and Enablement, the team is made up of more than 240 ConneXu employees. Directly reporting to Kate are four Senior Managers that ensure the large team is run effectively and allows Kate to focus on the strategic and management perspectives of her role.
Ashlee Rayner - Senior Leader Community Partnerships
Kat Price - Senior Leader Partnerships and Enablement – Lakes/BOP
Wendy Carter - Senior Leader Partnerships and Enablement – Waikato/King Country
Gavin Hurnard – Clinical Advisor
Guy Ockenden – Continuous Improvement Manager
Kate says “Our team does an amazing job, working with and for our disabled partners. For us our goal is simple – to see our disabled partners living the life they choose, achieving their dreams and goals, and working together with them to do that. It is really rewarding work.”
“It is about collaboration, aroha, resilience, and relationship building. It is everything that makes life better for our disabled partners, and what can make an ongoing positive impact in their lives.”
Kate Shaw – General Manager
Kate joined ConneXu nearly 11 years ago but has worked in the disability sector for more than two decades. While her role covers a lot, her main focus areas are strategic tasks, the development of new opportunities and higher-level partnerships for the organisation and overseeing the largest team within ConneXu.
Kate has been a member of the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) Waikato Leadership Group as a provider representative, a position that she has held for eight years. She is focused on ensuring that ConneXu holds the eight principles of EGL and the organisation’s values at the forefront of every decision. Her aim is to ensure that the people ConneXu support live in an Inclusive Community, where they have natural connections and are empowered to live the life of their choice.
Ashlee Rayner – Senior Leader Community Partnerships
Ashlee supports those who live in the community with Supporting Independent Living, Living my Life and Individualised Funding contracts. She has worked at ConneXu for nearly three years and says it’s the determination of the people she works with to live ordinary lives that inspires her each day, with the support of an amazing team of community facilitators throughout the region.
“Their disability doesn't definite them or the way they choose to live their lives. Our support is to find solutions and strategies to make their definition of a successful life attainable.”
Kat Price – Senior Leader Partnerships and Enablement – Lakes/BOP
Kat spends her days leading the leaders of partnership and enablement within the Bay of Plenty and Lakes (Taupo) regions, ensuring the day-to-day service delivery is running smoothly, and also has a focus on growing the service through the management of new referrals and the setting up of new homes.
Kat has worked at ConneXu for two years and says the best part of her role is seeing a disabled partner achieving their life goals, whether big or small – and living their best life as a result.
“I think I have one of the best roles at ConneXu!”
Wendy Carter – Senior Leader of Partnership and Enablement.
Wendy leads a team of six leaders in the Te Awamutu office, working with disabled partners to live their best life, and to offer choice and flexible living. Her career progression has been strong, starting as a community facilitator eight years ago and with her passion and drive is now a senior leader, with strong support from the executive team to mentor her.
“I love that no two days are the same and enjoy the challenge and diversity of being a senior leader for ConneXu.”
Guy Ockenden – Continuous Improvement Manager
Guy has just begun his new role following his work as Leader of Partnership and Enablement. His new role has a focus on continuous improvement across the whole organisation in regard to the quality of organisational processes and outcomes related to the achievement of business goals and plans and the enhancement of the lives of those ConneXu works with.
Guy’s enthusiasm for his new role comes from wanting to support everyone at ConneXu to ensure the dreams and plans of the disabled partners can be achieved!
“I love the development of great relationships with our partners and them allowing and welcoming me into their lives. Their faith, trust and honesty are an honour as well as their kindness and genuine caring towards me.”
Gavin Hurnard – Clinical Advisor
As a registered nurse, its Gavin’s role to provide clinical support to the people ConneXu partners with, as well as develop policies and procedures to help us care for our partners safely and appropriately.
Gavin has been at ConneXu for one year and says he is passionate about providing education and engaging with staff who love to learn.
“I am here to provide clinical support to our partners and staff supporting our partners. You can contact me to about anything clinical and if I don’t have the answer straight away, I will go and find it for you.”