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Youth representation New Zealand Youth representation New Zealand

Everyone has heard of YMCA but not many know all the things we do. Perhaps it is because we do so much! What we do know is that most people are really surprised when they learn the extent of the work done by the Y in New Zealand.


The first thing we at YMCA would like everyone to understand is that we are first and foremost a national community organisation. We work for every New Zealander and we want to engage with every New Zealander in a way that is positive. Sure, at heart we are youth centred but we work with people of all ages. It’s summed up in our by-line:

We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities.


It's not just a slogan – we really believe that by helping children and young people to thrive, they will make great adults and parents. By working together with families, we strengthen that most important relationship of all – family/whanau.


Building on that, we believe that connected communities are strong communities and strong communities make a great New Zealand society.

Management
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
Barbara Duley-Foote

Operations Manager

Having joined the National Office in 1999, Barbara has worked for the Y for an impressive 22 years. Her favourite part of the role is communicating with all the local associations with whom she has built strong relationships. Barbara has become a part of the Y, or as she puts it, the Y has become part of her.

Having joined the National Office in 1999, Barbara has worked for the Y for an impressive 22 years. Her favourite part of the role is communicating with all the local associations with whom she has built strong relationships. Barbara has become a part of the Y, or as she puts it, the Y has become part of her.

YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
Leona van der Heyden

General Manager Education

Leona joined the Y team in September 2020 as General Manager Education. Leona has an extensive background working in the Industry Training sector, leading the development, delivery and quality assurance of programmes. She views education as a key enabler for all, but particularly for our youth who may be struggling to find their direction and purpose. Leona specialises in leading the delivery of education outcomes with a focus on ensuring that the flexible needs of our learners are at the heart of everything the YMCA Education team provides.

Leona joined the Y team in September 2020 as General Manager Education. Leona has an extensive background working in the Industry Training sector, leading the development, delivery and quality assurance of programmes. She views education as a key enabler for all, but particularly for our youth who may be struggling to find their direction and purpose. Leona specialises in leading the delivery of education outcomes with a focus on ensuring that the flexible needs of our learners are at the heart of everything the YMCA Education team provides.

Board of Directors
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member

Eileen became involved with the Y as a Board member for Central in 2018. She is sure that being part of several YMCA leadership programs as a teenager helped form her leadership skills today. She is keen to try and ensure that these programs deliver to today’s youth. Eileen has strong governance experience through her senior management roles. She is currently General Manager, Evidence and Insights at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) where she leads a branch to deliver evidence and insights to base policy decisions on and to monitor the current situation in various sectors.

Eileen became involved with the Y as a Board member for Central in 2018. She is sure that being part of several YMCA leadership programs as a teenager helped form her leadership skills today. She is keen to try and ensure that these programs deliver to today’s youth. Eileen has strong governance experience through her senior management roles. She is currently General Manager, Evidence and Insights at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) where she leads a branch to deliver evidence and insights to base policy decisions on and to monitor the current situation in various sectors.

Eileen Basher

President

YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
Callum Clark

Vice President

Callum Clark has a background in specialising in non-formal educational methods and youth development, and has led the design and development of a new national youth programme for SCOUTS New Zealand. His experience for the World Organisation of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) has been as a young person in the development of tools and processes for member organisations to design, renew and implement educational proposals and national youth programmes and attendance as a delegate at world conferences and events. This also includes the development of resources to align youth programmes with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and methods to implement education for sustainable development. Most recently, now co-leading the Educational Methods Workstream for the WOSM strategy responding to the current pandemic crisis facing many countries. He is passionate about what young people can do and achieve in this ever-changing world and how organisations such as the Y can support and grow thriving communities. We are currently living in unprecedented times, however there are still many opportunities for us to make a positive impact in our communities.

Callum Clark has a background in specialising in non-formal educational methods and youth development, and has led the design and development of a new national youth programme for SCOUTS New Zealand. His experience for the World Organisation of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) has been as a young person in the development of tools and processes for member organisations to design, renew and implement educational proposals and national youth programmes and attendance as a delegate at world conferences and events. This also includes the development of resources to align youth programmes with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and methods to implement education for sustainable development. Most recently, now co-leading the Educational Methods Workstream for the WOSM strategy responding to the current pandemic crisis facing many countries. He is passionate about what young people can do and achieve in this ever-changing world and how organisations such as the Y can support and grow thriving communities. We are currently living in unprecedented times, however there are still many opportunities for us to make a positive impact in our communities.

YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member

Kari joined the YMCA Southland board in July 2021 and also holds multiple director positions in the Southland area including the Chair positon for Youthline Southland. She is extremely passionate about her local community and young people. She has a background in policy and strategy and has worked for local and national governments here and abroad for over 20 years. For her the YMCA is one of the only organisations that offers unique and all-inclusive opportunities for our communities.

Kari joined the YMCA Southland board in July 2021 and also holds multiple director positions in the Southland area including the Chair positon for Youthline Southland. She is extremely passionate about her local community and young people. She has a background in policy and strategy and has worked for local and national governments here and abroad for over 20 years. For her the YMCA is one of the only organisations that offers unique and all-inclusive opportunities for our communities.

Kari Graber

Board Director

YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
Bridget-Mary McGown

Board Director

Bridget-Mary is an experienced Senior Manager, Chair, Trustee and Director with experience in Health & Disability, Recreation, Education & Youth Development. She is a result driven strategic thinker with a comprehensive governance and operational management background complemented by academic qualifications and experience. Bridget-Mary believes successful organisations require a clear strategy built on innovative aspirations, supported by people working within a culture that is empowering and where all involved own and enable the values of the organisation - team culture is aligned to the organisation’s values. Bridget-Mary was awarded a life membership in 2019 for her significant service to the YMCA in Southland.

Bridget-Mary is an experienced Senior Manager, Chair, Trustee and Director with experience in Health & Disability, Recreation, Education & Youth Development. She is a result driven strategic thinker with a comprehensive governance and operational management background complemented by academic qualifications and experience. Bridget-Mary believes successful organisations require a clear strategy built on innovative aspirations, supported by people working within a culture that is empowering and where all involved own and enable the values of the organisation - team culture is aligned to the organisation’s values. Bridget-Mary was awarded a life membership in 2019 for her significant service to the YMCA in Southland.

YMCA National Member YMCA National Member
YMCA National Member YMCA National Member

Wee Li Cheong is an experienced banking and finance executive with an international banking career of over 2 decades spanning across Asia, Middle East, Oceania and the Pacific Island. He is currently a regional head of department for a top global bank and is responsible for managing their institutional clients and government relationships across New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries. As a devoted Christian and a loving husband and father of two wonderful children, Wee Li is passionate about youth development and believes his background in banking and finance as well as his leadership outside of his workplace could be used to serve and impact the next generation of youth in Aotearoa. He is keen to deliver to the mission of The Y for every New Zealand youth for a stronger Aotearoa tomorrow.

Wee Li Cheong is an experienced banking and finance executive with an international banking career of over 2 decades spanning across Asia, Middle East, Oceania and the Pacific Island. He is currently a regional head of department for a top global bank and is responsible for managing their institutional clients and government relationships across New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries. As a devoted Christian and a loving husband and father of two wonderful children, Wee Li is passionate about youth development and believes his background in banking and finance as well as his leadership outside of his workplace could be used to serve and impact the next generation of youth in Aotearoa. He is keen to deliver to the mission of The Y for every New Zealand youth for a stronger Aotearoa tomorrow.

Wee Li Cheong

Board Director