Women’s Health Action are seeking additional Board members

7th February 2020

CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS

Women’s Health Action are seeking additional Board members. We are a charitable trust which exists to provide information, education and advocacy on health matters that are uniquely important to women.

Our beginnings were in reproductive health and rights and we came to national prominence with our key role in exposing the ‘Unfortunate Experiment’ at National Women’s Hospital which resulted in the landmark Cartwright Inquiry and subsequent ‘Cartwright Report’ in 1987/1988. Our team works with consumers (service users), whānau, hapū, iwi, health professionals and other agencies and providers (including Ministries and DHBs) across the health, social development, education, and justice sectors.

For 35 years, we have worked to reduce inequalities, draw attention to the social determinants of health and take an assets-based approach to health promotion and disease prevention. We have special interests in maternal and child health (including breastfeeding); body image (including weight and size-based discrimination); sexual and reproductive justice; and screening. We approach health within a holistic framework of the whole of women’s lives, recognising Taha tinana, Taha wairua, Taha whānau, and Taha hinengaro.

We are looking to add three to four roles to our current team of Board members. These roles are unpaid voluntary positions.

Do you have a passion for women’s health and expertise in any of these areas?

• Accounting / Finance / Legal
• Funding / Sponsorship
• Communications / Media Relations
• Health
• Business Acumen

The most important requirement is that Board members have a commitment to work for the greater good of the Trust and the health of the women of New Zealand. Strong communication skills, the ability to cultivate healthy working relationships, facilitation skills, integrity and the ability to work equally within a team are also seen as required strengths. An understanding of the non-profit and/or health sector in New Zealand would be advantageous.

Previous experience with governance on a non-profit Board is a bonus, but not essential. It would also be useful to have leadership skills and be able to bring wider networks and community influence to the Board.

Board members are expected to make it a priority to attend each Board meeting. Meetings are usually held every month, but this can vary depending on the needs of the Trust.

Selection Process

If you are interested, we’d love to hear from you. Please register your interest by sending in your CV and a cover letter outlining why you would like to be on the Women’s Health Action Board. The current Board will consider the applications, and interview over the phone or in-person as appropriate. The Board will notify all applicants of their decision in a timely manner.

Applications should be sent with attention to the WHA Board to [email protected] by the 14^th of February 2020.