Born in Otautahi, Lisa Lawrence (Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Kahungunu) is the Immediate Past National President for NCW-New Zealand. Founded by Kate Sheppard, NCWNZ is an umbrella organisation leading the new Gender Equal NZ conversation campaign.
Lisa’s previous career has involved working for an iwi based health and social service, NZ College of Midwives, St John, NZ Family Planning and a governor of Nelson Bays Primary Health. She is currently the Kaiwhakahaere (Manager) of the Motueka Family Service Centre, a core stakeholder of three reducing family violence community networks, Pharmac and Deputy Chair of the NZ Psychology Board. She recently contributed to an expert advisory group to inform the redevelopment of Aotearoa sexual harm and family harm sector.
Lisa believes in helping people to help themselves. This ethic has shaped her career & understanding that relationships are a key component to enabling positive community-led change. Her current conversations of interest are Māori, and men. Both marginalised, stereotyped populations & sadly, expected to fail. How do we as a community, cultivate an appetite for value, ownership and leadership in this current climate?