North Shore CEO Receives National Health Leadership Award

Lorna Murray, Graduate of the Hillary Leadership Programme 06, and CEO of Connect Supporting Recovery (previously AMHS) was awarded the Glenys Baldick Memorial Award at the New Zealand Health Innovations Awards on Tuesday 4th November. The panel commended Lorna’s success in leading Connect and her passion for Mental Health, community and sector development.

Connect is a Mental Health Charity (NGO) based in Glenfield on the North Shore of Auckland and provides Community Support, Peer Support, Residential Support and Employment Support (through Edge Employment). Lorna says that this could not have come at a better time for Connect who are in the process of changing to their new name and launching a new website www.connectsr.org.nz. They are also opening community rooms that are available free for mental health support groups and can be hired by others. A launch is scheduled for Thursday 27th November.

The Glenys Baldick Award for Emerging Leaders in Health is open to leaders from all corners of the health system including District Health Boards, ACC, Primary Health and NGOs. The Award commemorates the leadership of a long-standing and inspirational CEO of Nelson DHB who passed away in 2006 and is sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Accuro.

Lorna acknowledged that Leadership is a contact sport, and that her success is due to the support and partnership that she experiences in Connect and in the community. Lorna has the added challenge of a hearing disability, but says that she believes that this makes her a more compassionate, optimistic and people-focused leader. She intends to use the award to fund a Masters Degree.