Management Team
Jim Burdett
Director
Jim Burdett is the managing director and senior consultant at Mind and Body Consultants. He has been active in consumer affairs since 1997 in a variety of roles including: senior consumer advisor to Auckland District Health Board, advisor with the Mental Health Research and Development Strategy, the NZ Mental Health Outcomes Initiative (MH-SMART) and NZ Mental Health Commission Service User Reference Group. Jim’s current key interests include providing leadership to the Mind and Body team, the development of peer support services across the age spectrum and building linkages through the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership. Jim has an MA in philosophy and has developed the philosophical foundation for the peer support service. Jim has actively managed the company since its incorporation in January 1998.
Rodger Jack
Operations Manager
Rodger’s role is to maintain an overview of the daily operation of the organization. Rodger has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and decades of experience in the helping professions. Much of his work has centered on children and their families. He has been involved in the New Zealand development and growth of strengths-based approaches to practice in child protection and not-for-profit organisations. His work history involves training, social work, practice development, counseling, family therapy, practice advice and programme development. He has previously managed services in family support, child protection, foster care, disability and brain injury. His role as Operations Manager involves the day to day running of Mind and Body in a co-leadership arrangement with Laura in her HR management role.
Laura Ashton
Human Resources Manager
Laura has a BA from Auckland University. She has a particular interest in post-modern approaches to mental health and is currently completing a post graduate diploma in narrative therapy. In her role as HR Manager, Laura maintains an overview of the company as a whole and is particularly involved with HR aspects. Laura has managed the implementation of Peer Support Services and has a particular talent for keeping the team focused and ensuring deadlines are met.
John Barker
Consumer Advisor Team Leader
John leads the consumer advisor team. He joined the company recently from Tauranga, where he was Consumer Advisor to mental health services for the past three years. John’s background is in catering and hospitality, where he worked for over 27 years, and he brings his experience and expertise gained in senior management and team leadership to the role. John’s passion is for consumers to be fully involved in their journey through mental health services and strives to ensure this happens.
Nicky Grant
Training Manager for Mind and Body Learning and Development Ltd
Nicky has a Diploma of Teaching and a Bachelor of Education which she graduated from in 1999. She has worked in education with children with special needs and as a primary teacher. She also spent over three years working as an educator for the Family Planning Association, Education Service. She is passionate about supporting others to blossom and reach their full potential.
Nicky is the Training Manager for Mind and Body Learning and Development Ltd.
Emily Garden
Senior Management Assistant
Emily works part-time supporting the Senior Management Team in a project based capacity, including working alongside Shahid in the development of the quality management system. Emily has a background in graphic design, conservation work, and more recently an MA in sociology from the University of London. Emily has travelled extensively and enjoys working in an organisation as culturally diverse as Mind and Body. She is passionate about people and sees recovery as an ongoing process that we all approach and experience differently and strongly believes that those with experience of mental illness gain an invaluable strength and perspective on life.
Vicki Whatley
Senior Administrator
Vicki is Mind and Body’s administrator. She ensures that our business systems are robust, efficient and effective. Vicki’s background is in administration, information management and customer service.
Eileen Barker
Administration Assistant
Eileen provides administrative support to the Training Manager, Course Delivery Team and Management Team of Mind and Body Learning and Development. She implements the quality management system which supports the delivery of high quality education to our students. Eileen has a B.Com. in Economics and her strengths include her enthusiastic positive attitude, intelligence, attention to detail and a working knowledge of MS Excel.
Shahid Gill
Quality Coordinator
Shahid has worked in the areas of Quality Management and Human Resources for the past eight years in services and manufacturing organisations. He holds a Masters in Quality Management and is a Certified Lead Auditor for QMS ISO 9000 and OHS 18001 Series. He is also a Certified Quality Professional and a member of the American Society of Quality (ASQ). He is currently studying for a Master of Professional Business Studies from AUT University, Auckland.
Shahid believes in mentoring rather than monitoring and has a special interest in training and development. He is also experienced at conducting training in management and human resources. Shahid’s role as Quality Coordinator for Mind and Body is to develop, maintain and evaluate quality systems. He is involved in the measurement of organisational operational performance, consumer satisfaction and the development of policies and procedures. He also coordinates Mind and Body’s health & safety system.