1. SUSAN PATON
110 Wellington Road, Paekakariki, Paraparaumu
0211874311 or 04 9052597
s.paton@hpa.org.nz
PROFILE
A confident and highly experienced Senior Leader with over 20 years professional experience in New
Zealand’s addiction sector, advocacy and public health. An extensive career leading the strategic
development of core programmes and projects to improve the wellbeing of individuals and
family/whānau and secificl populations for NGO, health and public sector organisations. Proven
governance and advisory capability as a member of an executive board, steering groups and advisory
committees. Ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders to achieve beneficial results and prudent
financial management skills coupled with a leadership style that is collaborative and fosters a culture
of high productivity and motivation. Motivates teams and stakeholders through strategic leadership,
critical analysis and communicating an inspirational vision.
OBJECTIVE
Seeking an national or international development consultancy role with the opportunity to maximise
opportunities for innovation and promote the excellent delivery of services that support positive
outcomes. Interested in a role requiring strategic leadership, advocacy and the opportunity to
improve efficiencies. A passionate advocate in the realms of social determinants of health, addiction
treatment, and in improved efficiencies and outcomes.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• AOD Treatment/mental health
• Strategic Development
• Programme Management
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Senior Advisory Support
• Inspiring Vision
• Motivating Others
• Financial Management
• Corporate Planning
• Cross Cultural Experience
• Treaty of Waitangi
• Social Determinants
• Health, Social and Justice Sectors
• Youth
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Organisational Culture
• Contract Procurement/Management
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• Highly effective at communicating a compelling vision and creating support and buy-in from
a wide range of stakeholders
• Confident and collaborative leader developing key strategic initiatives.
• Highly adept at managing programmes budgets and providing detailed analysis and reports
at a corporate level
• Passionate about coaching and mentoring team members and creating a positive working
environment
• Sound understanding of relevant issues facing people in the developing world across
multiple health and social spheres
• Member of key steering groups and advisory boards supporting robust mental health
promotion for nationwide programmes
• Demonstrated ability to secure funding and achieve outcomes that are cost effective,
achieve targets and positively impact on health and social outcomes for the public
• Strong negotiating, procurement and contract management skills, overseeing service level
agreements to produce high quality project outcomes
• Committed to participatory development and supporting indigenous solutions. For Masters
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2. Thesis undertook research into the participation of Pacific people in the development of
justice sector policies that were intended to address Pacific issues. Have led core research
initiatives and relationships to improve outcomes for Māori and Pacific people in New
Zealand
• Proven capability providing advice to internal and external stakeholders including
government ministries and agencies, addiction sector, health providers, workplaces,
universities, national health sector bodies, social sector agencies, youth sector and Māori
and Pacific providers
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Strategic Leadership
Led the development and implementation of an effective strategy to get purpose built alcohol
screening and brief intervention (SBI) into primary health care, securing funding of $1m per annum
Secured agreement with all eight New Zealand universities to permanently roll out an evidence-
based electronic-SBI to students
Advocacy and Stakeholder and Sector Relationships
•Established and facilitated a sector leaders group to inform the development and
implementation of HPA’s Addiction Plan. As a result of this thought leadership the Ministry
of Health invited HPA to become a lead partner in the development of the National Drug
Policy
•Established and facilitated a sector leaders group to inform the development and
implementation of HPA’s alcohol and pregnancy work programme. Gained unanimous buy-
in and support for HPA’s approach from a wide range of stakeholders and agencies
•Developed strong networks and facilitated numerous workshops to a wide range of audiences
including emergency department clinicians regarding advocacy skills, community
stakeholders, health practitioners and skills-based training for youth clinicians
• Undertook TV, radio and other media interviews, successfully influenced key stakeholders
including the Minister of Health, ALAC council, HPA leadership (increased focus on
addiction), Government policy forums, national and regional sector stakeholders and grass
roots health and social settings
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Health Promotion Agency 2013- present
Principal Advisor Addictions
Responsibilities:
• Led the development and implementation of HPA’s strategy for increasing help seeking for
people with addictions or problematic use and other addictive behaviours (the Plan). The
Plan focuses on system level change that will increase access to help, addresses unequal
access to help and the impact of parental addiction on children, and leverages off HPA’s
unique strengths
• Led a comprehensive alcohol and pregnancy work programme including successfully putting
forward a business case for increased resource to ensure robust results
• Established high functioning sector leaders groups to inform and champion HPA’s addiction
and alcohol and pregnancy work programmes gaining excellent support and buy-in
• Increased HPA’s credibility, profile and contribution to policy and practice in key
government ministries and in the addiction and health sectors
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3. Health Promotion Agency 2012-2013
Manager – Early Intervention
Responsibilities:
• Presented senior management a successful business case for HPA to take a more coherent
and strategic approach to its work in addictions (with a focus on increasing intervention
across the continuum of intervention and treatment)
Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand 2004 – 2012
Manager – Early Intervention
Responsibilities:
• Manage a portfolio of programmes with financial responsibility of $400k - $1.1m
• Create strong and effective relationships with multiple sectors to enhance HPA’s objective
of reducing alcohol related harm
• Oversee and negotiate key contracts ensuring adherence to service level agreements on
initiatives including the Helpline contract, and associated marketing requirements
• Led a targeted marketing programme including the development and screening of TV, radio,
print and billboard advertisements to increase calls to the Helpline
• Developed strong relationships with the Royal NZ College of GP’s and a number of national
bodies to ensure the successful roll out of SBI
• Negotiate the price and availability of services with external providers to achieve nationwide
policy objectives
• ALAC’s women’s health spokesperson in the media, collaborating with the communications
team to deliver meaningful messages to the public
• Prepare robust reports detailing financial outcomes, project milestones and future strategic
recommendations
• Develop strong working relationships across the business including marketing,
communciations, policy and finance
• Contributed to raising ALAC’s and HPA’s profile and credibility as the lead agency of alcohol
issues and active involvement in the marketing and brand campaign
• Involved in the development of ALAC’s policy positions across the work programme
including treatment, minimum price, availability, and purchase age
• Led the development of multiple early intervention resources including co-authoring the
internationally acclaimed ‘Smashed and Stoned’ youth AOD programme
• Commissioned and oversaw multiple research, evaluations and programmes to support up
skilling of clinicians and youth workers, and increased access to intervention for Māori,
young people and hard to reach populations
Wellington City Mission – Mission for Youth 2000 - 2004
Senior Alcohol and Drug Clinician/Educator
Responsibilities and Achievements:
• Motivated over 10 staff members and volunteers providing weekly one on one coaching
sessions and facilitating regular training and ongoing learning
• Developed and facilitated team building for staff to support employee engagement and
motivation
• Counselled and supervised clients with a specilisation in providing services to young people
and whānau
• Created and delivered an alcohol and other drug intervention programme for young people
in addition to training workshops for teachers and community workers
• Developed a whole school anti-bullying initiative which included evidence-based policies and
procedures, individual and group interventions with young people and workshops and
training for staff
• Worked collaboratively with whānau, services and young people to re-integrate displaced
youth back into their whānau and the community including training or work
• Created strong working relationships with Youth Aid, health services, sexual health
providers and career consultants
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4. • Cross cultural experience in Vietnam and Africa (also well-travelled in Pacific). Participated in
cultural events and Kapa Haka groups to promote cultural wellbeing and inclusiveness
Cross Roads Counselling (addictions)
1999 - 2000
Manager/Counsellor/Youth Counsellor/Educator
Responsibilities and Acheivements:
• Coached and mentored a team of four counsellors, providing feedback and support
regarding patient management
• Provided counselling support to a wide group of clients to improve mental health outcomes
and achieve therapeutic goals
• Developed and facilitated workshops and education sessions for counsellors to support
ongoing learning and development
• Managed key operational functions of the organisation to ensure necessary staffing levels,
prudent financial management and an exemplary level of service to clients
EARLIER EMPLOYMENT
Salvation Army – Bridge Programme 1998 - 1999
Youth Counsellor/Programme Provider/Educator
Cross Roads Counselling 1993 - 1999
Addictions Counsellor/Group Facilitator
Salvation Army – Bridge Programme 1992 - 1994
Group Facilitator
Assessment and Admissions Counsellor
ADVISORY EXPERIENCE
Addiction Practitioners Association Aotearoa/New Zealand Current
Executive Member
Capital Coast District Health Board Reference Group Current
Member of a reference group for improving mental health outcomes for infants and children in high
risk families
TOAH-NNEST Tauiwi Caucus – Advisory Group Current
Member of the National Sexual Violence Pimary Prevention Group
Achieving Intergenerational Change Current
Member of government interagency group to address family violence
Cross Agency Steering Group for Screening and Brief Intervention Current
Member
CIT/WELTEC – Advisory Board 2001 - 2004
Member of the Bachelor of Alcohol and Drug Studies Board Wellington
PUBLICATIONS
Gifford H, Paton S, Cvitanovic L, McMenamin J, Newton C. Is routine alcohol screening and brief
intervention feasible in a New Zealand primary care environment? NZMJ 2012; 125 (1354): 17 – 25.
Maynard, K., Paton, S., & Wright, S. (2012). Increasing the use of alcohol screening and brief
intervention in New Zealand. Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences – Vol 7:2.
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5. QUALIFICATIONS and MEMBERSHIP
Massey University Incomplete
Post Graduate Diploma of Development Studies
Extramural/Palmerston North
Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Current
Member (on Executive)
Victoria University 2008
Master of Education (Merit) Wellington
John Dobson Memorial Scholarship 2002
CIT 1992 - 1998
Certificate in Clinical Supervision (1998) Wellington
Certificate in Counselling (Distinction) (1996)
Wellington Polytechnic
Certificate in Community Work (1992)
ONGOING LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
2012
2011
Get Dotted Effective Communication
Amy Scott
Leadership and Social Change
Proteus Initiative
2012
2010
Leadership Development
Three-day residential
Catapult
Advanced Media Training
Communique, Wellington
2008 Media and Presentation
Media Associates, Wellington
2005 Management in Practice
New Zealand Institute of Management
2003 Family Therapy Course
Child, Adolescent and Family Service,
Lower Hutt
2002 Te Reo Maori / Tikanga Maori
Te Ahi Kaa, Porirua
2001 Issues in Human Development
Victoria University, Wellington
2000 Introduction to Criminological Theory
Victoria University, Wellington
2000 Just Therapy – One week Family
Therapy intensive
The Family Centre, Lower Hutt
2000 Adolescent Sexual Offending
Stop, Wellington
2000 Facilitating Adventure Based Learning
Experience
Project Adventure
1998 Conflict Partnership
Dudley Weeks
1997 Gambling Addiction
Queen Mary Hospital
1996 Treaty of Waitangi
Monte Ohia, Tapu Te Ranga Marae
1996 Inaugural World Gathering of
Indigenous People (8 days)
Rotorua
1993 Working with Problem Drinkers and
Drug Users
CIT, Wellington
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6. REFEREES (supplied on request)
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7. REFEREES (supplied on request)
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