Derek Gill, Chairperson
Derek Gill has over 35 year’s experience in Public Policy, Public Management and Financial Management. Derek is Research Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), Adjunct Research Fellow with the Victoria University of Wellington School of Government, Board Member of the Institute of Public Administration of New Zealand, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Wellington and is a member of the Transparency International NZ Board of Directors.
Mark Bogle
Mark is a qualified accountant and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He also has a Master of Public Policy degree from Victoria University. He has a background in corporate governance, audit, finance and commerce. Mark is currently a director of Marsden Cove Canals Management Ltd, an alternative Crown Trustee of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust and a former director of Habitat for Humanity NZ Ltd.
Sonia Thursby MNZM
Sonia Thursby is CEO of two charitable organisations in New Zealand the first being the YES Disability Resource Centre, a multi-million dollar, multi-level community hub, housing 16 different organisations, the second being PHAB Association Inc, an International organisation providing recreational and leadership support for young people with disabilities for 40 years in New Zealand.
Sonia has also worked in the disability, health and youth sectors in New Zealand for 26 years and prior to that in the UK, and is currently serving a second term as an elected member of the Ministry of Health NGO Council and a third term as an Executive Member of the NZ Federation of Information Centres.
Fraser Alexander
Becoming a member in 1995, Fraser’s involvement with Blind Low Vision NZ has included professional fundraising, volunteering and governance.
Fraser’s motivation to join Workbridge is grounded in a strong belief that, unless effective programmes focusing on removing barriers to employment, providing personalized employment services and advocating for a more inclusive workforce are appropriately resourced, the professional capabilities and achievements of people with disabilities will not align with their potential.
Fraser’s background to joining Workbridge included graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biosciences and Postgraduate honours degree in business, 27 years’ experience in not-for-profit marketing, being President of Retina New Zealand, being a member of the Retina International Management Committee 2006-2018, being A RNZFB Director 2017- 2023 and being made a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand.
Michael Bealing
Michael Bealing is a Principal Economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. He specialises in assessing the benefits and costs of policies and investments to improve societal outcomes. His work has included assessing the macroeconomic consequences of improved labour force outcomes for people with disability and a long list of other policy topics.
Michael experiences physical disability due to cerebral palsy.
