Meet the team

Our Management Team

Marsha Marshall - Manawanui Chief Executive Officer

Marsha Marshall,  CEO of Manawanui In Charge is a Canadian import, who now proudly also bears a New Zealand passport. Marsha comes to Manawanui with an extensive background of more than 25 years health and disability experience. She is passionate about Individualised Funding and the difference it can and is making in peoples lives across New Zealand.
Marsha’s professional background includes paediatric nursing in a variety of settings, including Neonatal Intensive Care and Community Home Care. Working with children and families quickly convinced her that self and family controlled approaches to supports can work miracles for people, and Individualised Funding has been the philosophical basis of her career ever since. She came to New Zealand in 1997, and set up the Family Options Respite programme through Starship Hospital, which was based on the premise of Individualised Funding. Her subsequent work at Waitemata District Health Board and the Ministry of Health, where she led the team that expanded the Individualised Funding scheme, have continued to embody this philosophy.
Marsha says “I take pride in my part of where Individualised Funding has come from, I look forward to where it is going and I believe passionately in what it can do for the quality of disabled peoples lives. I look forward to leading Manawanui into the future, and assisting as many people as possible in their own journeys toward creating a future “in charge”.
 
email: marsha.marshall@incharge.org.nz

Rodney Draper - Chief Financial Officer
 

Hi, I love working with numbers and have spent many years as an accountant, finance manager and finance director in South Africa and now in New Zealand.

I have worked for local government and a number of commercial companies  but was always thinking what difference am I making to the lives of people. Working for a not for profit organisation means that whilst we need to have good stewardship of money and effective financial controls the primary focus is not profit but service delivery. I love working at Manawanui as I know that what I do is making a positive difference to people’s lives and aligns to my Christian faith beliefs.

Email: rodney@incharge.org.nz

Richard Buchanan - National Projects and Contracts Manager

Kia ora – I’m Richard Buchanan and I am the National Projects and Contracts Manager for Manawanui. I live in Christchurch and have worked in the disability sector for the last 12 years. I have held a number of roles including teaching, management and leadership as well as having managed a small disability consultancy business in the past. I am committed to ensuring that individualised funding works well for disabled people and family/whanau. I bring to this role a lived experience of disability and my experience of managing individualised funding. I enjoy the outdoors, sport and wine appreciation.

Email: Richard@incharge.org.nz

Claire Ryan - National Services Manager

Kia ora - My name is Claire Ryan and I am the National Services Manager for Manawanui Incharge. I have been working in the disability sector for about 25 years or so. I have specialised in the area of sexuality and relationships education for the past 15 years and now working for Manawanui, I am able to see the importance of people building strong and meaningful relationships. Supporting disabled people, their family/whanau and allies to establish their own networks of support is very exciting, and I am firmly committed to the concepts and challenges of IF. Please feel free to be in contact with me anytime. I am based in Wellington and my birthday is on 14th October :)

Email: claire@incharge.org.nz

Chrissy Scarfe - National Training and Quality Adviser

Chrissy has been with Manawanui for 4 and a half years, firstly in the Administration Role and moved to the Coaching role in the Auckland region in April 2011, and more recently becoming the National Training and Quality Adviser. Chrissy has 16 years experience in Customer Service and Administration and has worked in a variety of industries including insurance.

Chrissy is very passionate about Manawanui and is pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of the growth of Individualised Funding in New Zealand. Chrissy grew up in the South Island and has lived in Blenheim, Nelson, Wellington, Taranaki and Auckland.

She is married and lives with her husband on Auckland's North Shore and has 3 children and one grandchild. Chrissy's passions are music and genealogy.

Email: chrissy.scarfe@incharge.org.nz

 

Our Admin Team
 

Janelle Weiland - Executive Assistant to Marsha Marshall CEO

Janelle has been with Manawanui since April 2011 working as Office Co-ordinator, she is now Executive Assistant to the CEO and loves nothing more than a good challenge!  She brings with her 11 years customer service and administration experience having worked in the investment and insurance industry until September 2008.

Janelle is passionate about individualised funding and the difference it is making to many lives across New Zealand.  She enjoys her role in administration and customer/client contact is an added bonus to her role.

She is excited to be apart of an organisation that is growing at a fast rate and one that is making positive changes to many peoples lives.

Email: admin01@incharge.org.nz

Leanne Reid - Office Assistant

Leanne has come to Manawanui, returning to the workforce after seeing her youngest child off to school. Leanne has come from a background consisting predominantly of customer services ranging from Banking and Insurance right through to retail.

Currently Leanne is working as Office Assistant to Janelle being the other half of the friendly Administration Team who are your first point of contact when phoning Manawanui.

Leanne is very excited to have joined Manawanui and brings with her all of her passion and commitment to our clients and the Manawanui team.

Email: leanne.reid@incharge.org.nz

 

Our Coaching Team

 

Rob Creagh - IF Coach - Northland

Rob has a significant background with individualised funding. He was involved in the development and national roll-out of the pilot program and represented Manawanui on the Individualised Funding Implementation reference group.

Rob still professes a keen interest and comittment to the IF scheme. He admits there are challenges in delivering the kind of services families and individuals have fought for but firmly believes it is possible, though there is work yet to be done.

Rob is married with 3 children and has interests in cycling and red wine.

Email: rob@incharge.org.nz

Mike Claydon - IF Coach - Auckland

To be truly responsive to people's needs I believe that we must be prepared for our preconceived ideas of what makes an effective support service to be challenged. Manawanui provides the opportunity to, promote partnership, participation and commitment to quality and, to work with people to effect positive change.

I’ve had experience in a variety of frontline and leadership roles across the health sector including non-government organisations and district health board services. Growing up I was involved in volunteer work with social service organisations through my family and the common theme was a commitment to human rights, justice and equity.

I’m inspired every day by the people I meet and I’m motivated by people’s ability to effect change in their lives and the lives of others. Regardless of our job title we can actively support and influence people to achieve their dreams.

Email: mike@incharge.org.nz

Kelly Woolston - IF Coach - Waikato

Kelly comes with 18 years experience in the human service area and holds a Bachelor of Human Services
Kelly's particular passion is for those with disabilities with diverse and challenging needs. Kellys years have been spent working in community development within the disability, mental health, and people from refugee and ethnic backgrounds.
Kelly has a clear passion in assuring people with disabilities voices and needs are not only heard but met.

Kelly lives in the rural Waikato with her husband and three sons.

Email: kelly@incharge.org.nz

 

Shmuel Bar-Even - IF Coach - Auckland

At the beginning of 2012 I returned –re-energised, from China, after two years of language teaching and a good break from disability services management. My real work commitment, however , is in the provision of community based, individualised support services for people who require such services. I’ve been a worker, activist and stepdad in this field for a number of years, have applauded the moves to individualised funding support and am hugely pleased to be working now for Manawanui InCharge.

Email: shmuel@incharge.org.nz

Gaye Leary - IF Coach - Canterbury Region

Gaye lives in Christchurch and provides coaching support throughout the Canterbury, West Coast and Marlborough regions. Having gained vast experience in the disability sector over the past 12 years, joining Manawanui has enabled Gaye to utilise her professional skills and knowledge in the exciting IF environment.

Gaye is totally committed to the concept of IF and to supporting people to maintain their independence, have choices and enjoy quality outcomes in their everyday lives.

Gaye is married with adult children and grandchildren and enjoys relaxing with family and friends, music and playing golf.

Email: gaye.leary@incharge.org.nz

Yvonne Halliday - IF Coach - IF Coach Taranaki

Yvonne has worked in the disability sector for the past 15 years in both needs assessment and service co-ordination.

With years of experience and knowledge in the areas of self managing and Individualised Funding. Yvonne recently joined the team at Manawanui in July 2011, and is the coach for Taranaki/Wanganui regions.Yvonne was born in and has lived all her life in Taranaki. She comes from a large close family, is married with adult children and grandchildren.

Yvonne is excited to be a part of the future and enabling people to take control in their own lives.

Email: yvonne@incharge.org.nz

 

Melanie White - IF Coach - Otago


 

Mel has 3 children, her oldest having asbergers so she is familiar with the realities of having a child with special needs in the family and the impact it can have. Mel trained as a nurse but chose to work in the health and disability sector - mainly in the area of Older Peoples Health, working as a NASC for 6 years at the SDHB, and in a Management role at a local Rest Home. Mel has psychology qualifications that have been beneficial to employment with networking and relationships in difficult situations and this has solidified her passion in working with and advocating for people that struggle to find their voice. She is hoping to achieve a Masters in Health and Disability in the future and become an expert in the field of disabilities. Outside of work, Mel enjoys spending time with her children, singing, tap dancing, all things literary and travelling within the country to see concerts from her favourite musicians.
 

Email: melanie@incharge.org.nz
 

Rochelle Venables - IF Coach - Invercargill

 

I have had a working knowledge of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and now the Ministry of Social Development from the ground up for the last 17years as our son has very high needs. I am a huge fan of IF due to the fact that it gives families the freedom to live their life with more fulfilment and consistency.
It’s been a great start with Manawanui with the prospect of helping the disability community here in our region to find a more flexible solution to their care needs.
Having been an agent myself for our son over the last few years has given me an understanding of the systems used and also an insight into the challenges of finding and retaining great support staff. I have spent some time also in the last couple of years with SAMS (Standards and monitoring) helping with the Family and carers programmes held here in Invercargill and also attending their partners programme in Wellington in 2011.
 
Email: rochelle@incharge.org.nz

 

Deb Fererre - IF Coach - Wellington

Kia ora koutou, my name is Deb Ferrere and I joined Manawanui In Charge team as a Coach in January 2013.  I come with a strong background in both the Social Services sector and Funding realm, having managed a couple of small community Social Service providers and also worked in National Office for a couple of Government ministries.
My roots lie in working in education, advocacy and support work at a community level and I am a strong believer in the concept of empowerment through the provision of information and support.  I have been the recipient and provider of both! J
It’s exciting to be part of the Manawanui/Individualised Funding picture, as I see it as having great potential to be a really empowering system for families and individuals to access and control their funds….to be “in charge”!  As a Coach I get to meet and work with some fantastic, and often very inspiring people who use IF effectively (and creatively) to  make a huge difference to the way they live their lives,  so I feel pretty privileged to be part of that picture!
Outside of work (and occasional during it) I love to sing and dance – along with enjoying yoga and time spent with family and friends.

Email: Deb@incharge.org.nz

Maria Johnson - IF Coach - Bay Of Plenty

Email: Maria@incharge.org.nz

Our Finance Team
 

Charles Canamo - Payroll Administrator

Hi to all. I’m Charles. I’m originally from the Philippines and moved to New Zealand four years ago together with family (wife and son).
I’m the other half of the payroll team. I have been an accounting and payroll person way way back which quite suits me as I like numbers and computers.  
 
I have been working with the disability sector since 2010 and I find it challenging aswell as  rewarding.

Email: charles@incharge.org.nz

Amelia Wheeler - Payroll Assistant

Amelia joined Manawanui as the other half of the payroll team in the beginning of February 2012. She has previously worked in the disability sector for 3 years and health services for 14 years. She loves working for Manawanui, because of the great work they do by helping the disabled community to make their own choices and giving them independence.
 
Email: amelia.wheeler@incharge.org.nz

Sumathi Giridharan - Accountant

Hi everyone. It is a privilege to work for Manawanui In Charge, the pioneer organisation for Individualised Funding in New Zealand. Working for a rapidly growing pioneer organisation is challenging, exciting and rewarding. It gives me great satisfaction to see the positive contribution we make towards people’s lives.

Email: sumathi@incharge.org.nz

Ian Draper - Business Analyst

Hi, I started off with Manawanui in November 2010 as a helping hand to the accounts team before becoming a part time employee in June 2011. In August 2012, upon the completion of my degree and subsequent studies I started full time, taking on the role of Business Analyst. I look forward to the challenges and rewards that come with working for a pioneer organisation that is constantly growing and improving the services we provide. I am extremely excited to be starting off my career at an organisation that is making such a positive difference in people’s lives.
 

Email: Iand@incharge.org.nz

Yulia Zveryanskaya - Accounts Assistant

Hi! My name is Yulia and I have been working for Manawanui In Charge since October 2011. I have started as a helping hand to the accounts team only working two days a week. I am slowly increasing my hours due to constant growth. I am excited to work in organisation that helps people to be in charge of their lives.

I love spending time with my daughter. She is a joy of my life.

Email: yulia@incharge.org.nz