The Board of Workbridge is delighted to announce that Philip Hendry, the interim Chief Executive, has agreed to stay on to lead Workbridge.
Board Chair Derek Gill says Mr Hendry has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive, a position that acknowledges his lifelong dedication to advocating for New Zealand’s disabled community.
Mr Gill said Workbridge was thrilled that Mr Hendry had accepted the offer to take the helm.
“We couldn’t ask for a more dedicated person. Phil is the right guy to lead Workbridge forward, and we’re really excited for this new stage. We need someone with business smarts to lead the organisation and ensure its financial sustainability. Phil has proven that he is the right person for the job.”
Hendry, who has spent six years at Workbridge, has overseen the shift towards the organisation taking a more commercial approach so it is a financially resilient social enterprise.
“It’s an amazing privilege to be asked to lead an organisation that changes people’s lives everyday through the mana and economic agency that employment brings,” Mr Hendry says.
“I am here to help Workbridge thrive and ensure it can continue to make real change in the lives of disabled people across the motu. I will be leading the organisation towards autonomy, to ensure it can stand on its own two feet, without a dependence on government funding to support our primary mission, which has never changed.”
“I recognise the value the sector has placed on being disability-led over the years, and my appointment represents a significant change for our people,” said Mr Hendry. “My deep commitment to the disabled community comes from advocating for my neurodiverse children. Since day one, I’ve seen the discrimination levelled at our disabled community and have committed to be part of the solution.”
Workbridge Employment is a subsidiary of the WorkBridge Group, which is now operating with a social enterprise ethos to ensure the achievement of the Workbridge mission to deliver inclusive, successful employment opportunities for all.