‘If something needs to get done, I’ll push for it’

Catherine Taylor has served Diabetes NZ as a Board member for eight years. She shares some highlights achieved during her time with us.

When Catherine Taylor first got involved with Diabetes NZ (DNZ), she recounts that some people believed DNZ was irrelevant. ‘Why would you want to be involved with that organisation? It does nothing for people with diabetes,’ they’d tell her.

‘But it was true. It was at the stage where it had no purpose, had no sense of direction, and didn’t know where it was heading,’ says Catherine. ‘So I thought that was the best challenge a mother could ever get.’

Catherine’s daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1982 when she was only 14 months old, and Catherine acknowledges the significant support she received at the time. ‘It was a big shock to me personally because diabetes was not in my family, although it was in my husband's family. The hours that I spent talking to people about what this might mean and how I might approach supporting my daughter through her diabetes journey proved important. That's really why I got involved in the first place.’

Having been on the diabetes journey herself, Catherine says she understands the need for DNZ to focus on supporting people at time of diagnosis. ‘Supporting them to understand that it is a long-term condition that can be managed, recognising that at times management of diabetes can be very challenging and demanding. People can manage it themselves with appropriate support.’

‘A GROWING ORGANISATION WITH A BROAD MANDATE’

Catherine’s focus during her time as a Trustee (and before that as an Independent Director) has been on ensuring DNZ has the right tools and the right people to enable it to grow and develop. In Catherine’s time, DNZ has moved from an Incorporated Society to a Charitable Trust, with a skillsbased Board of Trustees supporting the growth and development of the organisation.

‘So whilst it might sound deadly dull and boring, unless you have the focus and the strategy right at the top, the ability of the organisation to grow and develop is somewhat hindered.’

Catherine is proud to have helped guide DNZ forward from 2016. With the support of her fellow Trustees, and the senior leadership team, DNZ has grown from having 12 staff to nearly 40. ‘And we have a much wider presence across the country and in those communities that need our support – namely, the Māori, Pacific Island peoples, and South Asian populations.

‘We've just had two days with the staff and Trustees in Waikanae. It was uplifting for me to see that at least two thirds of our staff are either of Māori, Pacific Island, or Indian ethnicity. For me, I think that's the greatest achievement that the organisation has made. We, as an organisation, reflect the diversity of the people that we serve, and, with recent appointments, our Board of Trustees also reflects that. I think that's really important.’

There is much that Catherine is proud of during her time with Diabetes NZ. ‘The work we did on the #CGMForAll campaign is something the team can be immensely proud of,’ she says. ‘The work we’re doing with Diabetes Community Coordinators is really important, as is the focus that we've had on our website – making sure that the information we have is accessible and useful to all people with diabetes.’

In this issue, Catherine has nominated her ancestor Amelia for the MyID bracelet. She was the first Pākehā woman born in Pōrangahau, central Hawke’s Bay. The strength of whānau lies in its ability to unite diverse perspectives and strengths, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. This collective strength not only nurtures individual growth but also enriches the community, highlighting the vital role of family in shaping our lives and values.

‘My vision has always been that we needed to raise our profile. We are now regarded as the diabetes consumer organisation that government and other central agencies like Pharmac go to.’

A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE

Catherine started as a chartered accountant, then as she moved among organisations held senior management roles, eventually becoming the Director and Chief Executive of Maritime New Zealand. She was in that position when the ill-fated Rena grounded on Ōtāiti, Bay of Plenty, back in 2011. Catherine led the initial response, fronting three or four public meetings a day, letting people know what actions Maritime NZ was undertaking to respond to the disaster. She later returned to the Bay of Plenty and worked with iwi coordinators to support the environmental recovery programme that followed.

Catherine has also given 20 years of her time and expertise as a Trustee of Wellington’s Life Flight Trust. She has been involved in the aviation industry working for Wellington airport and serving on the Boards of Nelson and Dunedin Airports. She is currently on the Board of the New Zealand Transport Agency – Waka Kotahi.

‘The breadth of what I’ve done is what has kept me interested in all sorts of things. I’m intellectually curious. I’ll always ask questions. If I want to do something or think something needs to be done, I don't let go. I’ll push for it. So I’m a pusher.’