VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, New Zealand’s first independent connection and advocacy service for young people in care, is proud to welcome Dr Ainsleigh Cribb-Su’a as Chief Executive, and look forward to her joining us on 18 September.

Following our launch in April 2017, VOYCE has been building up our capacity and ability to connect children and young people in care, advocate for their needs, promote a positive care identity, build leadership, and create a “community of care” around each child.

“As a care experienced youth I can say I’m really excited we have a person who is relevant and straight up. She is someone who will be there, be present, and listen to the voices of young people as she leads the organisation into the future,” says Mana Williams-Eade.

Ainsleigh is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and member of the New Zealand Psychologists Board. She will be coming to VOYCE from Counties Manukau Health, where she has worked for the past ten years in a variety of clinical leadership and operational management roles.

“I am really thrilled to be joining VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, and I’m looking forward to walking alongside our tamariki and rangatahi on this journey. We need the best quality care system here in Aotearoa, and we will do that by keeping our mokopuna at the centre; and the focus of everything we are striving to do,” says Ainsleigh.

Ainsleigh grew up in South Auckland, and is of Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāti Kauwhata descent. Professionally, she has worked mainly within a kaupapa Māori context in child and adolescent mental health.

The appointment of Ainsleigh as Chief Executive follows the recent appointment of Dr James Prescott as our Board of Trustees Chair.

“We are mindful of the huge responsibility we have in listening to and sharing the voices and aspirations of young people. It is great to have a passionate and talented team, and a visionary Board working hard to make this happen,” says James.

“I look forward to contributing to the positive impact the service will make to the sector and the empowerment it provides for our children.”

James replaces John McCarthy, Manager of The Tindall Foundation, who has played an instrumental role in the design and establishment of VOYCE from the outset.
The Tindall Foundation is one of four philanthropic partners, alongside the Vodafone Foundation New Zealand, Todd Foundation, and Foundation North.

The VOYCE team is looking forward to having Ainsleigh onboard, and working with her to continue the design, development and launch of our direct advocacy services later this year.
These services will be piloted online, over the phone and face-to-face from the service’s national hub in Auckland, and then expanded to other parts of the country as we establish regional hubs from 2018 onwards.