Our Board

 Susannah has worked in the education and social service sectors for most of her working life.  After completing her PhD in education she worked in policy and research for the Ministry of Education, primary school teaching, and most recently as a tutor and manager at Te Pūkenga NMIT, our polytechnic in Nelson. 

Phil Ivamy is Nelson born and bred; having worked briefly overseas in Vanuatu and the UK he returned to his turangawaewae to put down roots as there is ‘no place like home’!                                                            He is accounting trained and works in the software industry specialising in accounting software support – having worked all his 40-year career in these fields; as such he brings an accounting mind to the board.

Being in his late 50’s he is trialing possible retirement pursuits such as listening to blues and 1980s music; drinking craft beer and single malt whisky and following football from the comfort of his armchair. He has spent many years volunteering for a number of community organisations such as Lifeline, The Male Room, Life Education along with creating annual accounts for innumerable other volunteer groups. He loves being a member of a well run and positive board and feels it is a privilege.

Simone is a Speech and Language Therapist by background.  Trained in Manchester, graduating in 1996 and moved to New Zealand in 2000.  In 2007 Simone moved to Nelson to be closer to family.  Simone has worked in clinical and management roles for a range of private providers as well as operating her own private business.   Simone has worked in a range of disability sectors including Primary Health, Secondary Health, ACC, tertiary education as well as for profit and not for profit companies.

In 2014 Simone completed her Executive MBA. She has worked in the disability sector for over 25 years and is currently involved in the transformation of the disability system as we move to a Ministry for Disabled People. Her work in the disability sector predates having 2 children with disabilities, but has strengthened her resolve to transform the system into an Enabling Good Lives Model. Simone has experience in a range of boards and committee’s and the opportunity to continue her operational and strategic experience and disability at employAble was ideal.

                                                                                                                                                                                              David has worked for Unions since 1981, first as an Organiser in Auckland and Nelson and then with the Council of Trade Unions as a Coordinator of Productivity Projects in the Timber and Food Sectors.
He then went on to set up a National Advocacy Service, Works4Us, for People First. This was for people with learning disability seeking and gaining employment.

Coming back to Nelson he worked as an Employment Consultant for employable (at that point trading as Workstar), learning to walk the talk! Between work David has been a house husband for 3 years and active in the Anti -Racist movement particularly in the fight to end Apartheid in South Africa.

Born ‘Alison’, her family calls her Buddy and her friends call her Ali. She answers to all.  Alison is the SENCO – Specific Educational Needs Coordinator at Waimea College, working with students, their whānau, and a variety of community and educational agencies. Before taking this role, she was a teacher and Assistant Head of Department in Special Education for 20 years. Her postgraduate degree is in Autism Spectrum Disorder and she has several chapters in publications around the transition of young people from school to a ‘good life’ post secondary education.

Alison’s real passion is in developing meaningful relationships with people she works with so that solid successful planning can be achieved and goals for people realised. She likes problem-solving with people and using natural networks to navigate a full life. She feels that it is a privilege working with  members of the BOT for employAble because of their commitment and calibre.