About Heathrose Who we are
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Heathrose Research directors Rose Ryan and Heather McDonald set up Heathrose Research Ltd in 2008 so that they can live, breathe, practice, explore, and write about good employment practice. It’s what they love to do. And it’s what they’re good at. Between them, they have a wealth of experience in workplace policy and research. Heathrose is an independent provider of research and policy thinking about work and organisations. And there's a bigger agenda – to make a contribution to the greater good by stimulating debate about workplace practices in New Zealand. Read about Dr Rose Ryan - Research Director Read about Heather McDonald - Managing Director Read about Anne Alkema - Associate Director: Evaluation Read about Erica Inkster - Research Assistant Read about Glenda McCallum - Communications To contact us, email or phone 04 384 3543. Dr Rose Ryan - Research DirectorRose has spent her working life primarily in the field of workplace relations and organisation. She started work in the trade union movement, but went on to spend most of her career as a policy analyst, policy manager and as an academic researcher. Her areas of expertise include human resource management, public sector management, diversity and equity issues and workplace organisation. She also has a particular interest in community and social services, and the not-for-profit sector. Her strengths are in research methods (qualitative and quantitative), report writing, application of theory to practice, and facilitation. She is also an experienced presenter. As an academic, Rose has published widely on industrial relations and human resource management issues and continues to teach on request at Victoria Management School, Victoria University of Wellington. Her most recent publication, with Associate Professor Jane Bryson from the Victoria Management School is a text book entitled Human Resource Management in the Workplace. She has strong relationships with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, a number of industry training organisations, and Business New Zealand. She also works closely with academics. When she's not at work Rose enjoys spending time with her partner, and their two cats. She also enjoys keeping fit, playing the ukulele and always has at least two books on the go. Rose is also the Deputy Chair of the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust. Heather McDonald - MANAGING DirectorHeather has combined an interest in workplace issues with public sector management and a natural interest and empathy with people. This makes her especially good at stakeholder engagement which results in great working relationships with clients. Originally from a science background, Heather started her working life in biological sciences. She then spent many years in community development before a career in the public sector. Heather has established a reputation as an expert on work/family and work/life balance both in New Zealand and overseas. Her areas of expertise include labour and social policy development, strategic thinking and project leadership. She is creative and innovative in the way she works. She has worked in the Beehive and the public sector across a range of portfolios including Women’s Affairs, Labour and Education. Heather led the policy development for a range of Government initiatives including the pay and employment equity unit, paid parental leave and out of school care. These initiatives often ran over several years. Heather likes to challenge her friends and family to join her on tramping and cycling holidays. To date she has succeeded in getting them to ride the Otago Rail Trail and circumnavigate Lake Waikaremoana. anne alkema - associate Director: evaluationAnne Alkema joined the Heathrose Research team in January 2012. Most recently she worked as an independent contractor and this included several projects with Heathrose. Her shared values and passion for workplace-focused evaluation make her a perfect fit at Heathrose. Anne brings her expertise in evaluating the impact and effectiveness of education and training programmes to the business. Anne has spent her working life primarily in the secondary and tertiary education sectors. She has held a number of public sector roles over the last 10 years, including leading the development and implementation of change projects in the school and vocational sectors at the Department of Labour, New Zealand Police and Ministry of Education. In her time in the public sector, Anne has developed and led research and evaluation strategies, developed research work programmes, managed research contracts and conducted evaluations. She has considerable experience in qualification development, quality assurance and strategic planning. Work/life balance is important to Anne. She loves spending time with her partner, their adult children and their partners, and her grandchildren. She also enjoys her weekly game of golf. Erica Inkster - Research assistantErica’s interest in politics and creating systems that run smoothly make her the perfect research assistant for Heathrose Research. She has a BA Hons in International Relations, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Tourism Management. Erica plays a key role in organisational and project management, and is now involved in data collection and analysis, and evaluation and report writing. This year she has undertaken literature searches and reviews, data collection (phone interviews, internet surveys, face-to-face interviews), and data analysis. This has seen Erica involved in projects spanning women/diversity in senior management, how workplaces are preparing to best utilise their older workers, understanding how dairy farm workplaces can be improved, employer and worker organisation development in the Pacific, and research on trainees in industry training. She continues to keep up the Heathrose exercise ethos through going to the gym and attending Heathrose’s weekly group personal training sessions. Glenda McCallum - CommunicationsGlenda is responsible for Heathrose’s communications work for a day and a half a week. She has overseen the development and updating of our website (working closely with Fitzbeck Creative) and our newsletter. She also writes communications strategies and edits reports. Glenda has worked in communications for 20 years in the trade union movement, the community and voluntary sector, and central government. She is a keen commuter by bike (in the summer). She also appreciates any opportunity to travel in New Zealand and overseas, dabble in artist pursuits, strum along with fellow ukelele enthusiasts and hang out with family and friends. And she shares Heathrose’s passion for contributing to the greater good and finding ways to live and support sustainable environmental and work practices. |
