The WorkWell Team
WorkWell is designed by Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service for employers in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board regions.
WorkWell is fully supported by a team of professional advisors and assessors.
Working from offices in Tauranga, Whakatane and Rotorua all our advisors are trained to support WorkWell member businesses. We will do everything we can to help your business succeed and be a great place to work. You can contact us by phone or email.
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Nathaniel Walker, WorkWell Advisor “A successful work environment is just like a sports team,” says WorkWell Advisor, Nathaniel Walker. Nathaniel draws on his love and experience in sport to help workplaces achieve better results. In his time with the NZ Rugby Sevens team (2002-04), he found that discipline, supportive team dynamics and strong leadership are all paramount to a winning team environment, and can also be applied to the workplace. Nathaniel has also spent time in education and personal fitness training, where he enjoyed inspiring others to make positive lifestyle changes, and helping the community flourish. “The workplace is central to many people’s lives, so it makes sense that health and happiness in the workplace is crucial for people’s wellbeing, growth and success.” |
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Meghan Ruha, WorkWell Advisor Lucky for the health industry, Meghan's passion for science didn't quite turn out as she planned and she decided that rehabilitation and psychology were where her true skills lie! Meghan now has a wealth of experience in accident rehabilitation and support for disability; most specifically in the areas of mental health and brain injury. "I am passionate about health and happiness in the workplace because work can have such a big impact on your health and happiness at home," says Meghan. Given her experience in the rehabilitation field, she is able to recognise the difficulties employers may face when workers are performing at a reduced capacity. "It can be difficult to fit additional programmes around existing production and operating requirements," she says. "As a WorkWell Advisor, I can help work out how WorkWell can mesh with your other business needs." |
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Angela Pootjes, WorkWell Advisor
“WorkWell is a great tool for improving the health and wellbeing of your staff and allows you to become an employer of choice” says WorkWell Advisor, Angela Pootjes. Angela worked in Health and Safety for seven years and was always looking for a way of providing the business with tools for improving and measuring the health and wellbeing of the workforce. As a WorkWell Leader, WorkWell provided her with an easy to follow frame work in which to implement and achieve a healthier and happier workforce. After seeing the difference WorkWell has made to businesses Angela jumped at the chance to become a member of the WorkWell team. “It’s a service that you can trust and can be tailored to suit your business” says Angela. “Being a member of the WorkWell team allows me the opportunity to work with businesses and guide them to improve the team and ultimately become an employer of choice.” |
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Michelle Barns, WorkWell Advisor Michelle was an employee of Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service for 2.5 years before taking a year off to travel and experience working and living in other countries. She is now back on the team and her role is based largely around developing, maintaining and improving the WorkWell resources, tools and website. "I am very excited to be back in this role; one where I can assist others to improve their health and wellbeing both at work and at home," says Michelle. "It is great to see so many businesses implementing WorkWell and motivating sustainable change in their organisation. I am looking forward to ensuring WorkWell stays at the forefront of workplace wellness using up to date research and case studies to inform the programme and resources." Use WorkWell to improve the health and wellbeing of your workforce and boost morale, job satisfaction and productivity. |
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“Regardless of the industry or size of your organisation” says WorkWell Advisor, Dave has worked in a number of different workplace settings from large Government departments to privately owned engineering workshops. This experience helps him to assist businesses in implementing WorkWell in a manner that is simple, effective and appropriate for that business.
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Sharon Muru, Public Health Development Advisor “The workplace of the future is already keenly interested in the health and wellbeing of its employees,” say Sharon. That’s why she believes WorkWell is a great opportunity to ensure businesses are forward thinking and sustainable. Qualified in education and public health, Sharon has expertise in adult learning, policy development, communication, team management and development. “A lot of a person’s life is spent at work. Creating a supportive workplace is a key way to make healthy choices easy, and support individuals and communities to enjoy improved health and wellness.” Sharon’s role in WorkWell is mostly behind the scenes, supporting the WorkWell team to deliver a programme that will take businesses into the future. |
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Dr Jim Miller, Medical Officer of Health WorkWell is backed by the support of Dr Jim Miller, a specialist in public health medicine. 'Dr Jim' is available to the WorkWell Advisors to answer any questions from businesses on their WorkWell journey. "Making a difference to your employees' health can be really straightforward," says Jim. "As a business considering WorkWell, you are already contributing to the health of your employees by making time to give the issue some thought, and building health into your business planning." Dr Jim's 24 years experience span medicine, pathology, obstetrics, general practice and public health medicine. While his main area of focus for Toi Te Ora is the prevention and management of infectious diseases, he believes the workplace can easily be a safe, healthy and encouraging environment.
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