Management Support Officer - Dawn Reeves
Dawn first began with LINZ as a temp in 2006 and found the environment so enjoyable she applied for a permanent role assisting the Systems Development Manager (at LINZ this type of role is called a Management Support Officer).
“I was attracted to the way LINZ supports employees’ personal growth, with access to on-the-job learning and courses to further their development. My position gives me the opportunity to carry out a variety of tasks, keeping me on my toes and engaged with the business.”
Settling into the Systems Development team wasn’t hard, with plenty of interesting projects always on the go, and a lively bunch of people to work with. When asked to sum up what she does in five words, she said she couldn’t possibly! But it is certain that for her role, one needs to be flexible and adaptable, and have strong personal relationship skills.
“The group of people I work with are very team orientated which is important to me. I like to feel I belong to a group, and I know that this extends from the Systems Development team, to IT, and to LINZ as a whole.”
Te reo Māori
As a first time recipient of the Sam Brown Memorial Scholarship – which supports LINZ employees undertaking study that contributes to Māori development in the public sector – Dawn has been able to financially meet her goal of learning te reo Māori.
“My studies have had a major impact on my life as I find out more about who I am, where I came from as a Māori woman, and how much more I want to achieve. I’m very humbled and honoured to have received this scholarship.”
Like Sam Brown, who was an influential Māori figure in the public sector, Dawn considers educational opportunities that benefit Māori extremely important. She has completed Māori papers from Victoria University among others, and continues her study in the hope of becoming fluent in te reo.
Dawn uses her expertise to contribute to Māori initiatives in the workplace. She is a member of the LINZ Whānau and the Responsiveness to Māori Working Party, and has helped organise such events as the Pōwhiri (formal welcoming) of LINZ’s Chief Executive Colin MacDonald in July 2008.
“I have been studying most of my adult life and I consider knowledge gathering and learning to be a lifetime commitment. I have been able to pass on knowledge to my own whānau, and within the LINZ whānau, and I consider myself very lucky to be able to do so.”
