Magdel Hammond - Manager Magdel is originally from South Africa and also spent nine years living at the edge of the Namib Desert with her husband and two children before coming to New Zealand in October 2002. She has been with EDGE since December 2002, initially as consultant for the Rodney district and as Service Manager since May 2004. She is also the Service Manager for the Reach Out Peer Support Service within Connect.
Magdel holds an honours degree in Social Work from the University of Port Elizabeth, and has completed the UNITEC Graduate Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management in 2008. She is also doing further study in Adult Education. After graduating in 1984 she worked as a Social Worker in the mental health and medical arenas for five years before deciding to do some training in the human resources field. Magdel gained experience in general human resources, training and staff development and industrial relations during 10 years of working in various human resources roles. When Magdel came to New Zealand she made a conscious decision not to go back to the corporate human resources arena. She decided that she wanted to get back into a field where she could make a difference, and use her own life experience more effectively.
Magdel is passionate the mental health field and about supported employment. She sees the combination of using her social work and human resources background as a good match to work in this field. She believes that a well mixed cocktail of a business-like approach and culture, consideration and empathy for those who use our services, and innovation within the supported employment arena works well, and is ultimately what makes the difference between good and excellent service provision. Her other passion is training and development and she is actively involved in the delivery of the Certificate and Diploma of Employment Support. In addition to work, she loves singing and dancing and she is a member of a Southern African female vocal group.
Emma Carreon -Team Leader
Originally from the Phillipines, Emma came to New Zealand in 1996 together with her husband and two kids. Armed with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and 16 years of Human Resources, Organisation Development & Training experience in a huge corporate setting, she immediately plunged into job seeking in these fields. While waiting for her ideal job, however, Emma tried various roles: from being a cook in a resthome to factory worker; to card dealer at the casino; and finally as a community support worker for people with intellectual disabilities.
Working in the disability sector, Emma found the career she thought her skills, training and interests could be used to the fullest. She started with EDGE (then known as Transitions Supported Employment) as Employment Consultant in 1998. Her passion for Supported Employment grew as her skills and experiences in the field expanded. She left EDGE in 2004 to work for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind as they developed their own employment service. She also had a short stint with Elevator (used to be Workforce Personnel), a pan disability supported employment agency. Emma’s employment with these two agencies further developed her insight and knowledge about work, disabilities and individualised support. Added to her hands-on experience, Emma is a Professional Member of the Career Practitioners Association of New Zealand (CPANZ) and studying towards her Diploma in Employment Support from Tuotoko Services.
Late April 2007, Emma came back to EDGE as Team Leader. With all her training in the different aspects of Supported Employment and the added expertise and passion for their roles by each member of the team, she knows EDGE Employment will deliver the highest quality of service to every jobseeker.
Joy Deynzer -Senior Employment Consultant/Practice Adviser
Joy started with EDGE in 2000. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at Auckland University majoring in sociology and followed this up with a Graduate Certificate in Career Development from AUT. She has held a variety of positions prior to joining EDGE including teacher aide, community worker and mother of two.
Currently her role includes supervision of other staff members at Edge as well as well as managing her own caseload. She completed the Professional Mentoring and Supervision Skills at UNITEC in 2007 and followed this up with the Developing Super Vision Workshop run by ASENZ in 2008. These courses have provided her with effective tools to work with in the supervision role. Doing supervision offers a great opportunity to work with other members of staff to develop their full potential in the employment consultant role. She says the most enjoyable part about working with clients of the service is the variety of work and the challenges that come with the role.
In her spare time Joy occupies her time playing tennis, weekly yoga sessions, slow jogging when she has the time, reading and movies.
Therese Hamlin -Employment Consultant
Therese Hamlin came to New Zealand in 1987 from the United States of America. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work specialising in the field of Mental Health from San Diego State University. She is married with two children.
After using the support service at EDGE to return to the workforce, Therese worked for a local financial company. When invited to participate as consumer representative at EDGE Employment team meetings, Therese’s passion for community service and mental health was rekindled.
Therese began working for EDGE Employment in November 2004 as a supported employment consultant. She strives to provide a quality service to her clients and thoroughly enjoys working with such a wonderful team at EDGE. One of the highlights of her career has been when she received a national award as the Supported Employment Practitioner of the Year in 2007.
Michael Hawkey -Employment Consultant
Michael started with EDGE at the beginning of 2006 after completing his Masters in Social Anthropology at Massey University. During his studies, Michael became interested in mental health and for his thesis year researched depression and online communities that formed around it.
Michael has worked in a wide range of jobs, and studied in a variety of fields. Michael is always interested in learning new things to broaden his skills and experiences.
Michael enjoys working for EDGE, as every day faces a new challenge, and allows him to help others help themselves achieve what they want.
Gaylene Ripepi -Employment Consultant
Gaylene Ripepi, born in the beautiful Mother City - Cape Town, South Africa. Immigrated to New Zealand in 2004, together with husband Joe and two young boys Chad and Luke. Recently (October 2008) gave birth to another beautiful blessing, a baby boy – Jesse.
Gaylene holds a National Diploma in Human Resources Management and previously worked in a Financial Services and Manufacturing environment as Recruitment Consultant and Human Resources Officer respectively.
Loves the outdoors, spending time with all the “BOYS” and is fond of experimenting with new recipes.
Appreciates the multi-cultural aspect at EDGE / CONNECT and feels we can all learn from our life experiences having lived in many different countries and coming from many different cultures. Great to be part of an AMAZING team!
Dick Downing -Employment Consultant
Dick joined EDGE in October 2006 after emigrating from the UK earlier that year. Dick has done many different things in his career and enjoys supporting people to find their dream job. He has 12 years experience in training and development including six years running his own small team building business.
Most recently in the UK he was working with businesses and community groups to establish a successful employee volunteering programme. Dick joined EDGE because he enjoys helping to make a difference for people and feels that employment has a huge part to play in helping people to live satisfying lives.
Dick believes that the key to success in supported employment is a good match between the job seeker and the employer and that meeting the needs of both is our ultimate aim.
When not at work Dick spends most of his time with his wife and family. His interests include sport and anything in the great outdoors. Dick is passionate about helping people to set and achieve their goals.
Tom Baker -Employment Consultant
Tom is the proud father of 2 boys. Tom is originally form Manchester England but considers himself quite Kiwi now after 15 years. He is 25 years old and a fresh young face for the EDGE team and hopes to bring some diversity and relate well to a large range of people.
Previously Tom has worked in the disability sector as fitness instructor, caregiver in homes and in the community, computer tutor and teacher aide teaching life skills to autistic young men.
As a result of previous positions, Tom joined EDGE because he has worked with many people that he thinks could work if they just had somewhere to turn for support and this is the perfect job to put it into action.
Philip Walley - Employment Consultant
Philip came to EDGE during August 2007. He was born in New Zealand and is happily married with seven children most of whom live in Auckland. There are a number of grandchildren attending at the local schools. Family orientation is very dominant in Philip’s thoughts. Christian principals guide his life and have a strong influence on his attitudes and daily living. Philip is the senior member of the team in terms of age and the junior member in this work experience.
Philip is a Professional Engineer and holds a Diploma of Management and for most of his career has been involved with construction, property and management. He has had a wide repertoire of experience in practicing ‘people skills’ throughout his working environment. A business type approach is Philip’s way of viewing life. He is passionate about people developing their skills and talents, and thereby contributing within society to the best of their ability. His contribution at EDGE Employment involves this concept. Enjoying people as they grow, mature and develop their God given talents, gives Philip a ‘buzz’.
Philip believes strongly in people helping themselves as much as possible and he takes a very pragmatic, innovated, functional approach to life and to his relationships with all people. This especially applies to his clients and is implemented with compassion and tolerance. He enjoys the strong mix of cultural diversity at EDGE and the powerful humourous camaraderie existing within the team.
Janet Brennan -Administration
Janet started with EDGE in late 2006. She has held a variety of positions in the past including shorthand/typist, retail and receptionist. Janet was a member of the New Lynn Rotoract Club, which helps people in the local community. Janet was born in Auckland and lives on the North Shore. She loves being close to all the beautiful beaches. Janet has two daughters and stopped working to be a full time mother. She is enjoying being back in the workforce and working at EDGE, as she enjoys helping people and the variety of work the position offers. In addition to work, Janet enjoys badminton and dancing. She is a member of the Whangaparoa Rock and Roll Club.
