I’ve been a nurse for 37 years, with the last 15 focused on vocational rehabilitation. I believe good communication is at the heart of everything. A conversation can help us understand what someone needs and find a way forward. I’ve worked with people from many backgrounds to support their recovery, independence and return to work. I’m particularly interested in equitable outcomes for Māori and minority communities living in rural areas, especially when health literacy or access to services creates barriers.

I spent seven years as a Regional Health Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development, helping staff talk with clients about returning to work while managing a health condition. That experience taught me that rehabilitation is about much more than employment. If someone is worried about money, housing or access to healthcare, those needs come first. It also strengthened my passion for rehabilitation and led me to complete a Master of Health Science in Rehabilitation.

What I love most about my work is meeting people, listening to their stories and connecting clients and employers with the right support at the right time.

I was born and raised in Pahiatua and began my nursing career in Palmerston North in 1989. My family comes from a long line of dairy farmers in the Wairarapa. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family and grandchildren, walking, reading and gardening.

When I was nursing in Australia in the early 1990s, I picked up the nickname “Nurse Gladys” after a character in *Open All Hours*. It has followed me ever since! If I could have one superpower, it would be to calm the world down and bring us back to the basics: conversation and kindness.