I’m seeking re-election to serve your interests on Council. I bring the experience, energy and commitment you need in a fast-changing environment, with more local government reform ahead.
I’ve lived in Tamahere-Woodlands for 24 years, raised a family here, and I’m keen to continue using my business experience and advocacy skills to provide you with strong, effective representation.
As a business communications professional I stand for transparent decision-making, prudent financial management, and good community outcomes.
As deputy chair, Policy and Regulatory, I’ve developed a respected voice on Council. I value working with Community groups to advance local aspirations; and volunteer at St Stephen’s Tamahere, home of the Tamahere Country Market.
My past governance experience includes 6 years on the Waikato DHB. I’m a member of the Institute of Directors, an RMA Hearings Commissioner, and Life Member of Diabetes Youth NZ. I have an MA (Hons) and PGDipMgmt (Distinction). See www.crystalbeavis.com.
Curriculum Vitae
I have 12 years’ governance experience on public boards and in local government, most recently serving for a term as a Waikato District Councillor representing the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward, and taking responsibility as deputy chair of the Policy & Regulatory Committee.
I have previously served on the Waikato District Health Board, and, before that, the Auckland District Health Board. I was a committee chair for the Waikato DHB through two terms, first chairing the Disability Support Advisory Committee and, later, the CEO Performance Review Committee.
I am an award-winning communications and marketing professional, with extensive experience in all facets of strategic communications, reputation management and stakeholder engagement, and advising managers at Senior Leadership Team level in both the public and private sectors.
Drawing on my expertise in strategic communications and engagement, I have led a national patient support organisation (Diabetes Youth NZ), and I have helped establish and direct two consultancy businesses at different times, one in marketing and management (Bridger Beavis & Associates BBA Ltd), and one providing specialist advice in street lighting (Strategic Lighting Partners Ltd).
I re-established BBA Ltd in Hamilton after originally setting up the consultancy in Auckland serving clients for seven years in the electricity, local government, and financial advisory fields.
I have in the past worked as an employee and, more recently, as a consultant to the Waikato District Council to advise on a range of local government communications and stakeholder engagement initiatives, giving me good insight into Council processes.
I have also held employed positions in the tertiary education, research and health sectors, including senior roles with Waikato University and with the Researched Medicines Industry, now Medicines NZ.
I am used to working collaboratively to find solutions to business challenges in both commercial and charitable endeavours. For example, I gained support from both medical and pharmaceutical interests when I led the Diabetes Youth NZ (DYNZ) submission and presentation to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, and later, as DYNZ President (and now a life member) I gathered support for negotiations to affiliate with Diabetes NZ.
I started my early career as a business journalist with the New Zealand Herald and National Business Review. My qualifications include an MA (Hons) in Politics from Auckland University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies (with Distinction) from Waikato University. I am also a qualified RMA commissioner, and I have Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through the Public Relations Institute of NZ. I am a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
GOVERNANCE EXPERIENCE: 1990 – Present Director of two consultancies, Bridger Beavis & Associates Ltd (established 1990) and Strategic Lighting Partners Ltd (established 2013) 2013 - 2019 Elected member, Waikato District Health Board (DHB)
Waikato DHB had $1.2 billion operating revenue, 6000 staff, to serve 372,900 (pop.)
Key achievements:
· Chair, DHB Disability Support Advisory Committee, 2014-16
· Chair, CEO Performance Review Committee, 2017 – 2019
· Contributed to new Board vision and strategy refresh 2016
· Helped implement a process that allowed us to part ways with a CEO, then asked to chair the CEO Performance Review Committee and led the development of new CEO KPIs.
2005- 2008 - Chair/member, Waikato Local Diabetes Team, DHB diabetes advisory group 2001 - 2004 Elected member, Auckland District Health Board Governance of the Board’s then $1.1 billion operation Key achievements:
· Oversaw merger of Auckland, Greenlane, National Women’s hospitals.
2001-2004 Appointee, National Diabetes Working Group advising the Ministry of Health.
2000-2005 Vice-President, then President Diabetes Youth NZ
· Led the DYNZ submission to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification (2000), led early negotiations to affiliate with Diabetes NZ.
CONSULTANCY (most recent projects in which I’ve had personal consultancy involvement): Projects ’20-‘22 Director, Bridger Beavis & Associates Ltd, Hamilton
Key projects:
· Planning and managing stakeholder communications for the Waikato District Health Board’s COVID-19 Directorate to keep primary health providers informed and enable cooperative initiatives during a time of rapid change
· Managing a project to refresh key strategic documents - Scope of Practice, Code of Ethics, Registration Competencies - for the Occupational Therapy Board of NZ (a statutory board)
· Planning and managing communications for the Waikato District Council’s Proposed District Plan and writing and design management for its Annual Report 2020/2021.
Projects ’13- ‘16 Director, Strategic Lighting Partners (SLP). Responsible for:
· Launch marketing and communications for SLP, a specialist management consultancy in public sector lighting (for which I remain a board director).
Key achievements:
· Helped launch two international road lighting conferences to establish SLP in the market and to win increased government support for LED road lighting.
· Developed company and conference branding and all marketing materials to help attract about $150,000 partnership and sponsorship support for each conference from both public sector and private sector interests
· The conferences attracted more than 200 attendees each, establishing SLP as a business and winning the ‘Special Event’ category at the 2014 Public Relations Institute of NZ Awards.
EDUCATION & AWARDS:
MA (Hons) MA (Hons) in Politics, University of Auckland, graduated 1985; BA in Politics & History, Senior Prize (Politics), University of Auckland, graduated 1980.
PGDip MgmtSt (Dist.) Post-Graduate Diploma in Management Studies (Distinction), University of Waikato, graduated 2016.
CDC Company Directors’ Course, Institute of Directors NZ, May 2019, (and IOD member).
RMA Commissioner Successfully completed the Making Good Decisions certification programme, May 2023
APR Accredited in Public Relations, from the Public Relations Institute of NZ, (since 1994).
PRINZ Award For excellence in PR and communications: Special Event or Project 2014. Awarded for the inaugural Road Lighting 2014 conference and exhibition.
Golden Key Admitted to the Golden Key Honour Society, for academic achievement, 2015.
Journalism Diploma Auckland Technical Institute (now AUT) 1979.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
2019 – 22 Member, Matangi Community Committee
2009-11, 2021 –23 Vestry member serving as People’s Warden, and later Vicar’s Warden at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Tamahere.
2012-13 President, Awatere Club, Hamilton
2005-13 Managing various school sports teams and from 2009-2013 organising all table tennis teams at Hillcrest High School including team selection, organising team coaching and parent managers, entry and travel to national tournaments.
1998 - present Diabetes Youth NZ: Life Member since 2007; President 2003 - 05.
Manifesto
I’m standing for election again to continue to work towards the Council vision of liveable, thriving and connected communities. I will work to:
· Advance the aspirations expressed by local communities in your own local plans (these include aspirations around our parks and open spaces, safe connections between and within communities, and community-driven communications)
· Bring general rates rises down to 3% and less, as budgeted, starting next year
· Manage core services efficiently including roading (we have the7th longest local network in NZ) and oversee the smooth transition of our waters infrastructure into the waters company jointly-owned with Hamilton City
· Manage the implementation of upcoming Government reform in resource management
· Continue to work to ensure the communities and people I represent are informed and can engage meaningfully with the Council when it’s important to you
· Develop genuine, transparent dialogue to ensure that Council decisions are democratically driven.
mail to: crystal@bba.org.nz
