Introducing Amanda Wheeler
– CEO of the Workchoice Trust

What is your background?
I come from a mainly corporate background. I’ve been involved in running a professional charity (the Foundation for Youth Development Waitakere), so I’ve been involved in youth development for some time now.  I moved into the not-for-profit sector because I wanted to give something back to the community.

What about Workchoice appeals to you?
What I like about Workchoice, is the positive and proactive way it approaches the biggest issue faced by New Zealand youth today: unemployment. The fact that Workchoice is already a long-standing and successful organization also means that it gives me the opportunity to really hit the ground running.

What is your greatest achievement so far? 
I recently won the Westpac Young Business Person of the Year Award for the Waitakere region. This was a reflection of the time I spent building the Foundation of Youth Development in Waitakere from 12 to 700 kids. It’s really great having been able to teach kids life skills and giving them confidence in their own lives.

What are you passionate about?
I’m really passionate about bringing out the best in people and seeing them reach their potential. I get frustrated with people that have amazing skills and personalities that don’t go maximise them. There’s so much negativity about teenagers in the media, so it’s great to be able to do focus on the positive. Also, living at Muriwai is something I love too!

What experience in your life has created a lasting impression?
The ability to make a massive difference in teenager’s lives on a daily basis is pretty touching, although you might not see the impact you have until years later. I also recently got lost in the bush and had nothing but my wits to on, it was a great challenge! It was very reassuring to know that you can rely on yourself and that you do have the skills you need, in situation like these.