Creative Welly Episode #38 | Antonia Milkop & Dion Howard

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Antonia Milkop, Director, Antonia Milkop Coaching & Facilitation

Antonia runs her own coaching and facilitation practice, with 20 years previous experience in roles throughout the public sector both in NZ and the UK (data, policy, strategy, service design, programme management and people management roles).

Antonia’s mission in life is being a catalyst to ignite potential in others so they can make more of a positive impact in the work they do, and use their strengths to do so. She is passionate about bringing about positive change in organisational cultures, supporting leaders and their teams to bring out the best in their people and produce great results in their work.

Dion Howard, Director / Registered Nurse

I am a Registered Nurse, with a speciality in adolescent mental health, and I have a photobooth business, which I have designed, developed and deployed. Between these two roles, I like to think that I work with people at the best and the hardest moments of their lives.

I have had a crazy amount of different jobs and adventures – sales and marketing fair trade coffee, massage therapist, wedding photographer, tour guide, fundraiser, film festival producer, educational film director, and ironically , at this point of time, among other tasks, an assessor for adult ADHD!

At the same time, my consistent, if not full time, place of contribution for the last 25 years has been in the public health system, with a strongly developed specialty in adolescent mental health. I have been privileged to acquire some wonderfully useful skills that have helped people on their way through very difficult times. I think I do somewhat consider my role as a ‘healer’, but that sounds rather grandiose. Mostly, it’s my privilege to be allowed into peoples lives while healing occurs.

Audio podcast subscription options:

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar:

Creative Welly Episode #32 | Michelle Kitney & Rob Cousins

Courageous conversations with bold humans (from the most creative little capital in the world).

Michelle Kitney, Chief Executive at Volunteering New Zealand

Michelle Kitney lead’s Volunteering New Zealand. Originally from Taranaki, she lives in Te whanganui a tara with her three boys and husband.

Volunteering New Zealand is the national umbrella organisation for volunteers and volunteering. It’s purpose is to empower volunteers to enrich Aotearoa New Zealand.

Michelle has a background in communications, marketing, social enterprise and not for profit experience. She has also worked in the public sector in New Zealand and the UK. She says she volunteered her way into her current job. Gaining relevant experience through a variety of volunteering roles.

She cooks and plays Floorball in her spare time.

Rob Cousins, Innovation Manager

Being honest, I’m a jack of all trades and master of none, who often seems to land on my feet, and somehow finds a way to make a difference with the people I meet. After a mediocre degree in Psychology, I worked in insurance and risk management in the UK, whilst pursuing hobbies that were both uninsurable and risky in many other parts of the world. Instead of a career, I’ve followed opportunities as they’ve arisen, and as I’ve pursued various different interests.

All of this has taught me that they key to most challenges is people, their experience, being curious and caring. Right now I am bringing this to how health and safety is understood, and how we might regulate that, from WorkSafeNZ. Shifting away from paperwork, compliance and rules. Moving towards caring about people, creating improvement, and giving people power over the things that affect them.

Audio podcast subscription options:

To receive email notifications of each episode (approximately twice a month), sign up below or via the sidebar: