Exciting Developments in Governance

The Salvation Army NZFTS’s Territorial Governance Board has recruited two new external members, who bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise.

Arron Perriam and Graham Bidois Cameron join Sue Sheldon as Independent (non-Salvation Army) members of the 11 member board, providing governance oversight to the territory.

The Chair of the Governance Board, Commissioner Andy Westrupp, has warmly welcomed the external members. He says, ‘These appointments signal a shift away from the command structure of leadership the Army has operated under for 126 years, to a model that brings wider skills and  greater accountability.’

Arron Perriam is currently the Chief Executive of Cholmondeley Children’s Centre, providing short-term emergency and planned respite care and education to children (aged 3-12 years) whose families are experiencing genuine stress or crisis.

He has extensive executive leadership experience and is passionate about helping not-for-profit community organisations achieve excellence and meaningful social impact.

‘I lead with my heart wide open and through my values and prejudices, I see the world as an amazing possibility. I dare to dream, I believe in the genius of others and as a pragmatist and servant leader I am happy to follow, stand beside or lead, whatever is required to get the job done. I am creative, thoughtful, deliberate and conscientious,’ says Arron.

‘The whakatauki hanging at the gate of our property reads, ‘Te Whare Rangimarie’ (a house of peace and kindness), this is the humble life mission for Karen and I, to serve others with our skill sets and believe in doing so that at least one life, family or community may benefit.’

Arron and his wife Karen attended The Salvation Army for a number of years in Christchurch and Palmerston North, with Arron working in the youth sector through corps, division and Education and Employment for 11 years.

He is Chairman of the Burwood Academy of Independent Living Board at Burwood Hospital, a Trustee for Christchurch City Council’s Southern Centre Trust and a Presbyterian Elder for Kiwi Church, Canterbury. Arron was previously the Business Operations Manager of the Rātā Foundation.

Arron is a recipient of the Institute of Directors 2017 Emerging Director Award, has completed numerous leadership and governance training programmes and recently graduated from Otago Polytechnic with a Bachelor of Applied Management.

Graham Bidois Cameron is Pou Tikanga (cultural leader) at the Bay of Plenty District Health Board. In this role he is guided by the 18 iwi of the Bay of Plenty in supporting staff to integrate tikanga and kawa into services, encouraging the use and dissemination of te reo Māori, providing leadership in the DHB's Tiriti partnership and leading the ongoing education and development of Māori models and practice.

‘Being a bridge between the worlds of tāngata whenua and tāngata Tiriti has been my calling for many years in both a professional capacity and as a member of different communities. This has led me to a variety of governance and leadership roles in iwi, communities and neighbourhoods in Tauranga Moana and nationally,’ says Graham.

‘My primary motivation throughout has been that relationships are the true north that leads us to wellbeing. I am deeply committed to working for the wellbeing of our people. I have experienced the transformation of relationship in my own life, and seek to be part of that transformation for others.’

The Salvation Army has valued Graham’s expertise, cultural intelligence and leadership skills for a number of years, especially his work on the current Māori Ministry strategy—Te Ōhaki. He was also a speaker at Now is the Time—Mission Conference in 2016.

Graham is a doctoral student in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Otago, supervised by Professor Murray Rae (University of Otago) and Rev. Dr. Hirini Kaa (University of Auckland). His research area is a contextual historical theology of Pai Mārire. He is also a contributing writer to The Spinoff and E-Tangata.

Sue Sheldon has been on the board since March and ‘brings a wealth of experience along with a high degree of goodwill toward the Army and our Mission’, said Andy.

She has an impressive record of directorships with successful business, from the state sector through to the commercial sector, from small to large, and is particularly excited by entities undergoing change and growth.

She is the current chair of Regenerate Christchurch and FibreTech New Zealand Ltd, as well as the Independent Chair of Auckland Council Audit & Risk Committee.

Sue received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Business in 2007 and is an FCA Chartered Accountant, Fellow of NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants, and is a Life Member Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. She is also a Chartered Fellow, Institute of Directors in New Zealand Inc.

The appointment of external governance board members is the latest step for the territory as we work towards new models of leadership and accountability for the worldwide Army.

Former General André Cox established the Accountability Movement in 2015 to, ‘ensure The Salvation Army has governance structures, at all levels, fit for its God-given purpose in the 21st century’.

There are four key motivations for governance development within The Salvation Army: a maturing of theology in the areas of leadership, accountability and governance, a renewal of intentionality about integrated mission, The Salvation Army’s integrity with regard to registration commitments, and increasing standards of governance requirements in many countries.