Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Residential Location
Voluntary Experience
Professional Memberships
Timeline
Generic

Zainab Ali

Horokiwi,Wellington

Summary

Visionary leader with a proven track record in steering organizations toward success through strategic planning and effective management. Skilled in building cohesive teams, driving innovation, and enhancing operational efficiency to achieve business objectives. Demonstrated ability to transform challenges into opportunities, resulting in a significant impact on company growth and profitability. I have a strong understanding of the machinery of government as well as the private sector. Over the years, i have had experience in top tier roles in the government sector, business sector and not-for-profit sector. i believe this gives me a unique set of skills and allows me to use these in a variety of industries and disciplines. My career also shows that I am dedicated and committed to roles where I am able to make a positive impact for the people and organisation that i am a part of.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Chairperson

Youth Inspire
Hutt Vally, Wellington
11.2023 - Current
  • Signed and approved budgets for new funding and program initiatives.
  • Provided organisational leadership and collaborated with senior leadership to establish long-term goals, strategies, and company policies.
  • Coordinated with the executive director to ensure that board decisions were implemented effectively.
  • Directed regular monthly business meetings of Board of Directors for decision-making on budget expenditures, strategic planning and personnel issues.
  • Acted as a representative for the organization at public events or fundraisers.
  • Encouraged open dialogue among members while maintaining order during meetings.
  • Fostered collaboration and development of new practices by business leaders.
  • Coordinated with the senior leadership to ensure that board decisions were implemented effectively.
  • Resolved conflicts between board members in a professional manner.
  • Sought feedback from stakeholders on proposed initiatives or changes within the organization.
  • Assisted in recruiting new members for the board as needed.
  • Facilitated discussions between board members on issues of importance and relevance.
  • Created program to promote new managers from within, leading to cohesive leadership structure.
  • Gathered information from various sources, including staff members, stakeholders, and other organizations, to inform board decision-making processes.
  • Appointed committees as appropriate and monitored their performance.
  • Evaluated potential candidates for senior management positions prior to hiring decisions being made.
  • Conducted regular reviews of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and laws.
  • Presided over disciplinary proceedings involving board members or employees when necessary.
  • Established relationships with external partners or vendors as needed.

Regional Director

Crest Commercial Cleaning
Greater Wellington Region
05.2017 - 03.2024
  • Set strategic direction for the Greater Wellington Region, including review of associated progress reporting
  • Review and ensure responsibility of compliance across the company
  • Review and auditing of financial viability of company
  • Risk monitoring, audit and mitigation
  • Managing a $6 million/year revenue
  • Managing over 110 personnel
  • Created a 33% growth margin within first year as Director
  • Created one of the most successful teams in the business nationally
  • Developed a regional training program which helped establish a consistent minimum standard across the region and meet all compliance standards
  • Set up corporate office for the Greater Wellington Region
  • Successfully achieved monthly Key Performance Indicators
  • Successfully implemented a change management program across the region in first year of directorship - with a focus on culture and compliance
  • Develop the first regional strategy for the Greater Wellington Area 2019/2020
  • Continually create more streamlined operating systems and processes for personnel and customers

Principal Advisor

Ministry of Education
10.2016 - 05.2017
  • Lead cross agency legislative work programme
  • Development of long-term strategy to Treaty of Waitangi claim outcome report
  • Lead cross sector policy development and amendments
  • Stakeholder management
  • Contribution towards the Education funding review

Manager

Ministry of Education
08.2014 - 10.2016
  • Manage $98 million initiative portfolio
  • Education lead on legislation and policy development, namely the Health and Safety at Work Act and The Vulnerable Children's Act
  • Led the implementation programme for the early childhood sector in relation to the legislation above
  • Developed and managed early childhood communication strategy
  • Manged large-scale investigations
  • Led all key relationships with Iwi and Māori education stakeholders at a national level

Senior Advisor

Ministry of Education
02.2012 - 08.2014
  • Led all key relationships with Iwi and Māori education stakeholders at a national level
  • Lead procurement and implementation of $26 million property fund for the education sector
  • Implementation lead on early childhood education communication plan

Adviser

Ministry of Education
05.2010 - 02.2012
  • Member of the response team to a Treaty of Waitangi claim
  • Internal and external Communication
  • Project Management
  • Analysis and risk mitigation of implementation issues
  • Developing processes and work programmes
  • Internal/external relationship management
  • Management of external/internal advisory groups
  • Development and management of internal and external websites
  • Development, design and management of publications
  • Contract management

Personal Assistant

Ministry of Education
09.2008 - 01.2010
  • Project Management
  • Development of group work programmes
  • Providing cover for and detailed information to the CEO Office/Minister's Office
  • Coordinating reporting and planning for the ECE Group
  • ECE Group work programme coordination
  • Information handling from various sources
  • Financial processing and reporting
  • Tracking tasks and deadlines for the ECE Group
  • Collation of Education Weekly Update for regional and national office groups

Senior Support Officer

Ministry of Education
06.2007 - 09.2008
  • Diary Management
  • Financial Processing
  • Handling enquiries
  • Team work coordination
  • Note taking and meeting coordination
  • Collation of Education Weekly Update for regional and national office groups

Customer Service/Administration

Strong Electrical Ltd
Wanganui
02.2007 - 03.2007
  • Handling customer enquiries
  • Processing client information
  • Managing records
  • Representing the company and business events and expos in Palmerston North and Wanganui

Education

Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) -

Massey University
03.2025

Certificate in Leadership And Communication -

Aspire2 Education
Online
12-2023

Certificate in Essential Governance Skills -

Institute of Directors
Wellington, NZ
11-2020

Certificate in Governance Essentials -

Institute of Directors
01.2019

Certificate in Women's Leadership Development -

Victoria University of Wellington
01.2019

National Certificate in Public Relations and Communication Management -

Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
01.2009

National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing, level 3 -

UCOL
Wanganui
01.2007

Bachelor in Health Sciences - (incomplete)

Auckland University
01.2005

B Bursary / Higher School Certificate - Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Art History

Palmerston North Girls' High School
01.2001

Skills

  • Change management
  • Facilitate consensus
  • Conflict resolution
  • Leadership
  • Continuous improvement
  • Learning
  • Adaptability
  • Culturally competent
  • Criteria based decision making
  • Communication
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Self-motivation
  • Cometent in Tikanga Maori and Te Reo
  • Strong relationship management
  • Able to achieve tangible outcomes through collaboration and consenses
  • Board development

Residential Location

Wellington

Voluntary Experience

  • BGI Wellington, Mentor - at risk youth, 01/12 - 08/17
  • Trade Aid, Wanganui, Retail Sales Assistant, 03/07 - 06/07
  • Arahunga Special School, General Teacher Aide/Office Hand, 12/01 - 01/02
  • Manawatu Museum and Art Gallery, Museum Attendant/Information Officer, 04/01 - 12/01

Professional Memberships

  • New Zealand Institute of Management and Leadership, Associate (ANZIML), 09/19 - current
  • Institute of Directors, Member (MInstD), 09/18 - current
  • The Growth Faculty, Member, 09/18 - current

Timeline

Chairperson

Youth Inspire
11.2023 - Current

Regional Director

Crest Commercial Cleaning
05.2017 - 03.2024

Principal Advisor

Ministry of Education
10.2016 - 05.2017

Manager

Ministry of Education
08.2014 - 10.2016

Senior Advisor

Ministry of Education
02.2012 - 08.2014

Adviser

Ministry of Education
05.2010 - 02.2012

Personal Assistant

Ministry of Education
09.2008 - 01.2010

Senior Support Officer

Ministry of Education
06.2007 - 09.2008

Customer Service/Administration

Strong Electrical Ltd
02.2007 - 03.2007

Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) -

Massey University

Certificate in Leadership And Communication -

Aspire2 Education

Certificate in Essential Governance Skills -

Institute of Directors

Certificate in Governance Essentials -

Institute of Directors

Certificate in Women's Leadership Development -

Victoria University of Wellington

National Certificate in Public Relations and Communication Management -

Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing, level 3 -

UCOL

Bachelor in Health Sciences - (incomplete)

Auckland University

B Bursary / Higher School Certificate - Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Art History

Palmerston North Girls' High School

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Zainab Ali