Department of Corrections manager receives Public Service award

Department of Corrections contracts manager Iria Pene is to receive the Ria McBride Public Service Management Award for Women for 2002.

The award will be presented tonight by the Governor-General in a ceremony at Government House, Wellington. As this year's recipient, Iria will receive $12,000 towards her study costs.

The study award is sponsored by the State Services Commission and administered by the New Horizons for Women Trust. It is open to female managers across the Public Service who have the potential to progress to a senior management level. The award honours Ria McBride, who had a distinguished career in the Public Service from 1946 to 1980.

Iria (Ngati Kuhungunu ki Takapau) started working for Corrections in 1986, as an officer at Manawatu Prison. She progressed to Unit Manager level, and in 2000 was appointed Site Manager of Ohura Prison.

While at Ohura, Iria began studying for her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Massey University, but the prison's remote central North Island location made access to study sessions difficult.

"This got me thinking about where I was going in terms of my career. I began looking at appointments in head office, and was seconded as Contracts Manager within Corporate Management group in December 2001," says Iria.

With access much easier in Wellington, Iria resumed her MBA studies in May of this year.

"The Department has been really supportive, granting me study leave and, more recently, endorsing my application for this award, which I'm delighted to have been selected for."

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