New Zealand woman to be president of Zonta

30 July 2010

International service organisation Zonta has appointed its first ever Kiwi president – Wellingtonian Lynn McKenzie.

Zonta International is a global organisation of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. It was founded in the United States in 1919. Dame Silvia Cartwright, a former member of Zonta, is one of its 32 international honorary members.

At Zonta’s biennial convention in Texas recently, Lynn McKenzie was elected President Elect for two years. In July 2012 she will assume the role of president, also for two years.

Anne McMurtrie, Zonta’s Governor for New Zealand, says Lynn’s election is international recognition of her commitment to Zonta.

“It will be a great honour for Zonta District 16 – New Zealand – and for the country, to have her as the Zonta International President.”

Lynn has been a member of the Zonta Wellington club since 1989. She has always been drawn to roles and activities that help individuals and families.

“A better place for women is a better place – with women’s rights a basic human right. Zonta enables you to contribute to the wellbeing of women in the local, national and international community.”

She says Zonta provides funds and support for issues such as education, safety of women and girls in terms of trafficking, HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation and maternal health.

“Our focus is on improving the status of women and advocating for the removal of barriers to women’s wellbeing.

“For example, UNICEF figures show that in New Zealand the maternal death rate is about 9 in every 100,000 women. In Rwanda, it is 1300 and India 450 per 100,000 live births.

“Zonta, through a combination of service and advocacy, seeks to make a real difference to the lives of women locally and nationally through its network of clubs, and internationally through its international service programmes and influencing the United Nations and others.”

She finds working in such a dynamic organisation extremely rewarding.

“You meet an eclectic range of people who are committed to advancing the status of women – often people you wouldn't necessary meet over the course of your day. It’s not all serious; we have fun and enjoy each other’s company.”

Lynn McKenzie has a background in regional planning, human resources and operations management and has held senior leadership positions in government, not for profit and Crown entity organisations. She currently runs her own business, providing organisational review and development expertise.

She doubts she'll be able to continue to work full time when she is Zonta president, because of the travel involved, which includes board meetings at Zonta’s Chicago headquarters. The position of president is unpaid, but the potential loss of income doesn't faze her.

“This is about making a difference to the lives of other women, making a contribution. Being able to do that is a complete privilege.

“For me, using the words of Francis Hesselbein, President and CEO of the Leader to Leader Institute in New York, to serve is to live. This is what drives me.”

BACKGROUND

About Lynn McKenzie

• Lynn McKenzie was born in Oamaru.
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• She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Regional and Resource Planning from the University of Otago in Dunedin.
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• She is currently a management consultant providing leadership of projects in the not for profit, non governmental organisation and government sectors, focusing on organisational review and development, management and operational development and the operational integration of volunteer support.

• She has held senior leadership positions in the health and social sectors. This has included roles with Plunket, Hutt Valley Health, CYPS, and Housing New Zealand.

• Lynn is a member of the Zonta Club of Wellington, New Zealand. Since joining Zonta International in 1989, she has served as club president, District 16 (New Zealand) Governor, Trustee of D16 Charitable Trust, international director, chairman of the Zonta International Status of Women Service Committee and vice president.

• She is a member of the National Executive of the Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, and is the past chairman of the New Horizons for Women Trust, a New Zealand registered charitable trust formed to provide grants to women to develop their potential through second chance education and research opportunities.

• Lynn is also a member of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand and ‘friend’ of the Leader to Leaders Institute (based in New York).

About Zonta

• Zonta International District 16 (New Zealand) has almost 800 members and 27 clubs from Northland to Dunedin.

• Internationally, Zonta has more than 31,000 members belonging to more than 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 66 countries.

• Zonta sponsors a number of awards including:

o Young Woman in Public Affairs: an education award for secondary school students
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o Jane M Klausman Woman in Business Scholarship: an education award for university students studying business
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o Amelia Earhart Fellowship: helps talented women, pursuing advanced studies in the typically male-dominated fields of aerospace-related sciences and engineering, achieve their educational goals.
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• Zonta is currently funding the following projects – the total investment is US$2,130,000:
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o Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Rwanda, a project in co-operation with UNICEF ($US600,000). The project aims to prevent HIV transmission, and provide health care and support services to HIV positive mothers.

o Safe cities for Women Project in Guatamala City, Guatamala and San Salvador, El Salvador, a project in co-operation with UNIFEM ($US600,000). The project aims to work with local government agencies to decrease the risk of violence against women in these cities

o Reduction of Obstetric Fistula in Liberia, within the context of maternal and newborn health, a project in co-operation with UMFP ($US450,000). The project aims to eliminate obstetric fistula and secure a reduction in maternal and newborn mortality in Liberia.

o In addition, ZISVAW (Zonta International Strategies to Prevent Violence Against Women) is funding three violence prevention programmes in conjunction with the United Nations Trust.

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