Whangarei Business After 5: I Have a Dream Foundation

I Have a Dream charitable trust invites the Business Community to come to its Business After 5 on Wednesday 10th August at The Orchard Business & Event Hub to hear from two inspiring speakers about two key social projects that may inspire local businesses to think about ways for incorporating CSR thinking and initiatives into their own businesses.

Sir Chris Farrelly – former Head of the Auckland City Mission
Sir Chris Farrelly recently returned home to Te Tai Tokerau, after five years of leading the Auckland City Mission. Before heading to Auckland, Chris had a long career in the health sector within the region, including 13 years as founding CEO of Manaia PHO. He was most recently made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the health and community – something that came as a shock to Chris but not to his colleagues. Throughout his career Chris has been involved in many significant initiatives but a few of note include working with Fonterra to re-introduce free milk in schools throughout the country, overseeing the Health Homes Tai Tokerau home insulation programme, which has seen well over 12,000 homes retro-fitted with insulation since 2007 and the establishment of a world leading social service and healing centre called ‘HomeGround’. It includes 80 apartments for the homeless, 25 drug and alcohol managed withdrawal (detox) units, a large medical centre and other therapeutic spaces, food preparation and dining facilities, social enterprise spaces and other wraparound and support services for those most in need.

Chris Twiss – CEO of I Have a Dream Charitable Trust
Chris Twiss became CEO of ‘I Have a Dream’ in August 2019, having previously worked in the legal, corporate finance and angel and venture capital investment industries in the UK and New Zealand . He was the Head of Innovation Precinct Development for GridAKL – a 12,000m2 innovation precinct housing over 100 start-up and established technology companies, based in Auckland’s waterfront Wynyard Quarter. Chris will talk about the work that I Have a Dream has been doing for the past 7 years right on your doorstep in the Tikipunga & Otangarei communities to offer a long-term programme of academic and holistic life skills, wrap-around services and work providing a hugely beneficial impact on tamariki (Dreamers) and their families in this community.