Group Chief Executive
Stepping Stone Trust
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Executive Summary
THE OPPORTUNITY
Stepping Stone Trust (SST) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and most respected mental health NGOs, with more than 250 staff and an annual budget of around $20M. For over 30 years, SST has journeyed alongside people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges, providing 22 service lines across Canterbury and Otago. These range from residential and community support, respite and peer-led services, through to school engagement and integrated models of care with hospitals and primary health.
SST has entered a period of maturity, with a strong infrastructure base — including a new Christchurch headquarters, a growing Dunedin operation, and a group structure that supports service delivery, property management, and workforce training. Building on this, the organisation’s strategic priorities for 2024–25 are clear: consolidating leadership and structures following rapid growth, enhancing service quality and equity, and carefully exploring new opportunities in preventative services, cultural strengthening with Māori and Pasifika, and geographical expansion where significant unmet needs exist.
THE ROLE
The Chief Executive will provide strategic leadership across the organisation, guiding a broad service portfolio while ensuring SST remains financially sustainable and true to its mission. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will lead a capable and committed senior leadership team, oversee operations, and build enduring partnerships with Health NZ, Whaikaha, ACC, MSD, Oranga Tamariki, education providers, and other community organisations.
The role carries significant external influence. The CEO will be SST’s voice in government forums and sector networks, advocating for equitable funding, shaping mental health policy and practice, and developing innovative partnerships. At the same time, the CEO will protect against mission drift, ensuring new opportunities remain aligned with SST’s purpose, values, and faith-based foundations.
THE CANDIDATE
The Board is seeking a seasoned leader with senior executive experience in health, mental health, or social services. You will bring a proven record in organisational development, strategic growth, and building resilient teams. You will be skilled in financial oversight and contract management, with the credibility to influence at national and regional levels.
Equally important are your values. You will be relational, compassionate, and resilient, able to inspire trust across staff, communities, and stakeholders. Your Christian faith will be evident in the way you lead with integrity and humility, and in your commitment to Tiriti o Waitangi and to building culturally responsive services.
This is a rare leadership opportunity: to consolidate the growth of a dynamic and values-driven organisation, and to shape the future of mental health services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We invite you to discuss this exceptional leadership opportunity with David Price from the HardyGroup
M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211 | E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com
Stepping Stone Trust
Key Facts at a Glance
- Established: 1990, by Graeme Reid, QSM as a community ministry of the South West Baptist Church.
- Headquarters: Christchurch (Barry Hogan Place)
- Regional Presence: Canterbury and Otago, with growing services in Dunedin
- Workforce: 250+ staff across multiple service lines
- Annual Revenue: Approximately $20M
- Funding Sources: Health NZ, Whaikaha, ACC, MSD, Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Education, plus collaborative contracts with NGOs
- Service Portfolio: 22 contracts including:
- Residential and mobile community support
- Adult and youth respite services
- Peer-led services (including integration with Christchurch Hospital ED)
- Truancy and school engagement services
- Mental health first aid and education programmes
- Integrated primary care partnerships
- Group Structure:
- Stepping Stone Trust – operational service delivery
- Stepping Stone Connect Ltd– property management and future CHP aspirations
- Deacon Trust Training Academy– workforce training, launching Level 4 MH Certificate from 2026
- Strategic Priorities 2024–25:
- Governance and management strengthening (Board and SLT development, structural review)
- Service enhancement and quality refresh, ensuring equity for tangata whaiora and kaimahi
- Exploring future service extensions: preventative approaches, cultural strengthening with Māori, Pasifika, and immigrant communities, geographic growth where unmet need exists
- Guarding against mission drift by aligning all opportunities with SST’s operational ideal (Christ-centered, fiscally sustainable, adding value for clients, staff, and community)
- Reputation: Known for compassionate, values-driven care, innovation, and strong partnerships across the health and social services sector
About Stepping Stone Trust
Stepping Stone Trust (SST) was formed nearly 30 years ago, by Graeme Reid, QSM as a community ministry of the South West Baptist Church. The aim was to offer a place people affected by mental distress and trauma could go to receive care and support, and be treated with dignity and respect. It was a time of new thinking around how to provide people with a sense of community, citizenship, belonging, and a stepping stone to hope for a better way of life.
From this low-key start, the Trust quickly expanded into providing full residential services. Community support services were also added to assist people transitioning back to independent living, or to remain in their own home.
Now one of the largest mental health service providers in New Zealand, Stepping Stone Trust’s services reach over 500 people each week in the Canterbury and Dunedin regions, through the work of its 250 staff, and several volunteers, all dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
SST is fortunate to receive a large portion of its funding through the Canterbury District Health Board, enabling all services to remain free of charge.
Our mission
Motivated by Christ’s love, Stepping Stone Trust journeys with people to find a place of standing, hope, recovery and wellness.
Our vision
An organisation that seeks to partner and collaborate with mana whenua ki waitaha to honour the treaty covenant through providing culturally informed services to deliver wellbeing for all. Providing a place of standing, hope, recovery and wellness, Stepping Stone Trust seeks to be:
- A mental health provider of first choice
- A leader in innovation
- Flexible and responsive
- Holistic, client centred and strengths based
- Delivering evidence-based practice that provides effective outcomes
Our core values
- Faith - supporting tāngata whaikaha and staff to explore belief in God as a pathway to wellness
- Grace - accepting and respecting people regardless
- Hope - every person has value, potential and new possibilities
- Love - being professional and showing respect in all of our relationships
- Integrity - practising accountability with each other and stakeholders.
Role Specification
The Chief Executive Officer will lead the strategic and operational direction of the Group, ensuring the effective delivery of all services to enable the Trust to be a mental health and disability services provider of first choice and a leader of innovation in the mental health and disability sector.
You will work closely with the Board, Senior Leadership Team, kaimahi, tangata whaiora, whanau, collaborating partners, contract providers and mental health and disability sector networks to not only meet contractual and regulatory obligations but drive continuous improvement across the organisation and the sector.
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and implementation of SST’s strategic plan, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission, values, priorities and operational capacity.
- Identify emerging trends and opportunities in the mental health and social services sector, balancing innovation with organisational sustainability.
- Guard against mission drift by ensuring new initiatives remain faithful to SST’s purpose and scope.
- Drive quality, equity, and innovation in service delivery, ensuring SST continues to model best practice.
Organisational Leadership
- Build and support a high-performing Senior Leadership Team, ensuring clear structures, strong collaboration, and professional development.
- Oversee all financial, contractual, and regulatory obligations, maintaining fiscal sustainability and operational excellence.
- Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments and ensure services are culturally responsive and inclusive.
- Nurture a values-based, compassionate culture that empowers kaimahi and upholds the wellbeing of all staff and tangata whaiora.
Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
- Strengthen and grow relationships with key funders, partners, and sector networks, including Health NZ, Whaikaha, MSD, ACC, and Oranga Tamariki.
- Represent SST in regional and national forums, contributing to thought leadership and sector advocacy.
- Build meaningful partnerships with mana whenua, Māori, Pasifika, and immigrant communities to ensure services are equitable and responsive.
- Actively engage with other NGOs, peak bodies, and collaborative ventures to enhance system impact and collective voice.
Governance and Reporting
- Support and advise the Board with timely, accurate, and strategic information to inform governance decisions.
- Maintain robust risk management, financial stewardship, and compliance systems.
- Ensure clarity in governance and management roles, fostering a transparent and accountable leadership culture.
Qualifications and Experience
- Proven senior executive leadership experience within health, mental health, social services, or a similarly complex, service-based organisation.
- Demonstrated experience leading people, culture, operations, and strategy at scale.
- Strong understanding of the mental health and addictions sector, including funding and regulatory environments.
- Demonstrated financial and contractual acumen, including budget oversight and multi-agency partnership management.
- Understanding of and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural responsiveness in service delivery.
Attributes and Leadership Style
- Visionary and strategic thinker with a collaborative, empowering leadership approach.
- Authentic, relational communicator who builds trust across all levels of the organisation and community.
- Innovative and courageous, with the ability to balance consolidation with growth.
- Resilient, composed, and values-driven, able to navigate uncertainty with faith and integrity.
- A lived Christian faith, reflected in leadership, decision-making, and relationships.
- 1.Proven Leadership in Mental Health, Social Services, or Health Sectors
Demonstrated senior executive experience in complex service delivery organisations, with the ability to navigate the dynamic mental health and addictions landscape, and credibility with government, sector networks, and peer organisations. - 2.Strategic and Organisational Development Capability
Track record of leading growth and consolidation, strengthening organisational structures, and building cohesive, high-performing senior leadership teams in times of change and funding uncertainty. - 3.Financial and Contractual Acumen
Strong understanding of NGO funding environments, contract management, and diversification of revenue streams, with the ability to sustain financial health and advocate effectively for equitable resourcing. - 4.Relational, Faith-Based, and Values-Driven Leadership
Ability to embody and articulate Christian faith in leadership, building trust and credibility internally and externally. Skilled at engaging with diverse communities, stakeholders, and staff through compassion, integrity, and relational strength. - 5.Innovative and Collaborative Influence
An entrepreneurial mindset balanced with prudent stewardship; skilled at fostering innovation, developing partnerships, and contributing to system-level change through sector leadership, advocacy, and effective networking.
Reports to: Board of Trustees – Stepping Stone Trust; Board of Directors – Stepping Stone Connect Ltd
Direct Reports: Senior Leadership Team (approximately 8–10 members)
External Relationships: Funders, government agencies, sector networks, mana whenua, Māori and Pasifika organisations, and community partners.
Please discuss with Hardygroup Consultant
Service Location: Christchurch, New Zealand (with travel across Otago, Wellington, and nationally as required).
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 16th November 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5258
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Aldie Zuñiga: M: +61 (0)49 410 1082 / E: azuniga@hardygroupintl.com
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
David Price
National Manager, HardyGroup New Zealand
M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211
E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com
Paul Ingle
Chief Executive Officer, HardyGroup Australia & New Zealand
M. +61 (0)402 796 125
E. pingle@hardygroupintl.com
Living and working
in Canterbury and Christchurch
Living and Working in Canterbury
The Canterbury region is one of New Zealand’s most desirable places to live and work, offering a unique combination of natural beauty, a vibrant economy, cultural diversity, and an outstanding quality of life. Located on the east coast of Te Waipounamu (the South Island), Waitaha Canterbury is framed by the spectacular Southern Alps to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The wider region is renowned for its outdoor adventure opportunities, from skiing, hiking, and cycling to wine-tasting and coastal exploration, with dramatic landscapes famously showcased in The Lord of the Rings films.
Christchurch: The South Island's Largest City
At the heart of Canterbury lies Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city and the South Island’s largest urban centre, home to around 412,000 residents. Christchurch combines the energy of a growing, innovative city with easy access to nature, making it an ideal base for both professional and personal fulfilment. Since the 2011 earthquakes, the city has rebounded strongly, with steady population growth and significant investment in modern infrastructure, business districts, and vibrant community spaces.
Culture and Leisure
As the largest city in the South Island, Christchurch is also its cultural heart. The city combines a distinctly English heritage, visible in its architecture and gardens, with a strong and growing Māori cultural presence, reflected in public art, language, and community life. Expansive parks and green spaces add to the city’s liveability, while its museums, theatres, and galleries, including the renowned Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū showcase both local and international talent. A thriving restaurant and café scene, alongside festivals and live events, bring energy and variety to everyday life.
A Dynamic, Diverse Community
Christchurch is increasingly multicultural and dynamic, with nearly one in three residents born overseas. Its ethnic makeup reflects this diversity: around 76% European/Pākehā, 11% Māori, 17% Asian, and growing Pacific and MELAA communities. This rich cultural fabric brings energy to the city’s business networks, food scene, and cultural life, making it an exciting place to live and work. With a median age of 37.5 years, the city benefits from a skilled, young, and connected workforce, supported by leading universities, research institutions, and thriving innovation sectors.
Lifestyle and Opportunity
Set between the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Alps, Christchurch is a true gateway to the South Island. Residents enjoy easy access to world-class skiing, hiking, cycling, and beaches, all within a short drive of the city. The climate enhances this lifestyle: summers are warm and dry, typically between 20–25°C, while winters are cool but not harsh, averaging around 10°C, with nearby mountains providing snow for winter sports. With just 648 mm of rainfall annually, Christchurch is one of New Zealand’s driest and sunniest major cities, ideal for those who value an active, outdoor way of life.
Christchurch’s urban environment continues to flourish, with modern facilities, a vibrant hospitality sector, and strong community spirit. The result is a city that offers the balance of a cosmopolitan lifestyle, affordable living, and easy access to nature, making it an exceptional place to call home.
For more information on Living in Ōtautahi | Christchurch visit.
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