Working together to end poverty and injustice

Oxfam Programme Committee

The Oxfam Programme Committee meets twice a year to evaluate and provide feedback on specific Oxfam New Zealand projects and programme work. The committee offers a broad context of the world of development, gives advice on international NGO best practice in programme work, evaluates internal systems and processes and provides recommendations on new programme work.

Members are selected with an emphasis on expertise and practical experience in international development programmes and projects, preferably in the Asia Pacific region. Committee members may work for Oxfam New Zealand as technical advisers (paid or unpaid) outside their role as members of the Programme Committee. The committee is accountable in an advisory capacity to the Oxfam executive director and the Board of Trustees.

The Committee

• Nicky Wrighton: Committee Chair
• Mary Cretney
• Jean McKinnon
• Kate Medlicott

Nicky Wrighton (Chair)

Nicki is a self-employed development consultant and one of the Coordinators of the Canada Fund Programme in Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Fiji. Nicki previously worked for NZAID as a Training and Education Advisor before taking on management of their Fiji and Tuvalu programmes from the New Zealand High Commission, Suva (2002–2005). She has recently been appointed as the Government of Tuvalu representative on the Tuvalu Trust Fund Advisory Committee.

"It's great to be involved with Oxfam. I've spent a lot of my working life in and around the Pacific, and I've seen first hand the positive changes they are making. Oxfam's strong commitment to working alongside their overseas partners, together with their quality systems and efficient programmes, means that our supporters' dollars really do make a difference."

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Mary Cretney

Since 1996, Mary has worked as a self-employed consultant in financial management, systems analysis, accounting and administration services, project management, computer support and training for several development projects and small businesses in Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and New Zealand. She has also worked as a computer training centre manager; an electorate secretary; a maths, chemistry and physics tutor; and a toxicologist. Mary has been a Programme Committee member at Oxfam New Zealand since 2000.

"I work in development, mostly in Pacific with civil society groups. Volunteerism is a key ethos of this sector so it is good to be able to contribute in this way. Being on the ONZ Programme Committee is stimulating, stretching and rewarding. Hopefully it makes me a better practitioner as well."

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Jean McKinnon

A trained artist and teacher, Jean has worked in the development sector, mostly in southeast Asia and Melanesia, since 1988. She is currently an approved contractor for the New Zealand Aid Programme. Her experience is diverse, having worked as acting East Asia Programme Manager at Oxfam New Zealand; as a member of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Advisory Committee on External Aid and Development; as a manager and technical adviser of the Lombok Crafts Project; as a community development and gender specialist; as team leader and technical advisor to the Vanuatu Rural Skills Training Project; and as a community development and capacity-building specialist.

"When I returned to New Zealand in 1991 I investigated the NZ NGOs to find one with a good approach to development (supporting community-based work of local organisations, advocacy and no child sponsorship). Oxfam fit the bill, even back in those days when it was very small and still closely associated with Oxfam Australia (CAA). I would like to have joined the staff but as I live in Wellington that wasn’t possible. My experience of working for ONZ in a voluntary capacity, however, has been very rewarding."

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Kate Medlicott

Kate is currently working as an independent development and sustainability consultant. From 2003 to 2008 she was Water and Humanitarian Programme Manager at Oxfam New Zealand. She has worked in Laos as an independent consultant to NGOs in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, child rights and livelihoods, and as an environmental engineer for Beca Consulting Group.

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