Rick Mirkin

Having been NZALPA's first Industrial Officer and professional advocate from 1974-77, Rick Mirkin returned to the Association as the inaugural Executive Director in May 2008 following a long and eminent career in industrial relations and management. 

A New Yorker by upbringing, Rick completed a degree in Industrial & Labor Relations at Cornell University before finding a new home in  NZ in 1971.  He learned his trade as a union official in the airline industry, representing various ground staff groups as well as pilots and cabin crew for over eight years. He was involved in determining DC10 pay and conditions for pilots and later B747 conditions for cabin crew, provided NZALPA's first assistance for ATCs, and was intimately involved in the aftermath of Erebus.  

In the early 80's Rick took an opportunity to move into management, becoming  NZ Steel's Industrial Relations Manager on the eve of the $2b Think Big Expansion Project. His success in that demanding environment saw him appointed by the Minister of Labour as a Member of the then NZ Labour Court, a part-time post he held for the next five years. NZ's only fully-integrated steelmaker then sent Rick off to Henley Management College in the UK for advanced management training before being appointed General Manager of the firm's  global shipping and warehousing businesses. In this role Rick managed the export of finished product and the import of raw materials, with an annual budget approaching $100m.  When NZ Steel was sold to BHP by the Lange Labour Government, Rick moved on to NZ Rail where he was Northern Region Manager of both the Railfreight business and all of rail operations in and out of NZ's busiest region.  

An opportunity came along in the 1990's to change career direction and Rick decided to add a new string to his bow. He became a high-level consultant for almost eight years, working for Hewitt Associates and then  KPMG in what was then NZ's largest HR consulting business. He broadened his base and became involved in many mergers and acquisitions and career transition work, as well as the full range of HR and IR activities on behalf of clients. During his consulting years, Rick undertook assignments for in excess of 150 organisations, providing unparalleled experience in all aspects of business management and change.

With the change of government in 1999, the demise of the Employment Contracts Act and the advent of the Employment Relations Act with its modern "good faith" prescription, Rick decided to sharpen  his employment law skills by becoming an Adjudicator-Mediator in the Employment Tribunal. After two years he moved on to become People Relations Manager for The Warehouse Group for three years, responsible for employment relations and health & safety throughout the Group's 120+ NZ sites. A subsequent restructuring resulted in Rick moving on at the end of 2004, but he then realised a long-held ambition to work for Fonterra, being appointed group Employee Relations Manager for the consumer products business (formerly Mainland Products, now known as Fonterra Brands). After three years Rick left Fonterra in early 2008, "coming home" to NZALPA as Executive Director.

Sally Howearth

Sally Howearth joined NZALPA in September 2003 as our Administration Manager providing day-to-day office and financial management, as well as management of all accounting and administration functions. 

Sally has a strong Administration background, with 27 years office experience in small to medium sized businesses within New Zealand.  After completing a Secretarial Course in 1977, Sally began her career as Receptionist for a sharebroking partnership in the inner Auckland City.  Since that time she has worked in various areas involving office administration and accounts, and has a great deal of experience in sole charge positions.  In particular Sally was the Office Manager for Ross Reid Earthmoving Contractors for five years, having sole charge office responsibilities as well as a major involvement in the Health & Safety and Quality Management systems.

Richard McCabe

Richard McCabe has been employed by NZALPA in the position of Office Solicitor since 1999.  His duties essentially comprise litigation and trouble-shooting while working closely with the NZALPA Legal Team.

After leaving school, Richard performed a variety of jobs, ending up in Australia and returning to New Zealand where he completed a law degree at Auckland University.  Richard’s involvement with unions has been an ongoing one;  when Richard left school in 1976, union membership was compulsory in New Zealand and he became a union delegate at the tender age of 17. 

Following the introduction of the Employment Contract Acts 1991 (and being made redundant under that Act), Richard set up his own industrial law practice specialising in personal grievances until joining the NZALPA team. 

Adam Nicholson

Adam Nicholson came to NZALPA in January 1989 from the NZ Nurses Association and, before that, the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union (now known as the Service Workers Union).  In total, since completing his law degree at Auckland University, Adam has worked in the areas of employment law and negotiation for unions for some thirty years.  Within NZALPA Adam deals with almost all the full range of tasks and issues that arise but bows to the rest of the legal team’s abilities in matters of litigation.  Adam is a recipient of the NZALPA Scroll of Merit recognising his dedicated work for the Association and its members. Adam recently completed his 20th year of employment with NZALPA.

When not at work Adam’s interests include trout fishing, judo, cricket, reading, good food and wine, and doing things with his two teenage sons.

Dawn Handforth

Dawn Handforth commenced employment with NZALPA in 2000, in the position of Legal Officer.  Dawn's role is varied and diverse and her duties (amongst others) include negotiating collective employment agreements and resolving personal grievances/employment relationship problems.

Dawn emigrated from England to Cape Town, South Africa in 1982.  She graduated BA (English and Public Administration) in 1990 and graduated LLB in 1995.  Dawn practised employment law in the hospitality industry in South Africa until immigrating to New Zealand in 1999.

Eliza Bradley

Originally Eliza began working with NZALPA in January 1999 and left in February 2004. Since her departure from NZALPA she went into Recruitment as well as the Hairdressing industry in administration roles. The opportunity came up to come back to work at NZALPA again and Eliza just couldn't refuse as this position and location was convenient for her.

At NZALPA Eliza is employed as Membership Coordinator and happily deals with member enquiries. She is responsible for the day-to-day membership administration functions of the office.

Karen Tenana

Karen joined NZALPA in March 2008 in the position of Legal Secretary for Richard McCabe, Adam Nicholson and Dawn Handforth.  Her role comprises working with the legal team and assisting with all secretarial duties, calendar management, travel and accommodation bookings for the team and all members and assisting with bulk mail outs to the members.

Karen is originally from Wellington and has been in Auckland since 1999.  She has been working in law for about 7 years.  Some of her previous employers include ANZ Banking Group and Phillips Fox in Wellington and Russell McVeagh in Auckland where she was for 4 years before leaving for maternity leave.  After spending a year on maternity leave she spent the next 3 years living in Japan with her husband and children and returned to New Zealand early last year.

On returning to New Zealand Karen worked at Ellis Gould in the CBD before deciding to join NZALPA which was closer to home.

Lauren Phillips

Lauren attended High School in Hamilton before moving to Auckland. Lauren Holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in political studies from the University of Auckland. Lauren has also completed professional studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Auckland.

Lauren works for NZALPA’s legal team as a Solicitor.

Mark Wardle

Mark commenced employment with NZALPA in October 2008 as the Communications and IT Coordinator. His role consists of IT support for the office,maintenance of all four NZALPA websites, membership communication, creation of NZALPA newsletters & magazine and development of the NZALPA Erebus project. 

Mark holds a Bachelor of Applied Communication in Marketing Communication and Public Relations.

Pamela Hutton

Pamela has been employed by NZALPA in the position of Administration Coordinator since 2000 and during this time Pamela has enjoyed dealing with and meeting many of NZALPA’s members. 

Half of Pamela’s time is spent acting as an intermediary for the five different types of insurance cover that NZALPA offers its members.  Her work involves processing applications for cover, changes of cover, billing, back-up for members on leave without pay, employer reimbursement of premiums, assisting and supporting claimants, and general enquires to do with the day-to-day queries and claims of ALPA members.

The other position Pamela fills is supporting NZALPA’s Administration Manager Sally Howearth in the Accounting and Administration area. In addition she is NZALPA’s Payroll Administrator and ALPA’s First Aid Officer.

Ross Gillespie

Ross joined ALPA in early 2009, after a 36 year career with Air NZ. Ross began his career in aviation in 1973, where he completed a 5 year aircraft engineering apprenticeship in engines and airframes. He completed a Trade Certificate and licenses on DC8 / DC10 aircraft and became a Licensed Air Maintenance Engineer (LAME). 

Upon completion of tertiary study he gained a NZ certificate in engineering (NZCE mechanical) which resulted in a move to the Performance Engineering Section within Air NZ, to oversee the on board engine / aircraft performance monitoring of DC-8 and DC-10 aircraft. Ross gained the required qualifications and was accepted by Flight Operations as a Flight Engineer on the DC8, DC8 freighter, and B747-200 for Air NZ, with an 18 month secondment during the early 80's operating the B727-200 for Ansett Australia and the B747-200 for Air Pacific, an aircraft which was dry leased from Air NZ during the 90's.

Due to the unexpected divestment of the Air NZ B747-200 fleet (following the Air NZ Ansett debacle), Ross folded his wings and moved into Flight Operations Management where he became involved in the setting up of the Airport Certification Group. He gained the APL 106 qualification for airport certification and introduced CBT airport qualification packages as we know today.

Ross worked as the B767 Flight Crew Manager, that lead to the position of International Flight Crew Manager, overseeing the B767, B747, and latterly the B777 fleet both from a crew and engineering perspective.

With a grown family, time came for a change in 2007 and he subsequently moved to Whitianga on the Coromandel and project managed the construction of a 48 waterfront unit development (my flying background was really tested here !!!!!) which is now successfully completed and was a great challenge.

His roots however, are with aviation, so Ross was delighted to be offered the Technical Officer Position with NZALPA and get back to what he knows best.

Ross has been married for 32 yrs.

Hobbies: boating, classic cars, sport and very bad golf.

Diane Barton

Diane  commenced employment with NZALPA in October 2000 working primarily in the reception and secretarial areas.   Diane has a legal secretarial and personal assistant background and prior to joining NZALPA she worked as a legal secretary for 3 Barristers, so we have been able to utilise her valuable skills in the legal department when the need has arisen.  

Diane's duties have involved membership subscriptions, travel bookings, backup to reception and she has also organised the annual conference for NZALPA in 2003 and the ASAP Conference in 2001.   

When NZALPA relocated to the new offices at the airport, Diane made the decision to 'retire' from the workforce.  But it wasn't long before she was once again back on a casual basis to help out when 'many hands were needed' and is now working part-time 2 days a week. 

Halie McKay