We are pleased to confirm the appointment of three new SWRB board members:
Mike Munnelly, Paula Grooby and Ruth Jones.
Each brings a wealth of expertise in social work and passion for the profession.

Mike Munnelly steps into the Board chair role on 1 January 2025. Mike was instrumental in the PSA pay equity settlement for social workers in the NGO sector. He brings experience from across his career as a social work practitioner, health and safety regulator, National Manager Care and Protection for Child Youth and Family, and previously as Chief Executive of Barnardos. From his current role as a special advisor for SWRB Mike brings substantial insight and operational knowledge. We are fortunate to have someone with his skills and experience step into the Chair role.

Paula Grooby joins the Board from 1 October 2024. Paula brings extensive social work experience from within child protection and is a current SWRB Professional Conduct Committee panel member. She has a longstanding involvement and passion in how SWRB supports social workers and the public to ensure the right people are in social worker roles. This role builds on previous board experience on a school Board of Trustees and the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW).

Ruth Jones takes up her Board role on 1 January 2025. Ruth has been part of the sector for over thirty years. She is a social worker with a lived experience of disability and a consumer of social work services. She has held several national Governance positions including chair of the Workbridge Board and she is currently a member of the Ministerial Advisory Board for Oranga Tamariki, the Iwi Māori Partnership Board, Te Tauraki, for the Ngāi Tahu takiwā, and co-chair of the Design Group for the redress for Survivors of Abuse in State and Faith-based Care. 

We are entering a new phase, with three new social workers taking their place at the Board table. We are confident that with the experience, connections and knowledge we are benefiting from, we will continue to build on the progress we’ve made on our journey.