Feeling burnt out? Are you seeing a toxic culture developing in your workplace? As we come to the end of a remarkable year, let’s reflect on what tools we used to battle the unexpected and the impact it has had on our physical and mental wellbeing.

This final LinC Activator for 2021 brings three specialists who focus on self-awareness and building capacity for personal well-being. They will also advise on how to model wellbeing and positive culture in an organisation.

This event will start with a guided mindfulness activity led by one of our speakers, Kotte Aguilar.

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WHEN: Tuesday 2 November (6pm - 8pm)

WHERE: TSB Space, Tūranga Central Library (Level 1)

FREE event with limited numbers due to Covid Alert Level 2 policy

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Meet the Speakers:

Kotte Aguilar - Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher and Coach

Kotte’s background is in yoga, mindfulness and meditation, however her skills are very diverse and versatile, speaker, mentor and coach to many, loves helping startups find a good strategy with a focus on social enterprises.

She is a mental health advocate, a youth leader, and she describes herself as an advocate of justice and speaker of the truth. She is passionate about improving mental health in NZ, educating people about climate and exploring in fun creative ways all difficult topics that we are facing such as depression, abuse, assault, racism, discrimation.

Her offerings are fun, creative, unusual, she stands out by making yoga accessible and fun.

Andy Hearn - Wellbeing, Safety & Performance Specialist

After initially working as a physiotherapist in the UK and NZ, Andy worked for 10 years as a Senior Academic Staff Member and Head of Science at CPIT (now Ara Institute of Canterbury). He then moved to the Canterbury DHB in 2012 to lead the DHB’s staff wellbeing response following the Canterbury earthquakes. After four years at the CDHB Andy moved to Emerge Aotearoa as their National Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager. In 2018 he returned to Ara on a two-year contract as Manager – Health & Wellbeing. The purpose of this role was to develop and embed an evidence based, system wide focus on staff wellbeing – a challenging time as it coincided with the Christchurch mosque attacks and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Andy currently works at Ara (part-time lecturer) and is self-employed as a Professional Coach, Facilitator and Wellbeing Consultant.

Emily Baird - Consultant Psychologist specialising in Relationships and Health and wellbeing

Emily is an experienced Child and Family Psychologist who has worked in a variety of settings across New Zealand and Queensland, Australia over the past 15 years. She has a background working in community mental health, school-based settings, not for profit organisations, clinical research, and private practice.

In her clinical practice she uses a variety of evidenced based therapies and specializes in in the treatment of anxiety, depression, behavioural, learning and relationship problems in children, young people, and their families. Emily is also experienced in providing ADHD and ASD assessments.

In addition, Emily provides EAP (Employer Assisted Programmes) support which consists of short-term solution focused therapy for a range of well-being difficulties and is a contributing author of the Home Therapist Book which is a practical self-help guide for everyday psychological problems.

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What is Activator?

The LinC Project Activator has been designed to support community leaders across Canterbury with a speaker series aimed at inspiring and growing leaders in their communities. Each Activator event, had a different theme and focus, and offered amazing opportunities for discussion, engagement and learning. These public events are open to anyone ready to be inspired, challenged and motivated.

What Is The LinC Project?

Building communities through supporting local leaders.

The LinC Project started as a 10-month, strengths-based leadership programme for 40+ individuals from communities across Greater Christchurch in 2014. The second group began in December 2015, with 35 leaders from ‘community organisations’ and 10 leaders from Government organisations. In 2018 the LinC project becomes LinC Incubator, LinC Cultivator and Activator.

The intention of LinC is to support and sustain these leaders, their colleagues and their wider communities.