Chris Davidson

Background

About Chris Davidson

I currently work for Youthtown in the role of Manager – Youth Employability. Youthtown is the national agency for the ‘Licence to Work’ Youth Employability Programme (YEP). YEP builds on the seven key employability skills that employers say they feel are essential to make a successful start in the workforce and establishing a career. My role is responsible for guiding the growth, development and implementation of YEP. This is a part-time role as I embark on a PhD journey with the University of Auckland, within the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation. The provisional aim of the research is to identify factors that can increase youth engagement and improve outcomes in employability programmes. It will focus on exploring how arts and play can add a creative element that might resonate with and increase the engagement of young people. I am passionate about youth and community development. I have worked for several community organisations including the Peace Foundation, Waitakere Abuse and Trauma Counselling Service, Man Alive Charitable Trust, Parnell Community Trust and Taikura Trust. My work is grounded in qualifications in sociology, accountancy and finance. Non-profit Boards I have served on include WAVES, Violence Free Waitakere, WATCS (now Family Action), Ara Taiohi and Community Waitakere.