Stephen Turnock

Background

About Stephen Turnock

As Director of DCM, I work to fulfil our vision: building communities where whānau are housed, connected, valued, and thriving. My aim? To build a leadership team with the capabilities to bring that vision to life. It’s why I continue to construct a values-based culture that everyone can share, buy into, and feel an integral part of. And place those values – Manaakitanga (integrity, trust, sincerity), Kotahitanga (unity, collective action), Pono (walk the talk), Rangatiratanga (leadership, striving for excellence), Hihiritanga (always improving), and Whanaungatanga (identity and belonging) – at the heart of our organisation’s philosophy. I joined DCM in 2019: first navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its disproportionate impact not only on Wellington’s most vulnerable communities but our own staff. Since then, I’ve taken the organisation on a journey through transformational change. I’ve helped it gain clarity around its vision and mission, and developed the infrastructure to measure success in tangible, data-driven ways. To ask not only what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, or even where we’re going – but how we can continuously improve how we get there, and in a way that reflects our values. I bring a wealth of experience building strong relationships with key stakeholders; and the ability to communicate – effectively and empathetically – with people from all cultures, creeds, and communities. In my previous role as Operations Manager at Porirua Whānau Centre, I developed partnerships to drive the success of community projects, acted decisively to spot inefficiencies, and adapted quickly to resolve challenges. I strongly believe everyone should have the same rights and enjoy equal access to life’s resources and opportunities. Here at DCM, I’m empowered to be genuinely working towards equality. As a proud Māori Tāne, I’ve experienced systemic racism first-hand; the stacking of the cards against our country’s most marginalised, vulnerable populations. To counter this, I consider it a privilege to work with Wellington whānau: supporting them to fulfil their aspirations and make profound, positive changes in their lives.