Erin Geaney Scholarship Award

Erin Geaney was a valued member of GLE having worked with the organization almost from its foundation 23 years ago. She lived in New Zealand and was known worldwide by many of our members. Erin had a key role in managing the registrations process for the Leadership Exchanges and was a helpful and friendly face to all. Sadly, Erin unexpectedly died in February 2025.

To honour and acknowledge Erin’s tremendous contribution to the organization, GLE established a scholarship scheme in her name to support a New Zealand leader to attend our Leadership Exchange event.

We are delighted to share that Kerri Butler is the recipient of the inaugural Erin Geaney Scholarship and will be attending the event in June. Kerri represents an exceptional example of ideas translated into sustained action, aligning with the theme of the Exchange and combines this with a deep alignment with the values of GLE and Erin’s legacy.

Through her leadership of He Puāwai Manukura, Kerri identified and addressed a long-standing system gap: the absence of culturally grounded, purpose-built leadership pathways for peer and lived experience leaders. She translated this insight into a mature, scalable, and enduring leadership intervention that has operated nationally and supported a diverse cohort of leaders, including a strong proportion of Māori participants. Kerri will take a lead in sharing the knowledge and information she gains from the Exchange with leaders at all levels in New Zealand on her return.

As part of the process of considering a successful nominee for this scholarship, GLE worked closely with mental health, addictions, substance use and disability leaders in New Zealand.  Two independent panels were established with GLE leadership making the final decision.

GLE would like to thank all those who participated in the process and in particular Erin’s family for their support of this initiative. We look forward to working with them closely in the run up to the next Leadership Exchange in 2028.

Erin’s extended family and friends provided the following statement:

“As Erin’s whānau, we feel this scholarship reflects what mattered most to her – supporting others to grow, lead, and access opportunities they might not otherwise have. We’re thankful to GLE for carrying her values forward in this way. The Leadership Exchanges were something Erin looked forward to each time, so knowing her legacy is still present in the upcoming Exchange means a great deal to us.

“Mā ngā pakiaka e tū ai te rākau – With strong roots, a tree will stand.”