Passionate member appointed as Commissioner
2 September 2011
RNZFB member Paul Gibson's personal experience with disability has driven his passion for disabled rights. Enough so, that he's been appointed by the Human Rights Commission as the first Commissioner with formal responsibility for disability issues!
Paul has an impressive record as a disability advocate. He holds a Masters degree in pubilc policy and is currently doing work for IHC. He has previously held the role of senior disability advisor at Capital and Coast Health, has been President of the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) and has worked for CCS Disability Action.
New Zealand was instrumental in the development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Mr Gibson was among those who contributed to that work. He takes up his new role on 26 September, which is the third anniversary of the date New Zealand ratified the Disability Convention in 2008.
Congratulations Paul! For more information, visit the Human Rights Commission website.