Gavin and Michelle McConnell
About Us
Gavin and Michelle McConnell:
We are the 'face' of Piringa, but behind us there is a team of people involved in many different capacities. It is because of them that we can offer this service.
A little bit about us. We are both Kiwis who started off in professional careers and then went about applying those skills in a variety of international cross cultural situations over the best part of nearly 20 years, being in situations and doing jobs that we never dreamed of! Along the way these opportunities have meant that we have lived and worked in India, Mongolia, Cyprus, Thailand and from April 07 to Sept 09 we worked as Debriefers in France at an international debriefing centre called 'Le Rucher', where Christian cross cultural workers came from around the world for a week long residential debrief.
We saw the value of debriefing so much, we thought 'Why not bring it back to NZ?' - hence Piringa!
We have also managed over these years to squeeze some study in - theology / counselling / ESL / development and are both presently undertaking study in Spiritual Direction (will study ever end?......). As well as all this cross cultural experience we have also been associate pastors of a church here in NZ for a stint so we know what life back here looks and feels like.
As we said, Piringa is much bigger than us. Piringa is registered as a charitable trust. This means that the trustees will be responsible for the workings of 'Piringa'. This brings accountability and good management to the whole ministry. As well as having trustees to steer the direction of Piringa, we also have a board of advisors who because of their expertise and experience in certain fields can have input in strategic areas. As well, we will be accountable to an external supervisor for our practice. As a trained counsellor, Michelle is presently applying for membership of the New Zealand Christian Counsellor's Association. (NZCCA)
