Gary Williams, Christchurch, MNZM, for services to disability support
Mr Gary Williams has represented the interests of disabled people both nationally and internationally, primarily through his prior position as CEO of the Disabled Persons Assembly New Zealand. He was involved with the Disabled Persons Assembly from its first general meeting in 1983 and has since served as Wellington DPA President and on the national executive committee. During his time as CEO from 1999 to 2009 he stabilised its finances, published ‘Our Vision’ and ‘Inclusive Communities’ and helped establish the Pacific Disability Forum. He was a non-government organisation member of the New Zealand Delegation to the United Nations for the negotiation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities from 2002 to 2006. He represented disabled people when New Zealand signed the Convention in 2007. In 2010 he project managed the rights monitoring programme involving disabled people on behalf of the Convention Coalition of Disabled People's Organisations. He is currently a board member/trustee of Barrier Free Trust, Voice Advocacy Trust, Standards and Monitoring Service, Access Ability Ltd and Standards Plus.