Ms Clifford-Lidstone says she hopes to represent her family well and emphasises that a priority for her is ensuring a healthy work and life balance is maintained.
"My extended family have expressed a sense of shared pride and support; going hand-in-hand with that is a deep sense of responsibility to represent them well and to demonstrate the values that have been instilled in me.
For my immediate family, they are also proud, but more concerned about the logistical implications like, will I be away much, will I be able to be on the carpool list to take Matteo to football training, will I have time to debrief with Roma on the latest Premier League drama for Manchester City? They are accustom to me working long hours, but I need to make sure I maintain a good work-life balance in these first few months."
Ms Clifford-Lidstone was the former Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora and reflecting on her previous role, she appreciated the opportunity to work with and alongside other leaders.
"I was working at the Ministry of Health during a very dynamic time. It started with the COVID-19 response and then of course the health system reforms. I got to work with some amazing leaders both within the Ministry and in the Pacific Health sector.
On the Pacific health sector side were united in our concern for Pacific communities. This was very important because we didn’t always see eye to eye but our shared vision to make sure our community were protected, during COVID, and represented, during the reforms, meant that we found our way through.
It was also great to work alongside leaders from PMA like Dr Kiki Maoate, Debbie Sorensen, Sir Collin Tukuitonga and Dr Api Talemaitoga, whose experience with the health system throughout my tenure at MOH was invaluable."
As she settles into the role, Ms Clifford-Lidstone looks forward to implementing meaningful and purposeful work.
"I really enjoyed working with Minister Sio while at the Ministry of Health and I was looking forward to working with him at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. I want to acknowledge his leadership in this space. We have a new Minister and I am excited by the prospect of working with the Honourable Barbara Edmonds to implement the Government’s intent for Pacific peoples.
I am a few days into the job and I am getting a really good understanding of the current work programme. I will do some thinking and planning with the leadership team about what this might look like in this election year. I am keen to connect in meaningful ways with communities and I also look forward to working closely with PMA and its groups going forward."
PMA CEO, Debbie Sorensen, says Ms Clifford-Lidstone has been a long standing friend and supporter of PMA's work and she is proud of her for the achievement.
"Gerardine is a strong advocate for Pacific people and communities and we are very proud to see her take on this new role. She is a part of our PMA family and we are grateful to have worked alongside her throughout her time at the Ministry of Health.
We look forward to maintaining a close relationship with Gerardine in her new role and have no doubt that her unique sense of leadership, wealth of experience and commitment to serving Pacific communities will put her in a position to lead the organisation well."