3/15/2010 1:02:00 PM New executive officer appointed to Human Rights Commission
* Photo supplied. HRC executive officer Lisa Lister Currin
Cabinet Office press release
MONDAY, MAR. 15: The Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation is pleased to announce that the Public Service Commission has appointed Lisa Lister Currin as executive officer of the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
Ms Currin assumed the post on March 1, 2010. In her role, Ms Currin will be responsible for the management and administration of the office of the Human Rights Commission. She will provide an array of professional services to the Commissioners including overseeing the process of investigations into complaints under the Human Rights Act 1981 (HRA) and to ensure that the investigations are carried out effectively.
Yesterday, Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield welcomed Ms Currin to the new post saying: "Lisa Lister Currin is an unusually perceptive and visionary individual who brings tremendous insight and understanding of human rights issues."
The Minister added: "She assumes her new role at a time when all eyes are on human rights, and she has a scrupulous regard for the facts and an uncompromising commitment to human rights. I am confident that Lisa's appointment will strengthen the HRC's presence in the community."
Ms Currin said: "It's an honour to be appointed as the Executive Officer of the HRC. Human rights are essential to building a decent, just and peaceful society and I look forward to working with the Commissioners, the Chairman, the Director and the talented and committed staff of the HRC, to advance human rights in Bermuda."
In this role the HRC executive officer will also oversee the execution of awareness and outreach programmes to educate the community on human rights issues under the HRA and the Bermuda Constitution.
She will have a dual reporting role in that she will report to both the chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Shade Subair, and the director of the Department of Human Affairs, Deborah Blakeney.
Ms Currin brings several years experience in policy development and research-based advice to her new role. She previously worked as a management consultant in the Department of Human Resources (formerly Management Services) where she was responsible for collaboratively developing solutions to assist Government ministries and departments to meet their strategic and operational challenges in the changing political, economic and legislative environments in which they operate.
As an individual with a strong passion for social justice, Ms Currin has a background in volunteerism and advocacy. In 2006 to 2008, she was chair of the Committee for the National Policy on Disabilities, which was responsible for writing the Government's policy on disabilities.
This enormous effort laid the foundation to transform public policy and community mind set on issues related to human rights for people with disabilities. From 2008 to 2009, she was co-chair of the National Accessibility Advisory Council (NAAC). While in this role, she was responsible for laying the groundwork of implementing Bermuda's national policy on disabilities.
Ms Currin is a graduate of Rider University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She is certified in organisational development and project management through the NTL Institute and ESI International, respectively.
Ms Currin is also an advisor to the Centre for the Performing Arts Project, executive member of the Warwick Academy PTA and a diamond life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Comment by:
Josseline Philip
Um...! Human Rights? A few years ago, when I resided in Bermuda and I went for help at the HRC, I was told that it was only for Bermudians? It made me understand that... "I was not a human being". Josseline
