Musa, who worked as a mental health nurse in the United Kingdom before taking up roles in mental health and forensic services and management in New Zealand, has accepted a chief executive role at Platform/Atamira charitable trust. The trust connects the health system with community mental health and addiction organisations. Musa said the role would keep him involved with influencing health and social policy on behalf of community organisations.
Musa came to NZNO in 2013. Since then his focus has included implementing a new constitution, NZNO’s strategic and operational priorities and building relationships both inside and outside NZNO. He acknowledged the past two years had been particularly tumultuous with complex district health board pay negotiations, strikes and two “unprecedented” special general meetings.
Throughout, Musa said he had tried to focus on integrity, transparency and engaging with other nursing and union leaders. “It was important to be clear in my own mind about what was right, in order to do the right things for members.” He had enjoyed working with “highly spirited” staff committed to organising, engaging and representing members across industrial and professional issues.
“NZNO is a strong organisation with more than 100 years of history and will continue being strong and to grow.”
NZNO president Heather Symes said Musa had navigated NZNO through very tough times, and NZNO had been “lucky to have him so long”. Musa would be drawing on his mental health nursing skills in his new role, she said. His last day is February 26, 2021.