PR doyen Chambers taking a break from public roles
A doyen of the public relations industry in Christchurch is taking a rest from her governmentappointed roles.
Tracey Chambers and her husband, Noel, have been a mainstay of the public relations industry in Christchurch for many years through their firm Chambers. Tracey Chambers has had many high profile clients and prides herself on being well connected to influential circles in the city.
She has been involved in Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce affairs as a board member, vice-president and president and is a political appointee to the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) and the Rata Foundation, a charity that distributes $20 million a year. She is chairwoman of the CDHB’s Disabilities Advisory Committee and a member of the Facilities Committee.
She is close to National Party stalwarts and a close friend of former CDHB head Murray Cleverley, who stood down earlier this year after a State Services investigation.
After The Press approached her with questions prompted by concerns about recent conduct, Chambers said she had taken a leave of absence from her positions
''I felt I needed some time to look after my wellbeing and that of my children."
Tracey Chambers
on the CDHB and the Rata Foundation until the end of January due to an episode of depressive illness exacerbated by personal relationship difficulties.
In a written statement provided to The Press by her lawyer, Chambers said she was managing with the appropriate support. ‘‘As those who are experienced with mental health know, depression and anxiety can be exacerbated by stress. While I believed that real experiences help governors make good decisions, I felt I needed some time to look after my wellbeing and that of my children.’’
The Press has learned some trustees at the Rata Foundation became concerned by her behaviour several years ago and fraught relationships with key staff that they made representations that she not be reappointed at the last round in 2014-15. She was.
The CDHB’s Disability Advisory committee has had difficulties this year. It was supposed to have six meetings but a lack of attendees forced one to be cancelled and another to withhold making decisions.
Chambers declined to answer a list of questions from The Press but in her statement said her focus was to contribute to the community as best she could.
‘‘Taking leave for mental health or wellbeing is no different to taking leave to recover from a physical injury and it should not be newsworthy.’’