Head and Heart was established in 2012.  Its director, Janet Brown, has extensive experience managing teams and groups, including nationally distributed staff.  Janet is widely recognised for her skill and expertise in mentoring new managers, and ability to develop positive, productive and high-performing teams.

Before setting up Head and Heart, Janet was General Manager Operations at Careers New Zealand from 2005 to 2012, leading more than 100 staff in 17 different locations.  Her team there was described by a consultant as “exceptionally high trust and high performing” (Roz McCay, Gravitas Consulting).  Janet had a 23 year career as a public servant, specialising in strategic and operational policy management and development.  This included a period as Strategic HR Manager (Equal Employment Opportunities) for the Department of Social Welfare, working as a policy manager in a range of Government agencies including the Ministry of Education and the Department for Courts, and working for the Education Review Office.  Janet also served several years as Vice-President of the PSA.  Early in her career she was the first organiser for the Bank Officers Union (now FinSec).

Janet is also a skilled writer, and has had articles published in North and South, the Listener and Next.

Janet has a BA in New Zealand and Pacific History and a Certificate in Industrial Relations, and still intends to find the time to write the long overdue thesis that would complete her Master of Public Policy qualification.

Janet lives with her husband John, two dogs, one cat and a highly productive vege garden, and treasures the time she spends with her family, especially her grandson who spends Monday with her.   Cooking and gardening are high on her list of activities, which also includes enjoying stitching and knitting, theatre and concert-going, reading, time with friends and family, and active involvement at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, where she is currently the Dean’s Warden.