Lesley Max

Dame Lesley Max (née Shieff; born 20 September 1945) is a New Zealand children's advocate.

Early life and family Max was born Lesley Shieff in Auckland on 20 September 1945. She was educated at Takapuna Grammar School, and then studied at the University of Auckland between 1963 and 1966, graduating MA(Hons). Max introduced programmes to New Zealand to assist parents and young people, including the Home International Programme for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) and the Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme (MATES). She was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to children, in the 2010 New Year Honours. Max's damehood followed that of her cousin, Barbara Goodman, in 1989; it is thought to be the first time two Jewish cousins received damehoods.