Three new Trustees have been appointed to the Board of Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai, effective August 4, 2022.

“Each of them brings a wealth of experience and knowledge,” says Chair Joanna Pidgeon. “Their skills complement those of our existing Trustees. We are fortunate to have them and grateful for their commitment to the Mission’s vision and values.”

Paul Gilberd

Paul has signficant experience in organisational change, business development, service delivery and communications as well as in governance. He is the General Manager of the social enterprise, Community Finance, which provides low-cost finance to New Zealand’s Community Housing Providers. He is also a member of the University of Auckland Society Executive Board and spent 10 years with the Meningitis Foundation as founding Director and Board Member. He has been a consultant to and member of The Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia and advised various Boards of Anglican entities. He is a previous General Manager – Strategy and Development of the New Zealand Housing Foundation and was the Development Manager for the University of Auckland Business School.

Arend Merrie

Arend is a surgeon and senior health leader with governance experience. He has a particular interest in Māori and Pacific health inequity. Alongside his work in general and colorectal surgery, Arend is a trainer on Auckland DHB workshops related to interpersonal skills and culture and a senior examiner for General Surgery for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He was previously the Director of Surgical Services for Auckland DHB and the Chair of the DHB’s Surgical Board. His other previous governance and leadership roles include Board Member of the Gut Cancer Foundation; Member of the Clinical Advisory Group for MercyAscot Hospitals; Chair of the General Surgical Specialty Group for MercyAscot Hospitals; Member of the Executive for the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons; Director of the Auckland Colorectal Centre and Director of Endometriosis Auckland. In addition, Arend is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and a visiting surgeon at Auckland City Mission’s Calder Health Centre.

Erica Whineray Kelly

Erica is a breast cancer surgeon and the Managing Director and Founder of Auckland Breast Centre. As well as leading the centre’s marketing, staffing, governance and culture, she continues to treat patients, beingone of the highest volume breast cancer surgeons in the private sector. She was previously the Managing Director and Founder of Focus Radiotherapy, which led the introduction of Intrabeam single dose intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in New Zealand. Erica was the Founding Chair of InZone Girls Advisory Board, an organisation which provides subsidised boarding and schooling at Epsom Girls Grammar for Māori and Pasifika students. She has been a Women of Influence Award Finalist; winner of the Epsom Girls Grammar School Founders Award; and a Be Accessible Fab 50 Leader and accessibility advocate. Erica is the surgeon representative on Southern Cross Hospital’s Culture of Safety Committee, and an active member of NZ Global Women who continues to mentor young women.

 

Paul, Arend and Erica join current Board members:

Joanna Pidgeon (Chair)

Graeme Birkhead

Dr Elana Taipapaki Curtis

Evan Davies

The Ven Dr Lyndon Drake

Gavin Rennie

Linley Wood

Joanna says it gives her great confidence in the Mission’s future, knowing that Paul, Arend and Erica are joining the Board.  “They will bring new critical thinking and ideas to an already exemplary team of Trustees.   I thank each of them for becoming a Trustee and look forward to working with them.”