Hospice NZ exists to lead the hospice movement to ensure that every New Zealander has access to quality palliative care.
Our small but dedicated team is based in Wellington, you can read a little about the Board and our people below
Hospice New Zealand is governed by a board which implements the national body's vision and strategic plan. The are elected representatives from amongst the hospice membership.
Wilf Marley - President
Mr Marley is a trustee from Hospice North Shore with an accounting background. He recognises the need for a strong national body to support its members and achieve enough national and government profile to reinforce and enhance its leading position in hospice palliative care and related services for New Zealand's terminally ill and their families.
Associate Professor A.D. (Sandy) Macleod- Clinical Advisor
Associate Professor Macleod is a psychiatrist and palliative medicine physician. He is currently working in the Palliative Care Service at Christchurch Hospital and he was the Medical Director at Nurse Maude Hospice, Christchurch, for 14 years. He has worked as a consultation-liaison psychiatrist since 1985. An Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury, he has published over 50 articles and two books including The Psychiatry of Palliative Medicine: the dying mind. 2nd Ed., London, Radcliffe, 2011.
Biddy Harford is the chief executive at Te Omanga Hospice in Lower Hutt. She brings with her strength in management and the ability to establish relationships and be an advocate of hospice palliative care.
Alan Beal is the chief executive at Totara Hospice South Auckland. He brings over 45 years experience in commercial insurance in NZ / UK in senior management and operating and Executive Board roles.
Kevin Nielsen has been the chief executive of Hospice Taranaki in New Plymouth since joining the organisation in 2002. Prior to that Kevin spent 36 years in the newspaper industry, the last 16 of that as general manager of Taranaki Newspapers.
Peter Buckland is the chief executive of Mercy Healthcare Auckland Limited. He has worked in the hospice movement for the past 28 eyars, leading hospices in New Zealand and South Africa and was also the CEO of the Hospice Association of South Africa.
Jo Seagar - Hospice Ambassador & Patron
Jo has been voluntary Hospice Ambassador since 1999 and Patron since December 2010. Jo attends many events every year and uses any opportunity to raise awareness of hospice through her many activities. You can find out more about Jo and her world famous cook school in Oxford by visiting her website.
Mary Schumacher - Chief Executive
Mary joined Hospice NZ in 2006 moving from the role of Chief Executive at Mary Potter Hospice - a role she held for 10 years. Mary holds a Masters in Social Work and previously managed community, rest home and private hospital services for older people.
Anne Morgan- Practice Advisor
Anne joined the team at Hospice NZ in January 2011. Anne is an experienced palliative care nurse, with her most recent role being the Palliative Care Nurse Consultant with Christchurch Hospital Palliative Care team. Anne is also the content coordinator on the Hospice NZ Education project and her particular areas of passion are older person’s health and education.
Maree Meehan-Berge- Project Advisor
In 2010, Maree was appointed to coordinate the HNZ education and standards projects. Maree has worked in various health settings for the past 25 years, was the Clinical Manager of Mary Potter Hospice for three years and had been working on projects for the Ministry of Social Development prior to joining us.
Rachel Wilson- Communications Advisor (part time)
Rachel joined the team at Hospice NZ in 2004 after spending three years as a fundraiser with Mary Potter Hospice. Rachel has a Diploma in Business majoring in Marketing. Prior to joining hospice, Rachel spent two years as a fundraiser for the New Zealand Red Cross in the Otago Southland region.
Jo Rosenbrook – Community Relationship Advisor (part time)
Jo joined us in September 2011 after spending 4 years as a fundraiser at Mary Potter Hospice. Prior to this Jo worked for AMP in Sydney, managing the AMP Foundation’s internal communication and volunteer program. Jo has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
Rachael Crombie - Membership Projects Coordinator
Rachael joined us in August 2009 from The Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind, where she had spent several years in a role providing practical support around daily living and mobility to students and their families. Prior to this Rachael worked in education and physiotherapy roles. Rachael has a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and a Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation.
