Hospice NZ exists to support member hospices in their work caring for people who are dying.
Our small but dedicated team is based in Wellington, comprising chief executive, membership development coordinator, practice development advisor and funding & communications advisor. A local firm is contracted to provide ongoing accounting services.
Jo Seagar - Hospice Ambassador
Jo has been in this voluntary role since 1999. 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.
Teresa Read - Practice Development Advisor
Teresa comes to Hospice NZ with 15 years experience working in palliative care. She trained as a Registered Nurse in the UK, and subsequently completed a BSc (Hons) in Cancer Nursing working at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London as a specialist nurse and ward sister for 6 years. In 2000 Teresa moved to NZ and up until last year worked at Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington, in various roles including Nurse Manager, Palliative Care Coordinator and most recently as Quality Director.
Rachel Thompson - Funding & Communications Advisor
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. Rachel is the Vice President of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand
Rachael Crombie - Membership Projects Coordinator
Rachael joined us in August 09 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.
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 North Shore Hospice 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.
Dr Simon Allan - Clinical Advisor
Dr Allan is the medical director at Arohanui Hospice and is also clinical director for Palmerston North Hospital's Regional Cancer Treatment Service. Dr Allan brings to Hospice New Zealand a commitment to education and research in palliative care.
Board members:
Suzanne Brocx is the Northland Palliative Care Specialist Nurse Educator Advisor, her role is to develop an education service for generalists in the Northland area. Prior to this role Suzanne was General Manager of Hospice Bay of Islands.
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 an advocate of hospice palliative care.
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 McIntyre is a board member and chair of the audit and finance committee at Otago Community Hospice, a role he has held since 2004. Peter works as a NZX Investment Advisor for Craigs Investment Partners Dunedin branch, joining the branch in 1999.