C0-founder | C0-Chair

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Kia ora

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My life is both enriched and challenged by 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

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I have had a passion for working with and alongside men for over 35 years and are one of the original trustees and inaugural chair of the Canterbury Men's Centre since its inception in 2007.

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I am now mainly retired however my work life has been one of two halves. The first half doing any job a young kiwi bloke could find. Forestry, truck driving, labouring, hammer hand, electric lineman and the list goes on. My business experience included the establishment and operation of a Forestry Contracting Company employing 40 odd staff.

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Following traumatic life experiences and retraining as a counsellor & social worker the second half of my working career has been spent in both government and social service sectors as an Adult Education Tutor, Facilitator of programmes within prisons,  Alcohol and Drug Counsellor,. Stopping Violence Programme Facilitator,  Family Court Coordinator (Justice), Family Violence Response Coordinator (MSD), Family Court Mediation & counselling, Private Practice Counsellor / Relationship Counselling and a  Marriage / Funeral Celebrant.

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The committees I have served on include Oranga Tamariki (CYF) Care & Protection Panel, Domestic Violence Programme Approval Panel, Family Court Association, New Zealand Association of Counsellors Local committee, National Ethics and New Member Interview Panel and various other community committees.

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I retain my passion and commitment for the Canterbury Men's Centre and the invaluable service it provides to the community