Who we are

Alan is a retired senior Human Resources and Operations Director whose career involved him working in large New Zealand and Australian organisations in the private and public sectors. This experience and Alan’s commitment to playing a positive part in helping to make our communities safer, more satisfying, and enjoyable places to live, are reasons why he is the Chairman of Wingspan.

Alan has been Chairman since 2011 and is excited by the recent transformational changes to Wingspan, which he is confident will ensure it is able to deliver its mission of enhancing the safety and well-being of all families and individuals.

Christine is an experienced Executive Marketer with a wealth of knowledge of working across the globe with commercial entities seeking international expansion to increase scale and profitability. In this capacity, she has led the design and development of transformative marketing largely in the technology sector. Christine’s combination of skills is the result of a career portfolio that has included both the public and private sectors.

Christine began non-profit sector governance in 2010, which included (then) Home and Family Counselling - now of course ‘Wingspan’. She is a passionate advocate of counselling dedicated to ensuring the capability of our organisation continues to adapt and grow and meet the needs of our community.

Ian is a Chartered Accountant and also holds a BA. ( Hons) Business Studies – first class.
He is the Corporate Services Manager at Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation. He is the Corporate Services Manager at Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation, and his
recent past experience is as a Project Manager with ANZ and previously with PwC and Dresdner Bank in the Cayman Islands. He has been honorary treasurer of a number of sports clubs over the years.

Chris is an experienced marketing, digital strategy, and product innovation leader. He has consulted extensively to executives and boards within New Zealand and Australia, across the not-for-profit, financial services, telecommunications, FMCG, Government, agriculture, higher education, and healthcare sectors.

Currently, Chris leads Vulcan's Marketing, Customer Experience & Digital teams. He also has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys a round of golf, running, swimming, snowboarding, and boxing. 

Qualifications 

BA (Swiss-Honors Hospitality & Event Management, MBA - Tsinghua University)

Bio 

Born in China and raised in New Zealand — with Swiss educational background — and worked over 10 years in Beijing towards Winter Olympics 2022 and ventures with international collaborations and business growth. During her time in Switzerland, Christine was part of part of a volunteers team in ITU (United Nations), serving over 120 events held by the UN Geneva Office. During her professional career in China, Christine gained a Master of Business Administration Degree from China's top University, Tsinghua. She was also one of the Co-founders of an endangered species protection association and worked closely with Albert II Prince of Monaco Foundation for a wildlife protection initiative. Now Christine manages her founding company, Eudora+ in New Zealand and serves as a board trustee to CNSST, a foundation that provides aid to ethnic communities.

Chris is a qualified accountant and, until recently, a member of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand). Now retired, Chris has worked in public practice for over 40 years. She served on the Board of Trustees for the Auckland Home and Family Trust Board for 12 years, transferring to the Wingspan Trust Board when the Home and Family Counselling Society became Wingspan Trust.

Michael has held senior executive roles across a diverse range of industries and geographies. He is a qualified lawyer, a certified practising accountant, and a member of the Institute of Directors. He has served as a board member of various commercial boards and has previously been a board member of Auckland Federated Football. Michael enjoys sports, particularly football and cricket, runs marathons, and enjoys the outdoors.

Qualifications 

PGDip (MgtSt) – Distinction 
Professional Certification in Health & Wellness Coaching 
Certified Herrmann Practitioner 

Bio 

Kelly has over 20 years of senior leadership experience and a postgraduate diploma in Management Studies from the University of Waikato. She has a collaborative management style and believes in strong communication and transparency.

Kelly’s heart is in the not-for-profit sector, and she is passionate about fair and equal opportunities for all. With a particular interest in health and wellness, Kelly is dedicated to ensuring Wingspan continues to provide affordable mental health care to the community of Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Qualifications 

Bachelor of Counselling
Certificate Clinical Supervision
A full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) 

Bio 

Hannah is a counsellor, team leader, and supervisor with over 15 years of experience in the counselling field. She is deeply passionate about supporting people to feel connected, understood, and held. Her clinical work is guided by attachment and trauma-informed practice, alongside neuroscience and creative therapies (sand tray and play therapy).

Hannah has spent most of her career in not-for-profit organisations and highly values the importance of community and delivering high-quality services. Hannah's leadership style is to empower counsellors, so they in turn can empower their clients.

Tracey is a seasoned professional with a robust background in the non-profit disability sector and the health industry. With strong administrative, people management, and leadership foundations, Tracey is dedicated to leveraging her skills to support counsellors and enhance organisational efficiency. Tracey's goal is to contribute actively to the organisation's mission, ensuring that mental health services are accessible and effective for all those who seek them.

Louise is an experienced Marketing professional with a B2B and B2C marketing background in the technology, FMCG, finance, and film and television industries. A passionate philomath, Louise is currently completing an MBA through University of Otago while she works with Wingspan, bringing her business acumen and corporate experience to the organisation.

Judith joined Wingspan in November 2017. Originally from South Africa, she relocated in January 2016 after several years of experience working at a nursery school. Judith is passionate about helping people and promoting mental health. In her role, she strives to be welcoming and empathetic.

Michelle joined Wingspan in April 2022, bringing a wealth of experience and a unique perspective. Originally from South Africa, Michelle relocated in January after running a highly successful swim school. With 20 years of experience in the advertising industry, she has excelled in various roles including client service, production management, and traffic management. Michelle is deeply passionate about mental health services and is dedicated to contributing to this field through her work.

Paula hails from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and joined Wingspan in August 2016. Serving the community has always been close to her heart, and she is committed to making a difference from the front desk. Paula enjoys the great outdoors, particularly fishing and camping, where she believes connecting with nature really does a lot of wonders!

Emily joined the Wingspan team in March 2024. Entering the final year of a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Commercial Law, she is new to the not-for-profit sector but has quickly grown to love it. Emily strives to create a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through Wingspan's doors.

Qualifications 

Puppy Class Beginner
Puppy Class Intermediate
Full member of the "Good Dog's Association"

Bio 

Benji is a 5-year-old Cavoodle from British Columbia, Canada. He is a world traveller, having immigrated to Aotearoa from Canada in 2022.

Benji is deeply passionate about snuggles, butt scratches, day-time naps, long walks on the beach, treato's, and making more places dog friendly.

Benji is an unofficial therapy dog, having spent 2 years in the counselling space. He is convinced that it is him, not his human (the counsellor), who is helping the people.