Community Representative

Ken became a trustee of McKenzie Centre in early 1995, shortly after the birth of his daughter. It made him realize how fortunate he and his wife were and how important it was to help children with special needs. He says the incredible people, parents, children and team members he has met since becoming part of the Centre enriched his life. He and his partners built Law Mooney Williamson Insurance Brokers (est. 1974) into one of the largest NZ owned general insurance brokerages. They sold their brokerage to Crombie Lockwood in 2007, but remain in management positions. He attributes a significant part of their business success and the eventual sale of the business, to the creation of independent governance on their board. Ken is passionate about people taking ownership of their communities by becoming involved. In addition to McKenzie Centre he currently serves as a board member of the University of Waikato Foundation, Hamilton Girls High School, the Order of St John (Midland Region) and the ‘Magic’ netball franchise. He has chaired the Scottwood and Castle Trusts and was involved in ‘merging’ these trusts with the Perry Foundation to make one of NZ’s largest charitable trusts. As well, he chairs the Te Rau Aroha Papakinga Trust (part of Te Whakaruruhau Maori Women’s Refuge). He is a life member of St Peter’s Tennis Club and a founding member of the MS Waikato Trust. He is also a shareholder and director of Medical and Health Insurance brokers and Elite Meats.

Medical Representative

David Newman is a Developmental and General Paediatrician working from the Child Development Centre at Waikato Hospital. David has been a Trustee since 2007. Joanne and David have three teenage children, one of whom has Dyslexia. David was the inaugural Developmental Fellow at the Mater Children’s Hospital in Brisbane Australia and has spent time working in The Outback of South Australia alongside the Royal Flying Doctors Service. He is committed to the medical assessment, management and support of children with special needs and their families in the context of a multidisciplinary team. David believes that one of the most powerful tools for families is knowledge and understanding.

Parent Representative

Ana Gray has been a parent representative on the Trust since 2007. She and her partner Brendon have identical school aged twin daughters who have a very rare syndrome. This has caused many physical, mental and health problems. Ana began attending McKenzie Centre a few years ago. She credits it, and the wonderful staff there, with the huge improvements her daughters have made. Ana is eager to give something back to McKenzie Centre and looks forward to highlighting the parent perspective during her time on the Trust.

Community Representative

Helen Gempton has been a Trust member since 1999. She is married to Brian and is the mother of two children. One of her daughters has a genetic condition which causes health concerns, epilepsy and intellectual disability. Helen first became involved as a parent at McKenzie Centre in 1998. She quickly realised the enormous value of early intervention and the quality of the unique service and support provided at the Centre. With a background as a lawyer, she now works in the disability sector. Helen firmly believes that it is especially important for children with special needs to have strong, supported families, who feel valued and included within their communities.

Janine Middleton joined the Trust as a Parent representative in 2008. She is married with two sons, with the youngest attending the Centre. She works part time as a qualified medical laboratory technician for the Waikato District Health Board. Janine has strong beliefs in being able to offer children with special needs every opportunity to succeed in everyday life and the importance of supporting their families.

Education Representative

In 1998 Julie trained as an Early Intervention Teacher (EIT), in 2001 she was lucky enough to be employed by McKenzie Centre as an EIT, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. She felt very privileged to spend a short time as the Centre Director but her family circumstances changed and she moved to another position within the Early Childhood sector. She believes so strongly in the way the children and families who attend McKenzie Centre are supported that she wanted to continue her association with them. Julie is married and has 3 adult children, two of whom are in tertiary education, one in Hamilton and the other in Dunedin. Her other daughter is the mother to two gorgeous children to whom she is Poppy. She and her husband try to see them every week and they miss them now that Julie and Evan have moved to the ‘country’. Her new living quarters are a little different from the norm, but she feels confident that in the near future she will have a more comfortable abode – time will tell.

Chairperson

Kalev Crossland is the current chairperson of McKenzie Centre Trust and has sat on the Trust Board since 2004. He is married and has four daughters. Kalev works as a lawyer and runs a small sheep and beef farm near Raglan. Kalev has learnt a lot about special needs children from a zero base through the camaraderie of the multi-disciplinary team.

Community Representative

Louise Swales has been a Trust member since 2006. She works as a physiotherapist with the Waikato District Health Board and is married with three children. Louise’s youngest child attended McKenzie Centre. She strongly supports and believes in McKenzie Centre’s philosophy and holistic approach with the intervention it provides to children with special needs and their families/whanau.

Nick Kosoof joined McKenzie Centre Board in September 2008. Nick is the Principal of Nick Kosoof & Associates Ltd, Chartered Accountants’, Trustee of various family Trusts, and a Trustee of Spectrum Care, Auckland

Nick has been a member of the trust since 2007. He is married to Pip with two daughters. Nick trained as an engineer and is currently a director in a family owned manufacturing business where his role focuses on operational and strategic management. Having little experience with special needs children, Nick is learning about the benefits offered by the Centre and enjoys the interaction with staff and meeting the children and their families.