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The Board of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust New Zealand (“GRG”) is made up of up to eight committed professional volunteers who have a diverse range of life, parenting, cultural, legal, business, management and commercial skills and experience. They meet once a month and set the strategic direction of the Trust which is to promote a community of grandparents raising grandchildren as full-time caregivers in New Zealand where they are empowered to provide a safe, secure and nurturing home for their grandchildren and an environment that protects and promotes their long-term wellbeing and development.
Pru Etcheverry ONZM | Chair and TrusteePru is an experienced professional and a founding partner of Advocacy Answers New Zealand a unique thought-leadership agency. Their work focuses on strengthening the community by working with Government agencies, providing strategic sustainable solutions for NGOs, and working with businesses on Corporate Social Responsibility.
While CEO of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC) she grew LBC from a fledgling organisation to a prominent NGO and developed sustainable income streams generating nearly $70 million. Prior to working in the NGO sector Pru had a corporate career in the healthcare industry. Pru has strong governance experience. Her current roles include being Chair of Te Ira Kāwai Auckland Regional Biobank and a director with RAW (Reclaim Another Woman). She was honoured in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours - Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) – acknowledging the national and international impact of her work in the health and NGO sectors. Jo-Anne Thomas | TrusteeJo-Anne is a family law specialist and associate at Schnauer & Co with over eight years experience in family law litigation, relationship property and elder law. She held the role of Chair of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ from 2016 until 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland and a Diploma in Occupational Therapy. Before joining Schnauer & Co in 2011 she worked for Minter Ellison Rudd Watts for three years. In addition to her work as a Board member for the trust she is a Volunteer legal adviser to the North Shore Women’s Centre. |
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Sharon Richardson | TrusteeSharon has been a long time member of GRG and is thrilled to contribute her skills and experience to GRG. Sharon’s experience includes fostering children for 30 years, running a day care for 40 years and she is also a respite carer for Child Youth and Family caregivers. Sharon loves volunteer work and also visits local rest homes for Age Concern and the Salvation Army. Married to Gary since 1968, they are raising a grandchild together. Sharon is also a fabulous cook and loves to share her baking with the elderly in care. |
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Judith McKay | TrusteeJudith is a retired Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Directors. In her working career, Judith was a senior financial executive at Auckland University of Technology, the Union Shipping Group and a number of manufacturing companies. She has also worked as an auditor for Price Waterhouse and as a COBOL programmer. Judith has been Trustee and Board member of a number of organisations, including the Auckland War Memorial Museum, NZ Academy of Sport and Netball Waitakere. Judith has four grandchildren, ranging in age from 5 to 13. |
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Consultant to the GRG BoardJill Worrall, MNZMJill Worrall is the mother of three sons and grandmother to six grandchildren. With her late husband John, the family cared for several foster children over a period of twenty years. Jill was raised by extended family for the first half of her childhood. She has been a nurse, a social worker and a senior lecturer in social work at Massey University. She has had the privilege of writing the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Handbook and undertaking the GRG research on Grandparent and other kin caregivers 2005 and 2009. Founder: Di Vivian QSO |
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