Our Board
Our team is dedicated to the mission of helping those with hearing loss in New Zealand. Get to know the people who make Hearing New Zealand what it is.
Dr Lisa Seerup
President
Lisa is the President of the National Hearing Association.
Lisa has over 30 years of experience in hearing health and conservation. She has gained experience working in the US, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Switzerland, and Denmark. She is the WHO’s Global Changemaker in New Zealand, and has been a fierce advocate for hearing health. Her goal is to make NZ the gold standard in Hearing Health with equitable services for all NZers.
Rachel Nelson
Vice President
Central Region Representative
Rachel is the Central Regional Representative to the Board.
Her background is in Social work and brings an integrated approach to hearing. She has supported people through the Justice system. Her goal is to decrease the level of incarceration due to misunderstanding in questioning during this process. Rachel is our constitution whisperer- a must have for every organisation.
In her spare time, she has a small sheep farm in Dannevirke.
Julie and Alan Mills
Treasurers
Alan is a retired Accountant and Julie is an account manager. Together they keep a sharp eye on the books, making sure everything is in order and all grants and donations are accounted for and properly allocated.
Catherine Clark
Northern Region Representative
Catherine's background is in nursing. She is also president of Matamata Hearing Association. She brings a strong health focus to hearing.
Anne Gilbert
Advocacy Spokesperson
Anne is well known in the disability community. She has been a strong advocate for carers and is on the IHC board. Anne's strong networking skills enable good cooperation amongst many of the disability groups. She is also on the board of Transparency International.
Simon Gutschlag
Southern Region Representative
Simon's background in IT and management bring a necessary skill to the board. His ideas from the corporate world are working towards a more sustainable model going forward in the future.
Paul Matthews
Central Region Representative
Paul Matthews has been working with Hearing New Zealand for many years now but you will always find him more behind the scenes. He brings a wealth of financial management and grant writing experience.
Jenafor Rollins
Southern Region Representative
Jenafor is a published author whose stories uplift, inspire and warm the heart. She brings creativity and energy to the board. Jenafor finds stories that need to be told. Her advocacy around service dogs is inspiring her next book.
Linda Giltrap
Northern Region Representative
Karen Rowsell
Board Secretary/Communications Manager
Karen has recently joined us here at Hearing New Zealand. She also manages the Horowhenua Hearing Association where she deals with clients in the clinic as well as out in the community. Karen has been learning NZ Sign Language. She has also become a grandmother and spends a lot of her time down in Wellington as well.