Our people

CCS Disability Action is a membership-based organisation and a registered charity, led by a national board.

Local governance committees, staff groups and local communities also guide our work. Many of our board members, governance and staff have lived experience of disability.

National Board members

Featured

Dairne Kirton

National Board President

Sally Thomas

Vice President

Umi Asaka

Regional Representative

Maurice Priestley

Maurice Priestley

Regionally Elected Board Member

Revd. Vicki Terrell, MNZM

Revd. Vicki Terrell, MNZM

Regionally Elected Board Member

Sarah Verran

Regionally Elected Board Member

Len Lidbetter

Board Member

Andrew Austin

Board Member

National Leadership Team

Featured

Melissa Smith

Chief Executive

Colene Herbert

General Manager Midland Region

Janine Hoete-Thornton

Janine Hoete-Thornton

General Manager Central Region

Richard Buchanan

Richard Buchanan

General Manager Southern Region

Bettina Syme

General Manager Northern Region

Kate Single

Human Resources Manager

Moira Geerkens

National Training Coordinator

Recenia Kaka Kaiaarahi

National Māori Development Coordinator

Irene Wilson

Executive Officer

Debbie Ward

National Disability Leadership Coordinator

Linda Scott

National Manager Finance

Ann-Marie Fagan

Ann-Marie Fagan

National Coordinator – Quality

Bernette Peters

Bernette Peters

National Leader Intensive Family Services

Geoff Penrose

General Manager Lifetime Design Ltd

BJ Clark

National Manager Access and Infrastructure

Lucy Green

National Manager Marketing Communications & Fundraising

Kellyanne Tong

National Manager, Contracts, Service Development and Support Systems

Local Governance North Island

Featured

Nelson/Marlborough, Oamaru, Manawatū/Horowhenua

Nelson/Marlborough, Oamaru, Manawatū/Horowhenua

David Matthews

Local Executive Committee Chair

Nelson/Marlborough, Oamaru, Manawatū/Horowhenua

Hamilton

Hamilton

Mike Garrett

Waikato Local Executive Committee Chair

Hamilton

Whangarei

Whangarei

Neil Ruddell

Northland Local Executive Committee Chair

Whangarei

Whanganui

Whanganui

Robert Scott

Whanganui Local Executive Committee Chair

Whanganui

Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane

Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane

Jane Brown

Bay of Plenty Local Advisory Committee Chair

Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane

Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane

Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane

Mohan de Mel

Bay of Plenty Local Executive Committee Chair

Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane

Graham Cochrane

New Plymouth

New Plymouth

Graham Cochrane

North Taranaki Local Advisory Committee Chair

New Plymouth

Napier

Napier

Greg Roseman

Tairāwhiti Hawkes Bay Local Executive Committee Chair

Napier

Hawera

Hawera

Ralph Gibson

South and Central Taranaki Local Advisory Committee Chair

Hawera

Hamilton

Hamilton

John Forbes

Waikato Local Advisory Committee Chair

Hamilton

Gisborne, Napier

Gisborne, Napier

Alan Davies

Tairāwhiti Hawkes Bay Local Executive Committee Chair

Gisborne, Napier

Gisborne, Napier

Gisborne, Napier

Karen Tait

Tairāwhiti Hawkes Bay Local Advisory Committee Chair

Gisborne, Napier

Auckland

Auckland

Tim George

Co-chair Auckland Local Advisory Committee

Auckland

Allyson Hamblett

Auckland

Auckland

Allyson Hamblett

Co-chair Auckland Local Advisory Committee

Auckland

Revd. Vicki Terrell, MNZM

Auckland, Whangarei

Auckland, Whangarei

Revd. Vicki Terrell, MNZM

Regionally Elected Board Member

Auckland, Whangarei

Whangarei

Whangarei

Jordan Slater

Northland Local Advisory Committee Chair

Whangarei

Local Governance South Island

Featured

Elizabeth Perrone

Nelson/Marlborough

Nelson/Marlborough

Elizabeth Perrone

Nelson/Marlborough Local Committee Chair

Nelson/Marlborough

Jacqui Eggleton

Oamaru

Oamaru

Jacqui Eggleton

Waitaki Local Advisory Committee Chair

Oamaru

Dunedin

Dunedin

David Low

Otago Local Executive Committee Chair

Dunedin

Ashburton, Christchurch, Greymouth, Rangiora, Westport

Ashburton, Christchurch, Greymouth, Rangiora, Westport

Andrew Kidd

Canterbury West Coast Local Executive Committee Chair

Ashburton, Christchurch, Greymouth, Rangiora, Westport

Alexandra, Invercargill

Alexandra, Invercargill

Kathy Obers

Southland Local Advisory Committee Chair

Alexandra, Invercargill

Virginia Wilson

Alexandra, Invercargill

Alexandra, Invercargill

Virginia Wilson

Southland Local Executive Committee Chair

Alexandra, Invercargill