News of a childhood heart condition can turn a family’s life upside down. But no one has to face that journey alone. We walk alongside families through diagnosis and treatment, offering support, knowledge and guidance. We make sure that our heart families have this support freely available during hospital stays and at home in the community.
Our family support team are dedicated to being there for everyone who navigates a heart journey. Often, families are faced with separation, loneliness, isolation, financial hardship, stress and uncertainty about the future. Our team of trained, passionate family support taituarā are based around Aotearoa NZ, so families are supported when and where they need it most.
We Are Here For Heart Families
We Are Here For Heart Families
We Are Here For Heart Families
We Are Here For Heart Families
We Are Here For Heart Families
We Are Here For Heart Families
For 40 years, we have worked tirelessly to deliver quality support, information, connection and hope to our heart families.
Strategic Plan
We are guided by an ambitious strategy that provides the roadmap for the future.
Annual Report 2021
2021 brought big challenges, but we kept steady and continued to deliver quality services.
10189
Members
16
Regional Branches
35
Staff
Meet Our Team
What will I do for a heart kid today? This is the question that guides us every day.
No matter if it’s a board member, family support taituarā, fundraiser, senior leader or administrator, we are all clear on our purpose of walking alongside families as they navigate their lifelong heart journeys.
Board
Donna Jujnovich
Member Representative (Appointed), Board Chair
Robyn Wickenden
Member Representative (Upper North)
Ashlee McCormick
Member Representative (Upper North)
Neven Harland
Member Representative (Central North)
Steve Abley
Member Representative (Upper South)
Rachael Lovelock
Member Representative (Lower North)
Arna Craig
Member Representative (Lower South)
Katie McCrae
Co-opted Member
Steve Abley
Member Representative (Upper South)
Steve Abley
Member Representative (Upper South)
Steve Abley
Member Representative (Upper South)
Senior Leadership Team
Dr Ruth Gorinski
Chief Executive
Jane Culhane
Head of Family Support
Denise Kitto
Head of Operations
Family Support Team
Karen Whelan
Practice Lead
Robyn Lyall
Practice Lead
Ashley Mills
Hospital Family Support
Amy Laverock
Hospital Family Support
Julia Hartshorne
Family Support (Northland)
Maria Vete
Family Support (Central/West Auckland)
Montee Stehlin
Family Support (South Auckland)
Family Support (Waikato)
Graham Milne
Family Support (Waikato)
Jo Gunn
Family Support (Bay of Plenty)
Guenevere Weatherley
Family Support (Hawke’s Bay)
Teresa Walker
Family Support (Rotorua)
Narelle Frampton
Family Support (Taranaki)
Alex Atkins
Family Support (Manawatū/Whanganui)
Rebecca McEwen
Family Support (Wellington)
Dee Harris
Family Support (Wellington)
Inga Marfell
Family Support (Nelson/Marlborough)
Claire Sword
Family Support (Canterbury)
Kat Matheson
Family Support (Canterbury)
Leeann Morton
Family Support (Central Otago)
Marlene Du Toit-Parks
Family Support (Otago)
Michael Bowey
Heart Adult Support
Operations & Support Services Team
Veebha Jeram-Patel
Administrator
Rebecca Coburn
Support Services (Auckland)
Karla Holloway
Support Services (Hawke’s Bay)
Amanda Findsen-Delaney
Support Services (Waikato)
Roya Landrigan
Support Services (Taranaki)
Angela Haddon
Support Services (Wellington)
Cecilia Sullivan-Grant
Support Services (Otago)
Engagement & Fundraising Team
Alanah Gilder
Fundraising Coordinator
Alison Black
Grants Specialist
Laurel Ketel
Communications Advisor
