Board of Trustees
General
The Board of Trustees is the legal authority for the organisation. Members are public trustees representing the interests of the organisationâs volunteers and of the wider community, donors and supporters.
Members
- Rebecca Roberts – Chair
- Richard Edge – Deputy Chair
- Ben Blinkhorne – Appointed trustee
- Peggy Lockyer – Appointed trustee
- Jacob Toresen Pollock – appointed trustee
- Ben Sutherland – Appointed trustee
- Sue McGlashan – Appointed trustee
- Simon Stebbings – Appointed trustee (NZRA)
Responsibilities:
- To provide strategic direction and leadership for the whole organisation;
- To ensure the organisation is soundly managed;
- To work in close partnership with the Chief Executive to ensure the Board of Trustees’ goals and objectives are achieved, supporting and resourcing the Chief Executive to carry out his responsibilities;
- To appoint and monitor the Chief Executive, ensuring the organisation employs the best person for the position and provides fair and appropriate terms and conditions of employment;
- To develop and monitor policies, which provide direction and boundaries for both its own and the Chief Executiveâs functions; and
- To establish Board of Trustees Committees or working groups as it sees fit.
Rebecca Roberts
Chair
Appointed Trustee 1/7/2018
Based in TÄmaki Makaurau, Rebecca has been a Trustee for Arthritis New Zealand since July 2018 and was appointed Chair at the beginning of 2022. After qualifying as a lawyer and working in private practice, Rebecca moved inhouse and worked as a legal advisor within the financial services sector for over 20 years, primarily with the global investment bank UBS, focused amongst other things on risk and regulatory requirements as well as employment-related issues. Rebecca has been an accredited as a mediator and is currently managing the Simplicity Foundation.
Rebecca is proud of the work Arthritis NZ Mateponapona Aotearoa does to positively impact and advocate for the many New Zealanders living with arthritis and is excited about the opportunity to assist the organisation deliver its future strategic goals within the evolving health landscape in Aotearoa.
Richard Edge
Deputy Chair
Appointed 7/3/2019
Richard is the owner and Managing Director of a Wellington-based creative digital agency, PS/digital. Having successfully built up the business from the start in 2008, heâs gained a broad range of business expertise including strategy, problem-solving, management, HR and finance.
Day to day Richard leads and advises his clients through the complex challenges of brand communication, digital technology and customer experience. Richard is passionate about problem-solving and working with down to earth, innovative people. You wonât hear over-techy geek talk from Richard, heâs got a knack for explaining complex issues in a way we can all understand.
Richard grew up in the Wairarapa, then went on to achieve an Honours design degree at the Wanganui School of Design. He has worked across digital technology in New Zealand, Australia and the UK for over 20 years.
Peg Lockyer
Trustee
Appointed Trustee 29/11/2019
Peg volunteered to be on the Board of Arthritis NZ because she wanted to see if she could make a difference for the consumer. Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis since her early 30âs she has learnt that the initial decisions and care received from the medical fraternity are crucial to future management and overall wellness.
An ex NZ athlete, Physical and Health Education Professional and now Director of her own company, Pegâs knowledge of health and wellness has held her in good stead with regards her decision making around managing her Rheumatoid Arthritis. She exercises regularly at the gym, kitesurfs and surfs. She says that RA has not limited her life but is lucky her first rheumatologist was extremely good. Â She wants everyone to have the type of care thatâs she experienced and feels strongly that being on the board at a strategic level could influence this goal.
Ben Blinkhorne
Trustee
Appointed Trustee 24/11/2018
Ben is a Wellington-based Trustee who brings financial and legal skills to the governance team of Arthritis New Zealand. He is proud to be involved with an organisation that makes a positive difference to those affected by arthritis in New Zealand.
Ben studied commerce and law at the University of Otago before starting a career in professional services. Initially Ben worked in a corporate finance team at PricewaterhouseCoopers before transitioning into corporate banking roles in Australia and New Zealand. In early 2019 he joined the senior leadership team of New Zealandâs largest privately-owned hospitality group, KÄpura. Outside of work Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and two children along with participating in cycling and running events.
Jacob Toresen Pollock
Trustee
Appointed Trustee 29/11/2019
Jacob was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis at the age of 11 and has been involved with Arthritis New Zealand ever since. He attended his first kids camp that same year, and 2 years later came back as a leader and has been doing so ever since. He is now about to attempt his 9th camp as a leader.
Arthritis has played a major role in Jacobâs life, and this is what has motivated him to be more involved. Jacob completed his law degree at AUT University and is working as a Private Investigator. He has also been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court.
Jacob is excited to be a member of the board and is looking forward to helping out in an area that is close to his heart; the youth population with arthritis.
Ben Sutherland
Trustee
Appointed Trustee 11/2021
Ben comes from a long line of philanthropic donors; he is Managing Director of the Wellington-based Sutherland Self Help Trust, established in 1941 by the Sutherland family. The experience in philanthropy has given Ben a broad experience of the New Zealand health sector, and the positive health impact organisations similar to Arthritis NZ have on New Zealanders.
Ben studied commerce and law at Victoria University before moving into the commercial property and philanthropy sectors. He has sat on several other Boards focusing on health and education for many years, including the Wellington City Life Education Trust for over 15 years.
Ben is also a passionate ultra adventure runner, having competed around the world in many ultra-distance races. At the weekend, you’ll either find Ben out trail running in the Tararuas or coaching his girl’s football teams.
Ben joined the Trust Board in November 2021. With significant experience managing commercial properties and investments, Ben is a valuable addition to the Arthritis NZ Trust Board.
Sue McGlashan
Trustee
Appointed Trustee 11/2021
Sue is originally from Llandudno, North Wales, but has called Aotearoa New Zealand home since 2002. Sue has had a long interest in osteoarthritis after seeing her Mum struggle with knee pain for many years before her two successful knee replacements. This spurred Sue to pursue a PhD at Queen Mary University of London on cartilage tissue engineering.
Sue is now Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and runs an osteoarthritis research group. Sue is married to Rob and has two sons. You can usually find Sue baking in the kitchen, out running with her dog Max, or ferrying her boys to endless soccer and rugby matches.
Simon Stebbings
Rheumatologist - NZRA Representative
Appointed 1/3/2023
Simon is a rheumatologist working at Dunedin Hospital and Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago. He is the nominee of the NZ Rheumatology Association. He is originally from the UK and trained at University College London. After completing postgraduate training, Simon was appointed as a Rheumatologist in Bristol, UK from 2001-2005 and moved to NZ in 2006 to take up his current post at Dunedin Hospital. In 2021 he was appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of Otago, Dunedin School of Medicine.
Simon has been clinical leader of the Rheumatology service Southern region and Director of Physician training at Dunedin School of Medicine. He is active in research with over 100 published papers. He has taken roles to further education and research internationally as a member of the Asia Pacific League of Rheumatology Associations Education committee and of the Assessment in Spondylarthritis International Society.
Simon is delighted to take a role on the board, and hopes that his clinical and research experience will be of value to Arthritis New Zealand, helping the organisation to further its aims and to support those with arthritis.
