New Appointments to NZGCF Executive and Board of Trustees

October 17, 2011

Appointments to NZGCF Executive and Board of Trustees Set Path for a Solid Future

The New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation (NZGCF) has made a number of strategic appointments to the executive team and Board of Trustees which positions the Foundation strongly for future growth.

The most recent addition to the team has been Michelle Quirk, to the role of General Manager. Michelle joins the Foundation from her role as Business Development Manager with leading educational charity, First Foundation. Prior to this, Michelle spent ten years in London where she held senior executive roles with leading international law firms Linklaters and Berwin Leighton Paisner. Michelle holds a LLB (Honours) and BA from Otago University and a MBA (Distinction) from London Business School. Michelle's appointment is effective from October 2011.

Michelle is looking forward to the challenge of her new role with the Foundation. "One woman dies every day in New Zealand from a gynaecological cancer and many more are diagnosed and survive with treatment. You would be hard pushed to find someone who has not been affected, either directly or indirectly, by a gynaecological cancer. Yet historically this area has not received either the attention or funding it deserves. I am looking forward to building on the excellent work already done by the Foundation as well as bringing new ideas to the table to raise awareness of these cancers so that we can increase the survival of more New Zealand women."

Sarah Hutchings, moves from the role of General Manager to a position on the Foundation Board of Trustees. Sarah has been in the role of General Manager for the past two and a half years and has been the driving force behind many of the Foundations fundraising activities, community education initiatives and corporate partnerships. The Foundation will continue to benefit from Sarah's passion and commitment, and specialist knowledge and expertise in the field of women's health, through her capacity as a Trustee.

Bridgette Jackson and Nicola Edwards have both been formally appointed to the Foundation Board of Trustees. Bridgette comes to the Foundation with a strong business and legal background and a personal commitment to changing community attitudes and increasing awareness of gynaecological cancer. Bridgette is dedicated to helping the Foundation achieve positive and meaningful contributions in society.

Nicola has been working with the Foundation in a volunteer capacity for a number of years, providing invaluable advice and support across a range of administrative and management functions. Nicola has also been actively involved in the coordination of volunteers and event management for the Foundation. Nicola's appointment to the Board of Trustees strengthens the Boards knowledge base and governance.

Sarah, Bridgette and Nicola join existing trustees Dr Ai Ling Tan and Andrea Brady, and executive team member Jan Barker, under the leadership of Jock Irvine who assumed the position of Chair in April 2011 following the departure of Giselle McLachlan. Jock, previously a senior partner of Auckland legal firm Simpson Grierson, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the legal profession. Jock has held several board positions in non-profit organisations including Chairperson of SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust and Chairman of the Football Association.

"I am excited to be working with such a group of talented and energetic people who are driven by the desire to educate our community about these cancers and save the lives of more New Zealand women," said Jock.

"We all share the commitment to grow the Foundation and extend our education initiatives across New Zealand in order to reach more communities, both geographically and culturally," he added.

NZGCF is a registered not-for-profit charity for gynaecological cancers. The Foundation's mission is to inform and educate our community about all forms of gynaecological cancers in order to increase survival rates for New Zealand women.

Further information about the symptoms of gynaecological cancer or how you can support the work of the Foundation can be found at www.nzgcf.org.nz.

ENDS

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