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Who we are

Dementia New Zealand is a national organisation that represents and supports six service delivery Affiliates.

These are Dementia Auckland,  Dementia Canterbury, Dementia Hawkes Bay, Dementia Lakes, Dementia Wellington and Dementia Waikato.

Together these organisations provide community dementia support services to areas
covering 70% of New Zealand’s population

Through awareness, education and support, it’s our mission to help improve the quality of life for those affected by dementia – not only individuals, but also their caregivers, whanau and support networks.

By providing advocacy and access to information that promotes wellness, increases independence and provides reassurance, we want to inspire and nurture a dementia-friendly society, where anyone affected feels supported and prepared for the journey ahead.

We’re stronger together

The significance of a dementia diagnosis reaches beyond the individual affected.
Families, networks and communities have a role to play in ensuring that we provide a safe and supportive society.
Dementia is now the third largest cause of death in New Zealand.
With 50 million people affected globally, there are nearly
10 million new cases reported every year – one every three seconds.
It has never been more important for us to understand,
and tackle, the largest health and social challenge of our time.

A shared vision

Dementia New Zealand is led by its Chief Executive who brings many years of experience in Aotearoa New Zealand’s health and disability system.  We operate a shared service, ‘best of breed’ model that provides increased efficiencies and brings together experts in their respective fields to support specific functions of the organisation on an ongoing or as needed basis.  In all cases, we’re united by our commitment to creating beneficial change in the lives of those affected by dementia and do our best to help them live their best possible lives.

Moana Potaka

Business Support Manager | Admin Army

Prior to joining the Admin Army team, I have held roles as a Bookkeeper and a Key Accounts Manager specialising in excise tax.

I hold a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Accounting and Management, a Diploma in Applied Business and a Certificate in Bookkeeping. I am a Xero Certified Advisor.

My speciality lies in people and communication – working alongside our clients to establish win-win solutions.

I love bookkeeping as it’s the root level of accounting and by getting everything right the first time, the benefit flows right through the business.

In my spare time, I’m at the beach with my dogs or with a fishing line in the water

Faustin Roman

Faustin Roman CEO, Lead Advisor Medical IT Advisors Limited

Faustin has a rare mix of business, technical and research knowledge, from enterprise business systems to healthcare and nuclear physics research. Focusing on cybersecurity, digital transformation and innovation, Faustin founded Medical IT Advisors and is the Lead Advisor.

Originally from Romania, Faustin has a multi-disciplinary background in IT, nuclear physics and health, with published research in peer-reviewed journals. His international experience has included senior roles across the New Zealand and Australian health sectors, and before that building an innovative cancer center in Vienna, Austria, and prototyping medical data federation across Europe as a Marie Curie fellow at CERN, Switzerland (“where the web was born”).

 Jaysell Gopal

 Antipodean Creative Ltd

Antipodean Creative is a boutique, multi disciplinary design studio based in Wellington that offers a full design service to our clients.  From graphic design, marketing, web design and photography right through to media relations and promotional products, our experienced in house design team are committed to delivering tailored design and marketing solutions that meet the needs and budgets of our clients.

Dementia is an umbrella term to describe a wide range of progressive neurological conditions. Although most people experiencing dementia are older, sometimes younger people are affected too.

It is important to understand that loss of memory doesn’t necessarily mean loss of identity. Long term memories of early life, achievements, interests and relationships are in most cases reserved until late in the disease process.

Learn more at

www.dementia.nz/get-information/

Meet our Trustees

Dementia New Zealand benefits from the strong governance of a highly regarded group of individuals who each bring a wealth of
experience. Their considerable combined knowledge allows us to leverage valuable business acumen, while their shared empathy and
passion towards supporting our community ensures we continue to deliver excellence through our services.  Each Trustee provides their time on a voluntary basis.

Jocelyn Weatherall

Chair

Jocelyn is the Chair of the Dementia Auckland board and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Jocelyn has a passion for offering practical assistance for those affected by dementia.

Frances Blyth

Deputy Chair

Frances is also Chair of the Ministry of Health NGO Council and a former Chair of Dementia Wellington.

Carol Fisher

Carol has been Chairperson of Dementia Lakes for over 15 years.  She still works part time as a Registered Nurse with her main interest being in the area of health services for older people.

Cheryl Robinson

Cheryl has a background in nursing, working mainly in medical, elder care and mental health. She worked for eight years at the psychiatric unit in Hastings, at a time when this was the only service for people with a dementia related diagnosis.

Dr Mark Fisher

Chair Clinical and Services Group

Dr Mark Fisher is a senior and experienced Consultant Psychiatrist who has worked in the areas of dementia and the Psychiatry of Old Age in Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the United Kingdom.

Michael Aitken

Michael Aitken brings with him significant experience in the delivery and management of health care, as well as experience in multiple governance roles.

Rosemary Robertson

Chair Finance, Legal, Audit & Risk Committee

Rosemary is a former Chairperson of Dementia Waikato and a current Trustee of the Dementia Waikato Foundation Trust.

Bev Bibby

Bev Bibby is the Chair of Dementia Hawkes Bay and joined the Dementia New Zealand Board of Trustees in July 2021.

Support Dementia New Zealand

The generous support of our business partners allows us to provide valuable support, education and awareness to
communities throughout New Zealand. Find out more about partnering with us

Your support makes a difference

It is through the generous support that we receive from our business partners, event sponsors and attendees that we are able to continue to provide valuable support, education and awareness programmes to communities throughout New Zealand

Our aim is to develop truly rewarding partnerships that benefit both organisations. If you’re interested in finding out more about partnering with Dementia New Zealand, please get in touch.

Thanks to our Partners

Find Local Help - Dementia New Zealand Network