Our Board of Trustees

Kelsi Cox

My background is in community-based health research and youth development. Originally from the West Coast of Canada, I have lived and travelled throughout the world and bring a passion for innovation and creativity to all my work. I am strongly committed to women’s health and gender equity; and have worked at community Women’s Centres and managed research projects on the social determinants of women’s health. Currently, my work involves facilitating spaces for positive growth and development for young women. I hold a Master of Arts in Development Studies and a Master of Public Health in Social Inequities and Health. I am very excited to be able to support the health and wellbeing of women in Aotearoa New Zealand and to be involved with the amazing team at Women’s Health Action.

Sally Hughes

My passion for women’s health began in the 1970s when I became aware that women were not being served well by the health system and were often not given good information about their bodies. As a result I formed a women’s health group in the provincial city that I lived in. That led to a career change from teaching to health promotion. I worked for Family Planning for nearly 15 years before joining the Cervical Screening Programme and BreastScreen Aotearoa. At the Ministry of Health I held a range of roles covering sexual health and healthy eating. Since 2011 I have been at the Heart Foundation and have recently been appointed the Public Health Strategic Advisor. I bring my experience in all these positions to my role of Deputy Chair of the WHA Trust Board in the hope that it benefits the Board.

Sue Kistanna

I am passionate about Health, Education and Finance and have been fortunate to join WHA earlier in 2017.

My day role is a management role at the University of Auckland and I work to sucessfully recruit and retain Māori and Pacific students into the health workforce, to also improve Māori Health in the professional medical programs in addition to supporting research activites affecting Māori and Pacifi whanau health outcomes.

I am a Chartered Accountant, with an MBA and retrained from an IT background.

Laurie Pedlar

I have long been an advocate for women and children. My interest in WHA comes from a place of being able to contribute at a different level and have a greater reach and influence. A registered nurse I have worked for an NGO for the last 10 years as the General Manager of the social service arm that has a particular focus on outcomes for families , specifically women and children. My studies have included papers in womens health.

I have 2 adult sons, a husband and spend any spare time I have training for long distance triathlons.

Anna Beard

I am a fundraising and communications professional and have worked in the non-profit world for the past thirteen years. I have experience working for big, multi-national charities like Amnesty International, Save the Children, MSF and Unicef, and also for smaller, local charities in Canada and New Zealand. Currently I am the Fundraising Coordinator for YWCA Auckland. My passion is for women’s rights, health, and social justice so I am delighted to join the Board of Women’s Health Action – an amazing organisation that punches above it’s weight, in areas that are vitally important.