The National Board of Victim Support is elected from Local Group Committees operating around the country. The chair is elected from within the governing Board of nine members, eight elected and one co-opted. The Board set the strategic vision for Victim Support, oversee finances, service delivery, culture and values.
Reflecting Victim Support’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our Board includes two dedicated Māori representatives alongside six general representatives and one appointed position.
Rob first became involved with Victim Support in Auckland as a police inspector when he was appointed liaison officer with the Local Group Committee for the area. He is the current Chair of that group and joined the Board in 2014.
Rob spent the majority of the 35 years working with NZ Police in its Criminal Investigation Bureau. On his retirement from the Police, he worked in internal audit and risk and assurance groups in the Department of Labour and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Richard first became involved with Victim Support in 1991, as a Police Liaison Officer. Since then, he has remained actively involved with Victim Support, as a police officer in community-focused activities and in numerous roles within Local Group Committees.
He is a trained /Volunteer Support Worker and has previously provided support as a relieving Victim Support Service Coordinator.
Richard is a member of two Local Group Committees and has been a member of the national Board since 2010.
Judith has been involved with Victim Support for 18 years. Starting off as a Volunteer Support Worker, she became a member of the Whanganui Local Group Committee and is the current Chairperson.
Judith co-founded the Whanganui Peoples Centre and has been an active member of the YMCA Centre Board and the Whanganui Resource Disability Centre, Community Law and the Learning Centre.
She is a life member of the Volunteer Centre in Whanganui and in 2008 was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for her services to the community.
Darren Rewi is a Māori Kaumatua based in Tahuna, Queenstown. He is the founder of Mana Tahuna, a Charitable Trust and the Director of Take Tuia.
Michael has been involved with Victim Support since 1998, starting out as a Volunteer Support Worker. He joined the Board in 2011. He is also a member of the Greater Wellington Regional Committee.
He is an authorised Financial Advisor with qualifications in personal financial planning and risk management.
Michael brings considerable financial and governance experience to the Board as the Director of Stratus Financial Services, Stratus General Insurance and Wealth Strategies, and Chair of the NZ Council of Licensed Firearm Owners.
Lorraine has been a passionate supporter of Victim Support for more than two decades. She was the inaugural chair of the Buller Local Group Committee and has been Chair of the Board since 2008.
Lorraine has qualifications in social work, counselling and management from Canterbury University, CPIT, Unitec Auckland and Massey University and brings to the Board strengths in strategic thinking and relationship building.
Lorraine is also the Chief Executive of Homebuilders West Coast Trust, a child and family support service helping families through a range of services.
Don is Chair of Victim Support’s Lower Hutt Local Group Committee and joined the Board in 2012.
He is past President of the Eastern Hutt Rotary Club, past Assistant Governor for Rotary District 9940, and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
Don has qualifications in law, political science and international relations and 20 years in legal practice and business management.
Gwen has been involved with Victim Support as a Volunteer Support Worker since 1998 and is an active member of the Invercargill and Districts Local Group Committee, joining the Board in 2013.
Gwen has a strong background working in the arts, cultural, health and education sectors and in 2001 was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts and community.
She brings a wealth of experience to the Board through roles as Director of Sister Cities New Zealand and Member Venture Southland Trust, Board member for Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Chairperson Toi Rakiura Arts Trust (Stewart Island), and member of Southland District Council’s International Relations Committee.
Nicky’s involvement with Victim Support started as a Volunteer Support Worker in 1989 before undertaking training to become a Service Coordinator. She is the current Chair of the Napier Local Group Committee and joined the Board in 2016.
Passionate about helping others, Nicky brings a diverse range of skills to the Victim Support Board, drawing on her long history with the organisation and expertise in human resource management.