Our Board of Trustees governs the Hospice Whanganui Trust. Meet the Team below.
Meet our Board
Kirsten Bryant – Chairperson
Kirsten has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2016. Her family are sheep and beef farmers in Whanganui and Taumaranui. Kirsten is an experienced governor having served on several national and local boards and is passionate about better outcomes for rural communities.
Jamie Procter –Deputy Chair
Jamie (Ngāti Ruaka) has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2023. Currently Mātaiawa – General Manager Primary Care at Te Oranganui Trust, Jamie has over 18 years’ experience in the health sector and is dedicated to equitable outcomes for Māori. She is married and a mama of two.
Sarah Brown
Sarah has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2017. Born and raised in Whanganui she is a partner at local law firm, Horsley Christies specialising in family law. Sarah is married and has one daughter. She is passionate about ensuring exceptional care for our whānau.
Douglas Wilson
Douglas has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2016. He has recently retired, after having been a long-standing accountant at Spooner, Toy & Hood Accountants in Whanganui. Douglas has held many governance roles in Whanganui over the years. Douglas loves playing golf when him and his wife are not campervanning around the motu.
Julie Herewini
Julie (Ngāti Rangi) has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2023. Having served for many years in Māori health, social services and post government settlement entities, she now runs her own communications business Tukua Storytelling Studio. An experienced governor on iwi and on-iwi entities, Julie is married and busy mama of four tamariki.
Debra Smith
Debra has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2024. A pharmacist by training, Debra is now dedicating her professional time to health research, particularly focused on public health issues. She is the Kaihautū kaupapa (Project Lead) at the Health and Research Collaborative. She is married and a mom to four tamariki.
Emma Davey
Our newest Board member, Emma has been serving on the Hospice Board since 2024. Emma is a registered doctor, and currently the Clinical Director at the Whanganui Regional Health Network. Previous to that, Emma worked as a doctor at the Hawera hospital for several years. She is a wife and a mom to two tamariki and passionate about rural health.