BOARD OF TRUSTEES

​Lisa Brennan (Chair)​
​​Lisa is the parent of a child who graduated from the Champion Centre in 2007. Currently she is the General Manager, Patient and Provider Services at Pegasus Health, where she has worked for over 10 years. Originally Lisa trained as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, working in both medical and industrial labs.  Lisa then moved into management roles, firstly in the Canterbury Health Labs, where she was Operations Manager prior to starting a family. Since then, she has work in a service development role in Planning and Funding at Canterbury DHB and Service Manager roles in both Anatomical Pathology and Oncology/Haematology at Christchurch Hospital. Lisa is also a Trustee of two not-for-profit organisations that provide mental health and wellbeing services. 

​​Vince Barry
Vince Barry is the Regional Director, Public Health Te Waipounamu (South Island), Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) National Public Health Service. Prior to this for 10 years he was the CEO at Pegasus Health in Christchurch.  He commenced his health career 35 years ago as a nurse assistant in psychiatry. Vince then went on to a career in nursing and into management in the mid 1990's, following the establishment of Forensic Psychiatric Services. Vince’s management career in hospitals involved general management of mental health, aged care and rehabilitation services, as well as coordinating the elective surgical services programme for Canterbury. Vince embarked on his role as CEO with Pegasus Health in 2008. 

​Hon. Ruth Richardson
“The Champion Centre with its winning formula of bringing professional excellence to a family and child centred programme requires supportive governance, sound finances and an ability to develop its effectiveness. I want to contribute as a Trustee by leveraging off my governance and financial experience and bring at the same time some personal passion to the cause. A case of hard head, soft heart.”

​Gill Connell
Gill is the founder of the professional development education company Moving Smart. She is a well-known child development expert with a unique focus on the role movement and play develop children's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Her Perceptual Motor Programme is used widely in both mainstream and special schools in both New Zealand and overseas. She is also the co-author of three titles used widely by educators and parents.  She worked with New Zealand Swimming, co-authoring their early childhood teachers’ manual and with Sport NZ to help develop their Active Movement initiative. She has consulted with overseas companies including Hasbro Inc.  She is mum to three gorgeous girls and has six delicious granny kids!