Peter Campbell
Peter is the National President of Parent to Parent. He lives in Christchurch and has a family member with special needs. Peter brings a wealth of experience to the Board. He has worked for many years in the Health and Disability Sector and is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Salisbury School in Nelson.

Anne Wilkinson
Anne is the Chief Executive Officer of Parent to Parent, a position she has held since 2003. She lives in Hamilton and has been involved with Parent to Parent as a Support Parent and employee since 1990. Anne initially worked as coordinator for Parent to Parent Waikato and moved to a position at National Office in 1999.  She has served on many committees and boards and has represented the organisation on various ministry reference groups.

Anne and her husband Russell have four adult children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability when she was four.

Jim Craig
I have recently retired and relocated to Nelson from Whangarei with my wife and adult step-son who has special needs.

I have held a variety of positions within the education sector including teaching in a number of primary and intermediate schools and as principal of special schools and regular schools.  I have been area manager for Special Education Service in Northland and deputy and acting Manager for the Ministry of Education in Northland.  For several years I was a special education facilitator for the Ministry of Education in Auckland and Northland.  My last permanent position was principal of Northern Health School working with students with medical conditions who were unable to attend their own school for varying periods of time.  Over the last two years I have been working as a contract reviewer for the Education Review Office and participated in a number of reviews of special education facilities including a national review of the Resource Teacher, Learning and Behaviour service.

For several years I was a member of the Child Cancer Foundation education scholarship committee and have worked with a number of voluntary community support and government agencies over the years, advocating for, and supporting parents and families.

I have personal knowledge of the work done by Parent to Parent and welcome the opportunity to assist the organisation.

Helen Johnson
Helen Johnson hails from Palmerston North, and was first elected to the Board in 2007, and then re-elected in 2009. She has been involved with Parent to Parent since 2001 as a Support Parent, Committee President and an Advocate. Helen has a BA in Education and was awarded the High Achiever Award at the New Zealander of the Year awards, 2010, for her extensive volunteer work with Parent to Parent, School Boards of Trustees, Special Olympics and other groups who encourage people with disabilities to live a normal life.

Helen is married to Malcolm and has three grown children, including a daughter with a disability. In 2008 she won the Watties’ Coach of the Year national title for her volunteer work encouraging people with disabilities into Special Olympics. She now works for Sport Manawatu as a Sport Opportunity Advisor working on getting people with disabilities active in sport. Helen strongly believes in the value of the support, training and friendships which families can access through Parent to Parent and is looking forward to making a positive contribution to policy development during her time on the Board.

Martin Gallagher
Martin has a wide background and experience in governance. He has experience in business, education as well as local and central government. Martin has also completed an Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Directorship.

Martin currently serves as a Member of the Waikato District Health Board; this includes membership of the Boards Disability Advisory Committee.  He was also elected to Hamilton City Council in 2011, having previously served on Council from 1985 to 1994 during which time he was Deputy Mayor. He has also served as a Member of Parliament for twelve years. His role as a Member of Parliament included strong local advocacy for people with disabilities and their families. Martin was a former Company Director and a secondary school teacher. He currently serves as a Justice of the Peace and has a number of community roles, including serving as a trustee on the Fraser High School Teen Parent Unit and on the Board of Community Station Free FM. Though well travelled, Martin has lived in Hamilton all of his life and he is married to Gillian, a Registered Nurse. They have four children.

Susan Warrington
Susan Warrington has been a Parent to Parent Support Parent for more than 15 yrs and with husband Kevin, are  founding Auckland Committee members Susan & Kevin have two adult children, Paul is disabled and living with Spectrum Care and Erena is living in Wellington, and involved with facilitating Parent to Parent Sibling Camps.

Susan has contributed as a parent representative, for the past 11 years, on the Board of Trustees   at Otahuhu College, one of the largest New Zealand, decile 1 schools, with a majority of Polynesian students, and before this, 2 yrs at Carlson School for Cerebral Palsy BOT. I believe I have developed strengths & ability to work in a governance role. I have also been president of South Auckland Special Needs Support Group for the12 yrs it was operating. Fundraising and parent empowerment were vital functions in the support group. I learned the importance of building constructive, mutually respectful, relationships, with both parents and professionals.

Rob Hamill - Patron of Parent to Parent
Parent to Parent are delighted to have Rob Hamill as Patron of the organisation.

Rob is an outstanding role model for all New Zealanders, being someone who has pushed boundaries to the limit, and succeeded in overcoming challenges along the way. He has experienced adversity in all its forms and triumphed nonetheless.

In 1997, Rob Hamill and Phil Stubbs completed the Atlantic Rowing Race in 41 days, 2 hours. This feat was not only a world record, but they were also 7 days ahead of their nearest competitor.

Rob has also won a silver medal at the World Championships in 1994, gold at the Commonwealth Regatta, and a world record on the indoor rowing machine. He has also represented New Zealand at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Rob is a motivational speaker and the author of the Naked Rower™.

Rob is married to Rachel, who has been a Parent to Parent Support Parent for a number of years. They are the parents of three active young boys, one of whom has a rare eye condition.

Rob gives of his time voluntarily to Parent to Parent on many occasions to help raise awareness of the organisation. He is a keen advocate of the organisation and actively promotes the services it provides to families who are raising children with disabilities.

Parent to Parent is privileged to have such a Patron who is well-regarded both nationally and internationally, and who also has a personal awareness of parenting a child with special needs.