MS Auckland Region > Committee Members

Neil Woodhams

President

Neil was a Board Member of the MS Auckland Committee from 2003, was elected MS Auckland Committee President in 2007 and MS Auckland Region Committee President in 2008.

Neil is a qualified Chartered Accountant and is currently a self-employed health management consultant. Prior to that he held senior management positions in finance, investment banking and the stock and station industries.

His health and disability experience includes the following roles:

General Manager, Hospital and Specialist Services, Midland RHA
Consultant to Ministry of Health on the Waiting Times Project
Member of Minister of Health's Advisory Committee on Waiting Times
General Manager, Business Development, Auckland DHB
General Manager, Starship Hospital
General Manager, National Women's Hospital
Chief Operating Officer, Auckland District Health Board

Neil is married to Erin, a previous Committee member and person with MS.

Graham Wear

Vice President

Graham has been a Board Member of the North Shore MS Society Committee since 2000, was elected President of the North Shore MS Society in 2003 and Vice President of MS Auckland Region Committee in 2008.

Madeline Robinson

Madeline’s association with the Auckland MS Society started ten years ago when she was diagnosed with MS. During these ten years she has much appreciated the friendships formed and the services offered to her through the society. She especially values learning and adopting George Jelinek’s suggestions for living with MS, which she discovered through the Society shortly after her diagnosis.

Originally, Madeline’s chosen career was as a teacher. After having three children she made the decision to change careers completely and began in Real Estate. Through the last 20 years Madeline has been involved in many facets of the real estate industry - selling, training, coaching, managing and business ownership. Currently, she contracts as an assessor of candidates completing the National Real Estate Courses.

Madeline is now delighted at this point in time to be in a position to contribute to the Society in the role as Secretary.

Ross Nordstrand

Ross originally qualified as a Cabinet Maker, going on to build motor homes, before being diagnosed with MS at the age of 25. Being such a practical, manual career, Ross unfortunately had to give up his passion and went on to develop a love of all things IT. He is currently upskilling in many aspects of this.

Ross was one of the founding members of the Activity Group with the North Shore MS Society along with standing on the Committee in the late 90’s. He is appreciative off all the help and support the MS Society has given over the last 17 years and is excited to be once again making a contribution to the Society and the Committee.

Bruce Cameron

Bruce served as a Member of the MS Auckland Committee from 2001 and was elected as Secretary to the MS Auckland Committee in 2004. Following amalgamation of the Auckland and North Shore MS Societies in 2008 he was elected as Secretary to the MS Auckland Region Committee.

Bruce is a Food Technologist and lives in Howick with his wife Margaret, who has MS. They have two grown children and one granddaughter.

Amongst Bruce’s many interests are Kiwanis (a service Club focusing on raising funds to assist with childcare and development), assisting with the operational requirements of the Coastguards as a volunteer, sailing, and playing the clarinet.

Peter Wood

Peter originates from Wellington where he attended Wellington College. This was followed by a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University. His career as a Chartered Accountant commenced in 1961.

Peter, with his wife Maureen and their four children, moved to Tauranga to join the accounting firm of Sinclair Wood, now Wood Walton Chartered Accountants, as a Partner in 1986.

As well as being a Senior Partner of Wood Walton, Peter is a Justice of the Peace and a Director of numerous companies and other organisations. He is a respected and trusted advisor to many local business people and a Trustee of the Bay of Plenty Education Trust.

Nelson Allen

Most of Nelson’s working life has been spent in management in the Fire Insurance industry. He retrained in his mid forties to teach English Literature, Drama and History. Nelson was very actively involved in sports until his MS Diagnosis in 1982, and has also worked in the dramatic arts, acting on stage, screen and television.

Nelson is married to Lita and lives in Onehunga. He has three adult children and two grandchildre

Michael Cole

Michael was with law firm Simpson Grierson for 43 years and at the time of his retirement in December 2006, he was the firm’s most senior litigation partner. Michael is now in practice as a barrister specializing in civil litigation.

Michael has worked on numerous cases in his profession involving different areas of practice, and has acted for and against health professionals. He also has an interest in mediation.

Michael and his wife have between them seven sons, one daughter and eleven grandchildren. His children have moved to various locations around the world including California, Paris and Ireland.

Bruce Howat

Bruce has followed a traditional career path. A former Police Dog Handler, Minister of Religion, Lecturer, Call Centre Manager, CEO of a political party, General Manager Apprentice Training New Zealand and CEO of PaMPITO; he has been a Director for Elite Dog Services and Chief Executive NZ EquineITO. He is a Director of The Thinking Company and Universalwriters.com.

He is Chair World Skills New Zealand and on the Board of Multiple Sclerosis Auckland Region. Bruce has a Masters of Management, Human Resource endorsement with Massey University, Dip Bus Admin (Massey) B.A., B. Theol (Otago).

Brian Stevens

Prior to the amalgamation of the North Shore and Auckland MS Societies I was a Committee Member for North Shore for about 10 years. I also served as their National Councillor and represented our region at the annual AGM in Wellington.

For about 7 of those 10 years I was a regular visitor to Wellington in this role. I was also one of the Board Members for MSSNZ and attended meetings there every second month. It was a rewarding experience to be a part of creating the national MS Society that we have today.

This year I represented the amalgamated MS Auckland Region Society at the AGM as our National Councillor. I'm also one of the team of volunteers that help the office staff when an extra pair of hands are needed for fundraising events like the annual Art Exhibition or when there’s a mail out to do to members and supporters. Whatever needs doing, if I’m available, I’ll help out. It’s a real pleasure to be part of the newly amalgamated society that now functions so well.

Joan Thomson

Hi everyone, my name is Joan Thomson, and I am one of your Committee Members.

My involvement with MS Auckland Region began several years ago after my late husband Bruce was diagnosed with MS and we turned to the Society for guidance and support.

I have been a Committee Member since 2001 and enjoy my involvement with the range interesting people and projects that it brings.

I find myself in the office quite often, especially when it is posting-out time for whatever Gary or Nicola have cooked up, which is okay as long as it doesn't interfere with my tennis!

May see you in there one day.

Fran Watts

Fran is originally from the UK and immigrated to New Zealand more than 6 years ago. She was diagnosed with MS after she had settled in New Zealand. Fran is married to John, who is also on our committee, and they have two children.

Fran and John visited the Gawler Foundation in Melbourne in 2005, and since then Fran has adopted the lifestyle changes promoted by George Jelinek.

David Compton

David is Director/Franchisee of Quest Newmarket in Auckland.
He has previously worked in Corporate Communications, Television and Radio.

David is married to Gay, a previous committee member and a person living with MS.