Our Committee Members
Image: Sarah Smuts Kennedy, Sound of Drawing, 8 December 2016
President: Mary-Anne Boyd
Mary-Anne has two sons and enjoys her grandchildren and volunteer roles supporting community wellbeing and environmental conservation. She is happy to support Athene as it contributes to the wellbeing of members through safe and stimulating social connections and ongoing learning.
Her early career in occupational therapy was enriched by diverse clinical experiences across paediatrics, schools, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, mental health and community services. She worked and studied in Glasgow and London, New York, Wellington and Auckland, and has also worked in Helsinki, Hong Kong, Singapore and San Diego. Other career experience included head of health sciences school, national management development programmes, PA Consulting senior consultant, health care funding manager, innovation manager and governance roles.
Past President: Joanne Wills
In this fast-paced world of ultra-fast broadband and every bit of information at our fingertips, it is a treat to enjoy the warm welcome to an Athene Meeting on the last Wednesday of the month, to listen to an interesting speaker and to chat over a cuppa with friends and acquaintances. I enjoy meeting and talking to the wise women who have nurtured this club through the decades and still support the club with their attendance.
Since joining Athene in 2021 we have had many meetings Covid cancelled so it is refreshing to look ahead with some certainty that there won’t be any more lockdowns.
My days are spent helping out with our grandchildren, a little part-time work, slow jogging and fast walking, Pilates, yoga and friendly tennis.
Membership: Ann Louise Jordan
I recently joined Athene and have relished the experience. I am looking forward to supporting the aspirations of the Club by joining the committee.
Having the opportunity to regularly meet other women and listen to an in-depth speaker is refreshing given the way in which content is now increasingly delivered digitally and in small sound bites. We will work hard to bring you interesting speakers covering a range of topics.
2024 marked my retirement after 27 years as Admissions and Scholarship Director at St Cuthbert’s. This was a busy but rewarding position and I loved the energy of the students which meant every week was full of variety.
I am very lucky to have three wonderful daughters and seven grandchildren to enjoy spending time with in my retirement. I also enjoy the outdoors, am an avid sports fan and love reading, theatre, film and baking.
Hon Secretary: Alison Laurence
Walking into the room at the Ellerslie Events Centre, where several hundred women are all chatting enthusiastically, is a reminder that connections are so important to us all. At the Athene monthly meetings, it is always a pleasure to connect, to renew old friendships and also make new acquaintances and at the same time be challenged by a guest speaker.
I joined the Club a few years ago and, after taking a brief break in my membership. am so happy to be back amongst friends. My mother was a very early member of the Club, similarly my aunt who next year will have been a member for 50 years. I enjoy walking, yoga, pilates, sewing fabric art, and activities with the grandchildren.
Hosting & special projects: Glenda Webb
Raised on a dairy farm I learned many of life’s most important lessons before most people had woken up, and that cows wait for no one, New Zealand absolutely depends on cows, and yes gumboots can be appropriate footwear for many occasions.
My formal education took place locally while my informal ‘learnings’ were at Otago University. Although I left with a nutrition qualification, I prefer to recall that I left nourished from my years there and lifelong friendships made.
My career and travel have instilled in me a work ethic and confidence to tackle most anything. Forty years married, seven decades of adventure, and three sons all underscore our family’s belief in holistic wellbeing, which for me includes regular petanque, pool time, yoga and time with grandsons.
Athene offers many more opportunities to renew connections and make new friends. Age is just a milestone and I intend to make the most of the road ahead along with a little help from the Athene ladies.
Events manager: Helen Cato
I’m Helen Cato and I’ve enjoyed being a member of Athene for the past 3 years, currently I’m the Event’s Coordinator. Raised in Hamilton, I then attended Massey University and completed my Arts degree in French and German. I then attended Teachers College in Epsom, taught for several years and enjoyed my OE in the States and Europe. Paul and I married in 1987 and we now have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. I love gardening, cooking and drawing and spending time with friends and family, often together on Kawau Island.