Our Committee

Mary-Anne Boyd

president

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

jane Boyd

Treasurer

Helen Cato

Event Manager

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.

joanne Wills

Past president

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.

janette Teale

Secretary

I am recently retired, although I remain actively involved as the founding owner of our family company. I have one daughter, who has now taken the reins of the business – something I’m incredibly proud of.

We have two busy, sports-mad grandsons who keep life lively, and I adore spending time with them whenever I can.

I greatly value friendship and community, which is why I recently joined Athene Club. I’m delighted to now be taking on the role of Secretary and look forward to meeting and getting to know many more members.

Rachel Gould

Name Badges & Welcome

I have been a member of the Athene Club since the beginning of 2023 and was recently invited to join the Committee.

Re-connecting with past acquaintances and meeting new ones keeps me busy along with Mahjong, bookclub, pilates, my church, knitting, and three beautiful granddaughters.

All this activity replaces a once busy household of four children. They have all now fled the nest and some are living in more exotic places giving me an excuse to indulge in overseas travel.

Alison laurance

Anne Marie Jordon

Membership

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.

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 grandson.