OUR BOARD
Chair
Dr Richard Stein
Gastroenterologist, Hutt Valley
Richard is a gastroenterologist from the States, who moved to NZ in 2007. He is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He did his GI training at Emory University in Atlanta. In the States he was in private practice, but also on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine. Richard worked for many years at Wairarapa and Hutt Hospitals and is currently a visiting gastroenterologist In Northlands, Rotorua, Invercargill, and Hawkes Bay. He has always had a strong interest in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. When he lived in the States, he was a trustee and President of the NW Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Richard helped organise one of the first camps for children with IBD in the States and his dream was to be involved in creating a camp here in NZ. He moved to NZ in 2007 and became a citizen in 2012. He has a wife, three daughters, and two grandsons who also live in NZ.
Trustees
Mrs Charmaine Rees
Business Consultant, Treasurer, Wellington
Charmaine joined the Board in 2015, and provides the commercial and financial complement to the Board. Charmaine comes from Wellington, and completed her Masters in Information systems at Victoria University, In her day job, Charmaine works for the government, providing advice on contracts, developing supplier scorecards and ensuring that organisations get the best value and output from the vendors they work for. When Charmaine isn't working, she can be found on her little farm, where she is learning to look after sheep and chickens, and growing a veggie garden to feed the family (and the bunnies). She has a passion for classical music and is a patron of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and in the winter you'll find her skiing with her family at Turoa.
Miss Dana Smith
Registered Nurse, Otago
Dana is a registered nurse in Dunedin. Being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 15 years old, she wanted to learn more about IBD and help others in similar situations. Dana has volunteered as a trustee since 20166 and came to the board after attending the first Camp Purple Live in 2015 and volunteering in the Otago Crohn's and Colitis Support Group.
Dana has been a camp nurse and leader for the first five camps and this year is focusing on her postgraduate studies to work towards becoming an IBD nurse in the future. As a nurse and patient on the board, Dana gives knowledge from both sides of the bed.
In her spare time, you’ll find her exploring Dunedin on a #dunnerstunner with her puppy Pippa or doing burpees at F45. Dana lives to prove IBD doesn’t hold you back from life and loves to encourage others to not let their IBD control them.
Dr Malcolm Arnold
Doctor, Christchurch
Malcolm Arnold is a Scotsman, born in Falkirk in 1961, who graduated MB ChB from Glasgow University in 1984, trained in General Medicine and Gastroenterology in Portsmouth, Southampton and Manchester, then saw the light and moved to Hawera NZ in 1994, then to Hawkes Bay in 2000. He moved to Christchurch in March 2020. He is passionate about gastroenterology, particularly endoscopy, and quality in that field. He is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist in Christchurch Hospital, is Clinical Lead for the National Endoscopy Quality Improvement Programme (NEQIP) and a member of the board of Crohn's & Colitis New Zealand. He is President of the NZ Society of Gastroenterology and proud father of Kristina and Scott and has become a grandfather to the beautiful Luca Kotare Harris in November 2017. He rides (and occasionally spectacularly crashes) motorcycles, and relishes Hawkes Bay reds. He has volunteered as a medic and photographer at five previous Camp Purples, and will be there again at the next camp in January 2021.
Professor Andrew Day
Professor of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Christchurch
Professor Andrew Day is an academic Paediatric Gastroenterologist based in Christchurch. After a period of training at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, Dr Day took up a position at Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. He returned to NZ in 2009 to take up an academic appointment with the University of Otago, Christchurch. Andrew has a busy clinical role in Christchurch, and also provides outreach Paediatric Gastroenterology services around the rest of the South Island. He has strong clinical and research interests focussing upon IBD in children and adolescents, with numerous publications and many ongoing research endeavours. Andrew's ongoing research activities are strongly supported by Cure Kids. In addition, Andrew chairs the committee tasked with organisation of Camp Purple Live, New Zealand's annual camp for children and adolescents with IBD.
Lisa Clough
Coordinator for the Wairarapa Crohn's and Colitis Support Group
Lisa Clough has been living in Masterton, Wairarapa, with her husband and dogs after moving from South Taranaki. She works at ANZ Bank as a Leadership Coach, bringing with her extensive experience in banking.
In 2013, at the age of 29, Lisa was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Her journey with this condition led her to become involved with Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand (CCNZ) when she was approached to restart the Support Group in Wairarapa. Almost a decade later, Lisa continues to lead this Support Group alongside Teresa Grimshaw.
Lisa has actively advocated for improved awareness and knowledge about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Notably, when Wairarapa lacked a specialist and dedicated IBD nurse, leaving many patients without necessary care, Lisa took a proactive stance. Together with Richard Stein, she engaged with hospitals, media, and affected patients to campaign for the reinstatement of services or support from another hospital. Their efforts eventually succeeded in securing a specialist and an IBD nurse for Wairarapa.
Through her advocacy, Lisa Clough has made contributions to supporting and improving the lives of people affected by IBD in her community.
Co-opted Board Members
Nicole Thornton
Student & CCNZ Ambassador
Nicole Thornton is a resident in Lower Hutt and is well-known throughout the IBD community.
In 2017, Nicole petitioned the government, at just 12 years of age, to mandate access to workplace toilets when a public toilet is not available for people with medical conditions.
She continues to actively lobby Members of Parliament, has testified in front of the Health Select Committee, was a finalist in the 2021 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, Local Hero Award and was recently awarded with a certificate of appreciation for community services by Lower Hutt Mayor, Campbell Barry, for the work with her campaign. She also recently attended the EFCCA (European Federation Crohn's & Colitis Association) general assembly conference in Brussels and is the newest member of EFCCA’s youth program.
In December 2020 Nicole launched her "I Can't Wait" campaign asking workplaces to display a sticker in their windows indicating that their business honours CCNZ's "I Can't Wait" cards. The cards are available to any person with a medical condition who might urgently need access to a toilet. Her goal is to see these stickers in business windows in every city and town throughout New Zealand.
Nicole, now 19, has attended all seven Camp Purple's to date, enjoys working out and riding her dirt bike and is excited to carry her role as ambassador for Crohn's and Colitis NZ and her "I Can't Wait" campaign down with her to Dunedin, where she is studying Nursing at the University of Otago.
Employees
Belinda Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Belinda Brown's journey with Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand began when she raised funds for Camp Purple Live in 2015. She then volunteered as a leader at the first camp and subsequently joined the CCNZ Board as a Trustee. Affectionately known as "Camp Mum" to many of the campers and volunteers at Camp Purple, she plays a significant role in the Camp Purple community and is part of the camp committee.
Although she is the only paid employee of CCNZ, she continues to volunteer for Camp Purple Live and other charities, such as the North Shore Hospital Auxiliary. Belinda lives on a lifestyle block in North-West Auckland with her daughter, husband, and many animals. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 26, she is very passionate about her work for CCNZ, Camp Purple Live, and the broader IBD community.
