STOP Board and Management

Trustees

Joanne Milne - Chairperson

John Eyre-Walker - Chair, Finance Committee

John Eyre-Walker is the current Chair of the STOP Trust Finance Committee.  He is well-qualified to hold this position after completing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Commercial Law and Accounting at Deakin University in Victoria, Australia and then spending six years overseas working for several multi-national companies including Hyundai and Shell International Trading and Shipping.  He spent some time working for the owner and operator of the Swedish Stock Exchange as Operations Manager and helped to establish the world's first 24 hour exchange trading operation.  After leaving London and settling back in Christchurch in 2000 he worked with WestpacTrust Banking Corporation as a Business Analyst before joining Perpetual Trust Limited as a Financial Planner and Investment Advisor.

Philip Cheyne

Philip is currently a member of the Employment Relations Authority having been appointed as a statutory officer in October 2000. His role involves the investigation and judicious determination of employment relationship problems which are lodged with the Authority. Before this appointment, Philip was a solicitor in private practice in Christchurch, working principally in the field of employment law. Philip has been involved in governance roles in a number of not for profit organisations over the years including founding chairperson of the Christchurch Union & Community Medical Centre, as a council member of the University of Canterbury and as a board member Stopping Violence Services Inc.  Philip is a serving member of the STOP Trust Board Finance Sub-committee.

Phillippa Mason

Phillippa has been a member of the STOP Board since December 2003.  She is a registered Nurse and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.  Pip has worked in both the primary and secondary health sector for 30 years in  a variety of roles within these sectors including a Tutor in the Faculty of nursing and health sciences  at CPIT.  Phillippa has her own business consulting in professional development to Practice Nurses and also holds the position of General Manager for the New Zealand Resuscitation Council the standard setting body for Resuscitation and Emergency Care. Phillippa also represents the Council on the International Resuscitation Committee.

Richard Austin

Richard is a qualified Chartered Accountant who has had many years involvement in investment advice and management. He is an executive at Gould Holdings Limited, a well-known investment company, and is either Chairman or a Director of a number of subsidiary companies of Gould Holdings.   He is a Councillor representing the Canterbury - Westland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and sits on the Professional Development Committee of the Institute. He is also a Director of Business Mentors New Zealand and serves on the finance sub committee of the STOP Trust.   In his spare time Richard enjoys sailing, playing tennis and master's rowing."

Kaumatua

Iri Choat

Iri Choat has held the role of Kaumatua to the STOP Trust Board since being nominated in 2003 by Te Runaka ki Otuatahi a Kai Tahu. Iri’s iwi affiliation is Nga Ruahine of Taranaki. She has held the positions of Kaumatua - Maata Waka and has been involved with Te Runaka ki Otuatahi a Kai Tahu, Te Waipounamu District court and Princess Margaret Hospital Maori Health. In addition Iri has a long association with Te Rangimarie Marae where she holds the roles on the Board of Trustees and Kaumatua. Iri is mother to three adult children and seven mokopuna.

Chief Executive

Don Mortensen - Manager

Don holds a postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Economics .  He has worked in the field of child and family in a range of social work and clinical roles for over 25 years and has specialized in working with adolescents who have sexually abused for over 15 years. Don held the position of Clinical Director of the STOP Adolescent Programme from 1994 –2002 when he took up the position of Manager of STOP Trust.  Don holds membership and a current Certification of Competency of the Aoteroa New Zealand Association of Social workers. He is also a Clinical member and Executive member of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.