Linda has lived experience as a foster parent including whanau care and Family Group Home care, where she formed many strong ties with tamariki she cared for. She has been with Caring Families Aotearoa since 2010 and CEO since 2012. She is a strong advocate for caregiving families to receive robust, collaborative support and training, and has ensured these supports have reached thousands of caregivers.

She has been involved in developing the new National Care Standards and establishing the Extraordinary Care Package for children in Permanent or Whanau Care.  She continues today as Chair of the Extraordinary Care Fund Panel.

In 2019 Linda received an MNZM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her contribution to children and the state.

Ko Pāku te Maunga

Ko Tairua te Awa

Ko Tainui, Te Aupouri me Maniapoto ngā Iwi

Ko Marutūahu te tangata

Ko Ngati Rautao te hapuu

Ko Ōturu te Marae

Ko Amotahi Pouaka raua Ko Waiwera Tuaea ōku tupuna

Ko Reremoana tōku whaea

Ko Nyvonne tōku ingoa

My caregiver journey started when my husband and I took on a voluntary role for Hato Petera College as Mātua Atawhai.  We then accepted the challenge of Family Home Parents for Child Youth & Family.  Whanau took us to Perth where we worked as Professional Therapeutic Caregivers for an NGO and where I developed a true understanding of therapeutic parenting by attending every course I could.  On my return to Aotearoa, I attended a DDP workshop where pennies dropped like rain for me.  PACE is a natural way of being that requires a simple concept, connection, and connection is a feeling.  And you can’t fake feelings.

Samantha’s background is in communications, event organising and project coordination in corporate and NGO roles. She has worked and lived in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and enjoys connecting and meeting with people from all walks of life. Samantha is also the vice president of a charity, New Zealand Pompe Network, through which she advocates for equitable health outcomes for rare disorders in New Zealand.

Megan completed her post graduate degree in Clinical Psychology in South Africa and worked alongside the police and a community intervention center with a focus on Trauma, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Play Therapy. Before coming to Caring Families Aotearoa, she worked in MSD’s Historical Claims team which dealt with historic claims of abuse in state care.

Jenni is a born communicator and connector. She holds a Diploma of Education, as she initially thought that her career path lay in the classroom. However, after nearly two decades of connecting people with causes and helping generous Kiwis to become the solution to the needs within society, she has well and truly found her calling as a fundraiser.

Jenni has raised significant sums for many national charities, including Stroke Foundation, Diabetes New Zealand and Victim Support.

She has a passion to see the vulnerable groups within our community supported to thrive. She also wishes to see the kind-hearted people working with these groups well-supported and adequately resourced to do the incredible work that they do.

Rob’s professional interests lay with Family Therapy and parenting children with attachment disorders. He has a degree in counselling, has completed study in Psychotherapy, and has experience in foster caring. Travelling the country, Rob has delivered training in Kim Goldings “Foundations of Attachment” and provided more in-depth levels of understanding for foster carers. He believes anyone who cares for, or makes decisions for children in foster care needs to have an understanding of the trauma these children have experienced.

I originally hail from a farming community, close to the town of Waitara in Taranaki.  Then moved to Lower Hutt when I got married.  We have lived in Naenae for many years and raised our whānau here.  I have been a caregiver with Open Home Foundation and Oranga Tamariki over the years with my amazing husband and three biological daughters.  Currently, we have two beautiful whāngai mokos at home, who we are journeying through the teenage years.

I was trained as a social worker and have worked in a Teen Parent School and as a Victim Advisor for Ministry of Justice, then came to Caring Families Aotearoa in 2018 and love supporting and advocating for justice for tamariki and caregivers alike.

Jennifer has been working for Caring Families Aotearoa since 2015 and has been Linda’s Executive Assistant since 2019. She also provides HR support and is one of the Employment Relations Officers in the office. Jennifer holds a Legal Executive Diploma and worked in law firms prior to coming to Caring Families Aotearoa.   

Ko Mataatua te waka.

Ko Ngāi te Rangi te Iwi.

Ko Ngāti Hē te hāpu

Ko Maungatapu te marae

Ko Tamapahore tōku tipuna

Ko Moihi tōku matua

Ko Evelyn tōku whaea

No Tauranga ahau

Ko Amy tōku ingoa

I joined Caring Families Aotearoa in 2022 and my role is admin support for both the Finance and Fundraising team.  I have always been passionate about helping people and have almost 30 years’ experience working in the not-for-profit sector.

Dagmar has a master’s degree in Tourism Management from Victoria University, and her research focused on volunteering, altruistic travel, and host-guest relationships in non-commercial tourism settings. Before coming to Caring Families Aotearoa, she worked in international development supporting volunteers in the Pacific, and the health care sector supporting children with high health needs. She coordinates in-person and online trainings for caregivers and works closely with the Regional Coordinators and the admin team.