Meet the Board

Chairperson

Having semi-retired and moved back ‘home’ to Cambridge  in 2021 Meredith was open to offers for board work.  She was very happy to accept the invitation to join Age Concern Hamilton (as it was then known) having recently supported her parents through their later years at home and in care.  Meredith joined the board in September 2023 and has been chair since March 2024.  

She trained as a social worker and worked in residential social work in the UK on her OE and in the Wellington region in a range of roles including as a practitioner, social work manager and national leadership and policy development.  Following a restructure Meredith moved to Tall Poppies, a management consulting company, where she worked with a wide range of public and private sector organisations.  Her work included organisational development, coaching and the facilitation of a wide range of conversations.  She became an owner and director of the company which employed up to 15 staff, which following a merger, became Thought Partners.  

In later years Meredith has worked with many boards and senior teams on governance, strategic planning and organisation change initiatives.  She is also a member of the ACNZ board.

Meredith has been on a number of other boards in the past where the focus was on sustainability and young people.  Her commitment to social justice, equity, wellbeing and systemic change has been a key feature of her work and volunteering.  

In her spare time she is an active member of U3A in Cambridge and convenes a discussion group on national and international politics which is great fun.  Art is also important and Meredith is a trustee on the Cambridge Public Art Trust where the aim is to introduce more public art for the community to enjoy.  She also enjoys time with her whanau and is the great aunt to some special kids along with Shiloh the dog! 

Deputy Chair

Amanda is a Director of the Asset Planning Team at McCaw Lewis Lawyers. She brings more than a decade of experience in trusts, asset structuring, and elder law to her work on the Board. She also has a background in banking and finance at a top-tier Australian firm which underpins the commercial acuity she brings to every governance discussion.

Amanda is skilled at translating complex ideas into clear, actionable guidance. Her calm, neutral approach to problem solving and people dynamics helps resolve sensitive issues constructively and preserve key relationships.

Outside her professional role, Amanda enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family. She has a commitment to community service with additional roles on charitable trusts, including ConneXu, an organisation established to partner with disabled people and their whānau so they can live fulfilling, self-directed lives, and Angel Casts, which provides hand and foot casts for bereaved parents, giving them a tangible connection to children who have passed away.

Lee brings more than 20 years of experience across the health and community sectors and currently serves as the PA to the General Manager of Southern Cross Hamilton Hospital. Her career has included extensive work in mental health, disability support, and rural New Zealand communities, where she developed a deep appreciation for the unique challenges faced by older people, particularly those experiencing isolation or limited access to services. Lee’s connection to Age Concern began during her time working alongside people with disabilities, where she saw firsthand the importance of advocacy, dignity, and consistent support for older adults. This experience continues to shape her commitment to ensuring older people across the Waikato feel valued, connected, and well supported.

Lee has a long history of governance and community involvement, having served on multiple boards over the years. She has held the role of President, Co-Chair, and Board Secretary on several occasions, and is currently the Treasurer for Hamilton Playbox, a community theatre group operating out of Riverlea Theatre. In addition, Lee is currently patron for Loud Creative a Waikato-based charitable arts trust specialising in performing arts access, equity and inclusion.

Passionate about strengthening community wellbeing, Lee is inspired by the meaningful programmes delivered by Age Concern Waikato. Having witnessed their positive impact, she is dedicated to supporting initiatives that enhance the quality of life, connection, and independence of older people throughout the region. Lee was raised in Hamilton and lives here with her husband and two grown children.

Renee Stevenson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa) brings a strong commitment to community wellbeing and a depth of practical service delivery experience to the Board of Age Concern Waikato. In her professional role, she leads service delivery within a mission-led organisation, with responsibility for ensuring services are effective, efficient, and responsive to the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

Renee’s approach is grounded in lived experience. Having navigated financial and health challenges in her own life as well as supporting her nan, she understands the importance of accessible, respectful support systems that enable individuals and whānau to maintain dignity and independence. This perspective underpins her passion for strengthening services that genuinely meet people where they are, particularly for those who may be vulnerable or underserved.

As a board member, Renee brings a client-centred lens, alongside strong leadership capability and a collaborative style. She has a proven ability to think both strategically and operationally—connecting governance decisions to real-world service impact. Her strengths include service design, continuous improvement, and building systems that support better outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Renee has a background in public health, with experience working in clinical and capital service planning, leading large-scale and community-focused initiatives such as Covid-19 vaccination programmes, Māori diabetes prevention and healthy lifestyle programmes and Plunket services.

Renee is currently the Service Delivery Lead at Good Shepherd New Zealand, where she oversees the national delivery of social lending and financial wellbeing services. She is deeply committed to contributing to organisations that uphold manaakitanga, equity, and community connection, and sees her role on the Board as an opportunity to support Age Concern Waikato in continuing to enhance the wellbeing, inclusion, and independence of older people across the region.