Alzheimers NZ Board

Eileen was appointed to the Alzheimers NZ Board in June 2024. She is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and brings a broad range of governance experience – both from a not for profit – local and national body perspective as well as from a government/crown entity perspective.

Eileen started her professional career in the food industry – working both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. She then moved into the public sector where she has worked at a range of organisations including Statistics New Zealand, Foundation for Research Science and Technology, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Eileens work in the not-for-profit sector includes Zealandia and the YMCA at both the National and local level. As well as enjoying being an active baker as part of Good Bitches Baking. Eileens experience with Alzheimers primarily comes through supporting whānau and friends who have lived through the experience of a loved one with Alzheimers.

Alister Robertson QSM was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimers disease in 2014 at the age of 60, having previously cared for his father who also lived with Alzheimers.

A graduate of Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce, Alister spent more than 30 years in rural finance serving Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary sector.

Since his diagnosis, Alister has become a passionate advocate for people living with dementia mate wareware, promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting opportunities to live your best possible life following a diagnosis. He joined the Alzheimers NZ Lived Experience Advisory Group in 2017 and has been an Alzheimers NZ Board member since 2018.

Alister has contributed to dementia advocacy at both national and international levels. He has been involved with Dementia Alliance International since 2016, serving on its Board and as Chair from 2021 to 2025. Internationally, he is a Focus Group member for the World Health Organization’s Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange platform. In Aotearoa New Zealand, he is a member of the Dementia Mate Wareware Leadership and Advisory Group.

In 2024, Alister was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to people living with dementia mate wareware.

Chris has 30 years of nursing experience and currently works as a Community Nurse Practitioner for Older People in the Nelson region. In her role she works alongside people living with dementia mate wareware and their whānau and care partners in their own homes. As part of her Master’s Degree, Chris had the opportunity to contribute to research which directly looked at the perspectives of care partners of people living with dementia mate wareware, when they entered acute care services.  Being able to support and advocate for care givers is an area she is passionate about.

Chris has previously worked as a Senior Academic Nursing Tutor at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, educating nursing students of the future and is currently a member of the Alzheimers Nelson Tasman board, where she has served for one year.

Clare was elected to the Alzheimers NZ Board in 2020 and served as chair from 2021 to 2025. She was on the Board of Alzheimers Manawatū for nine years and was chair for six of those.

In her working life as a community pharmacist she saw people living with dementia mate wareware and their whānau were not living their best life, so she decided to see if she could make a difference. She feels there has been some progress but there is still so much more to do.

Clare is now involved with the Kapiti community as a member of the Kapiti Health Advisory Group to the Kapiti Coast District Council, a member of Soroptimists International Kapiti Coast and chair of the Raumati South Residents Association among other things and enjoying life at the beach.

Clare was previously Deputy Chair of the THINK Hauora (PHO) Board, on the THINK Hauora Digital and Clinical Governance Committee, and on the Takaro Rotary Club Board. She is a past member of the National Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand and was made a Fellow of the Society in 2019 for services to the profession.

Dr Daniel Allan works as a Psychiatrist of Older People, based in several services throughout the South Island. He has an interest in rural and minority groups that are often underserved in this area of Medicine. In other roles, he is a committee member for the NZ Branch of Old Age Psychiatrists, works as a General Adult Psychiatrist in community psychiatry and a Senior Clinical Lecturer. He has occupied academic positions and has a special interest in capacity assessment of older people.

In a life before medicine, Dr Allan worked as a Director-Producer for an award-winning International Television Production Company. He has completed degrees in environmental science and science communication and worked as a land-based scientist for several years.

Dr Allan is passionate about the journey of people and carers living with dementia mate wareware. Today amongst clinical work and further study into health law and bioethics, he works as a strong advocate for these valuable members of our society.

Max has held senior management position across the social services and health sectors for over 25 years, including home and community support services, aged residential care, and mental health and disability – predominantly in the not-for-profit sector. He has held governance roles with a number of community organisations, including currently Abbeyfield NZ, as Treasurer of the NZ Association of Gerontology and Chair of Alzheimers Otago.

A Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management, Max holds degrees in business and theology, and a Master’s Degree in Social Policy – his research demonstrating the critical connection between our overall health and wellbeing and our living environment and social connectedness. He is a staunch advocate for the role of whānau care partners, having been the primary care partner for wife’s parents as they navigated their own journey with Alzheimers.