• Diploma of Comprehensive Nursing
• Certificate in Small Business Management
• Accounting and Management

With a background in Nursing, I moved into coordinating the continuing education for GPs and Practice Nurses for the Rotorua area, I also coordinated some research projects on behalf of the University of Auckland and University of California.  Having run my own business, in 2019 I decided to return to my health roots and join the Complex Chronic Illness Support group as the Operations Coordinator, now the CEO.  I love the job and the impact it makes for people in their lives.

• Bachelor of Science in Business Management
• Certified Technical Writer

Kia ora, my name is Rowan. With a background as a paralegal for non-profit organisations and social impact law firms, I am honoured to join the CCI Support team as an administrator. I bring a passion for helping others navigate support systems and providing an empathetic presence throughout administrative practice. I’m looking forward to meeting you!

• Master of Information Studies
• Bachelor of Communication Studies.

Kia ora, my name is Beverly, and I’ve recently joined CCI as the Grants writer. I’m passionate about supporting Aotearoa’s charity sector by securing essential funding for organisations making a real difference in the community. I look forward to being part of the team at CCI and supporting the important work we do in providing support to those impacted by complex chronic illness.

I have a background in communication and research, I’m focused on securing sustained funding to ensure our programs can continue to grow and make a meaningful impact. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the outdoors with my family and spending quality time with friends.

Based in Tauranga, Annabelle covers the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga District.

• Bachelor of Community Health
• Diploma of Rehabilitation
• Clinical Aromatherapist
• Qualified Yoga teacher and Massage therapist

Hello, my name is Annabelle. I am originally from England but have called Tauranga Moana home for the past 18 years after spending eight years traveling and exploring the world. My journey into holistic health began in 2002 when I completed a Clinical Aromatherapy qualification, sparking a deep love for nature and the incredible benefits it offers.

Over the years, I’ve embraced a variety of roles—managing a massage therapy business, teaching yoga and breathwork, working in medical and educational settings, and supporting people of all ages with diverse abilities. These experiences have enriched my understanding of the many ways we can nurture well-being.

After completing my Bachelor of Community Health (majoring in Public Health) in 2020, I’ve become even more passionate about blending holistic approaches with evidence-based practices. I believe there is a balance to be found between medical and complementary therapies, and that everyone deserves a life of quality and fulfilment tailored to their unique needs.

I find great joy in supporting others on their journey to well-being and am honoured to walk alongside you as we explore what works best for you.

• PGDip Health Psychology
• GDSCI Psychology
• Master of Science Communication
• Bachelor of Zoology

Kia ora, I am so thrilled to join CCI Support and work with people around Aotearoa to assist them in managing their illness. I have a personal understanding of ME / CFS – I became ill in 2007 and was diagnosed with mild ME / CFS in 2012. Even after being diagnosed, I was offered no support and no strategies to manage my illness, and was left to struggle by myself for many years. My goal is to ensure that our members have a very different, and much more positive story.

My background is a little unusual! After graduating from Otago University with a Master of Science Communication, I worked in Wellington, South Korea, Europe, Taiwan and Australia in various fields before returning to Wellington to retrain in health psychology. I feel very strongly about the need to move away from the biomedical model, which is particularly inappropriate for complex chronic illnesses, and towards a more holistic understanding of health. I’m also passionate about improving health services for our rainbow community.

Starting February 2025

• Bachelor of Health in Poutū-manahau Population Health
• Certificate in social sciences

Kia ora, my name is Saya, and I am excited to be joining Complex Chronic Illness Support. I look forward to supporting you on your health journey, helping you navigate the approaches that best support your well-being, and advocating for more equitable health outcomes.

With a background in population, community, and Māori health, I am deeply committed to promoting health, particularly in communities where unmet health needs remain a priority. My passion lies in promoting culturally inclusive, holistic care, as I firmly believe that a “one-size-fits-all” biomedical model is insufficient for those navigating chronic conditions. I am here to support you and your whānau in strengthening all aspects of your well-being.

Waikato is my home, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the community that has shaped me. I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and animals, who are central to my well-being. I look forward to working alongside you to empower your wellness journey.

Phil covers the Mens Mentoring, Mindfulness and Meditation services.

My name is Phil, I am Dad to two boys (32 and 28)  and Poppa to two magical grand kids (4 and 2)

I have been a self employed coach and facilitator since 1992 working with managers, teams and people with heavy workloads and a sense of overwhelm.

I came across CCIS about 4 years ago which was 5 years after I got a flu and there was no end to the damn thing.  I tried so many ways to get better, making some progress then making things worse.  Coming across CCIS was the first time I met anyone who understood. That in itself helped and it helped me sense a way forward. I made many mistakes and progress was slow. But am in a much much better space now.

Hoping I can save others a lot of time, money and frustration as they work out what their path to wellness is. I now take on this role.

So looking forward to getting to know you and hearing from you how we can best support you.

• Bachelor of Arts (English & Media Studies)
• Qualified Beauty Therapist

Nō Aerana, nō Piritana ōku tūpuna.
I tipu ake au ki Tāmaki Makaurau.
Nō Te Rotoiti-kite-a-Īhenga tōku kāinga ināianei.
Ko Annamarie Jensen tōku ingoa. 

Kia ora, I’m Annamarie. I grew up in Auckland and moved to Lake Rotoiti, just outside Rotorua, in 2019.

A major health crisis in 2016 was the catalyst for the chronic fatigue I live with today. It set me on a path I never expected – one of searching for answers and learning how to adapt. Moving with my whānau to a rural setting helped me manage my symptoms, but when COVID-19 arrived, I faced new challenges with isolation and, later, long-COVID.

Finding CCI Support reminded me that I wasn’t alone in what I was experiencing. Connecting with others who understood made a real difference, and it’s what inspired me to become part of the team helping others living with invisible illnesses.

In my 20s, I worked in the fast-paced world of media, and in my 30s I ran a quiet home beauty practice focused on skin health and wellbeing. Those experiences taught me both the power of communication and the importance of care – lessons I bring to my role supporting people across the Lakes district.

I have a background in corporate marketing, senior management, and client relationship management as well as extensive non-profit fundraising experience both in NZ and UK. I have a B.Sc, B.A, P.G.Cert, several diplomas in natural health, and am currently doing Post Graduate studies in Biological Science/Health Science. My interest in alternative medicine and nutrition began as part of my own journey with chronic illness. I became ill in 2008 with Fibromyalgia, then ME/CFS and dysautonomia, and have 3 other diagnoses. Since 2013 I’ve organised the monthly social support group in Te Awamutu, and I was involved with discussions to bring the Waikato services to CCI Support, so joining the Board, just seemed to be a natural next step. I look forward to making a real difference in the role of president. I am grateful to be a part of an excellent organisation that truly understands these complex conditions and makes living with chronic illness more manageable through support, advice, and care.

 Alan is a New Zealand citizen who has lived in the Bay of Plenty most of his adult life. He has been married to Dale for many years and they have three adult children and four grandchildren. Three of those have suffered from complex ongoing disabilities, which is his motivation for seeking  a trustee role with CCIS.

He would “bring to the board table” a desire to support the team in the front-line from his experience on commercial and charitable boards. He has been a member of over 50 such boards; has been chair of many and secretary/treasurer for several.

Alan has honours degrees in public policy and management, with diplomas in dispute resolution, land surveying, and town planning. He is a past or present member of the institutes of directors, mediators, trustees, planning, property and surveying.

He has held various management positions and served on the boards of various organisations with annual turnovers ranging from under $1million to over $100million. He is an active mentor in the Business-in-the-Community Program through the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, and the Institute of Directors.

Between 1990 and 2003 Alan was the founding director of the Alandale Group of companies involved with consulting, development, investment, management and planning.  For 15 years prior to that he was a director and part owner of a large multi-disciplinary consulting company, operating throughout New Zealand and overseas.

Since 2003 he has focused on advisory, conciliation, governance, mediation and adjudication roles, and has been extensively involved in dispute resolution, particularly in the contractual, employment, environmental, and resource management fields.

Alan believes in the three phases of career – learn – earn – return, and is firmly in the “return” season.

I have worked in and around Tauranga my whole working life in Banking, Business Accounting and Management and at most levels of the Information Technology industry also designing and building Microsoft Access database systems since 1994.  I am currently part of a small team that have setup and operate three business units from our lifestyle block at Ohauiti: Crop Check, MeCount Business Systems Ltd, BlueSkyData Ltd.

I was raised on a local Ohauiti Dairy Farm, as a teenager I worked on a Sheep and Beef Farm weekends and School Holidays.  Married my wife Cathy in 1977 with three adult children, two grand children and another due early December 2020.  Cathy plays a very integral and important role in the three Small Business’ we operate and continues to be caregiver for my CFS.  We have lived in and around Tauranga returning to my Family home in rural Ohauiti in December 2006 and since June 2011 owned a Lifestyle block as a move towards realistic sustainability, providing the opportunity for me to work when I can rather than when I have to according to my energy reserves and CFS symptoms.

I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2000 and in March 2015 with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) or low Platelets, another Immune system condition with one of the main effects being extreme fatigue.

Complex Chronic Illness Support Inc (Formerly ME/CFS BOP) provided both Cathy and myself significant help and support during the years after my diagnosis in 2000, after a significant viral episode in 1991.  Before this past year I previously served on the Board of ME/CFS BOP as Treasurer Vice Chairman and Chairman and see that being part of the Governance Board of CCIS is a way I can use my accumulated Business Management experience and Technology skills to “pay it back” and help build a better support organisation and experience for those with Chronic Illness.

Thérèse is the Chief Executive of The Care Village, Ngongotahā, Rotorua.

She is a Registered Nurse with a Graduate Dip Business Studies, PG Infection Control and PG Dip Health Management. She has worked in health for over 46 years and spent over 32 years in senior management, training and development, auditing, change, project management, and independent management consultant.

Not satisfied with institutional care for the elderly and inspired by the Dutch de Hogeweyk care model for those requiring care not just those living with dementia.

Thérèse has successfully led, designed, built, and introduced the first New Zealand interpretation of a homelike model of aged care based on lifestyles. Validated recently by published AUT research. In 2020 The Care Village was the winner of the Supreme NZ Aged Care Association EBOS Healthcare Overall Excellence in Aged Care Award.

Thérèse is passionate about aged care, and the leadership and mentoring skills required to lead successfully to deliver excellent care for residents and their families living with dementia. Her passion is to have the value and skills that nurses in aged care acknowledged.