Alison Wheatley-Mahon joined Melanoma New Zealand in March 2026.

With more than 20 years’ experience in senior marketing and fundraising roles across high-profile organisations, as the new Head of Fundraising, Alison will drive revenue growth, expand fundraising programmes, and grow donor love to help power the life-saving mahi of Melanoma New Zealand.  Alison has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.

Alison says the skin cancer cause hits differently when melanoma has directly touched your own whānau. When she is not plotting for Melanoma New Zealand to be all people in Aotearoa’s most beloved charity of choice, you are likely to find her somewhere on a marathon course. Ideally an international one, because she loves travel too.

Kate joined Melanoma New Zealand in 2025.

Kate is a communications and publishing specialist with more than 20 years experience in the not-for-profit, charity and publishing sectors.

Other organisations Kate has worked for include Coastguard Tautiaki Moana, Publishers Association of New Zealand, University of Auckland, European College of Sport Science, Taylor & Francis, and John Wiley & Sons.

Kate leads our communications, PR, brand and marketing functions, helping drive awareness about prevention and early detection, as well as communicating the impact the organisation makes, and the stories of those with lived experience of melanoma.

Media enquiries can be sent to comms@melanoma.org.nz 

Vanessa is our Clinical Events Manager.

She works closely with our Nurse Educators, key partners, and corporate and community organisations to bring national events to life and build meaningful connections.

Originally from France, Vanessa now happily calls Aotearoa home and feels a strong connection to its people, cultures, and beautiful landscapes. Her career has been rich and varied, spanning the film industry, running her own business, and project and office management. These experiences have shaped her adaptable, hands-on approach and genuine love of working with people.

At the heart of everything she does is a deep appreciation for connection and collaboration. Vanessa thrives in team environments, bringing energy, optimism, and a sense of fun to her work while always focusing on creating engaging, inclusive, and meaningful events.

She cares deeply about people, communities, and the world around her. Protecting the environment and supporting social justice are values she carries into both her personal and professional life.

Outside of work, Vanessa is naturally curious and enjoys spending time outdoors, making the most of Aotearoa’s incredible environment and sharing those experiences with friends and family.

Jade was born and raised in the Philippines, where she earned her Nursing Degree in 2010, completed her Masters in 2013 and had extensive experience in various fields of community and corporate nursing, as well as four years as a clinical teacher at the College of Nursing.

Since emigrating to New Zealand in 2018, Jade has further enhanced her practice as a registered nurse, including working in a private hospital, dementia unit, and specialising in skin cancer detection and prevention. Prior to joining Melanoma New Zealand in April 2024, Jade worked at MoleMap as a senior melanographer, playing a key role in skin cancer treatments and surgeries. She also trained and audited other melanographers in Auckland and furthered her career as an educator by completing the Preceptorship of Nurses in Practice at Waikato Institute of Technology.

Jade enjoys using her dermoscopy skills and pursuing her passion for teaching by providing spot checks and education at events throughout New Zealand. She also provides support and advice to melanoma patients and their families via online and telephone consultations.

To book an online or telephone appointment with one of our Nurse Educators, click here.

Abbie is a highly experienced Registered Nurse with 15 years in the profession, including the past decade dedicated to skin cancer care. As one of Melanoma New Zealand’s Nurse Educators, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

Her background includes working as a Cancer Nurse Coordinator at Christchurch Hospital, specialising in melanoma and skin cancer, and as a Nurse Dermoscopist, providing full-body skin cancer checks in workplaces nationwide. She holds a Diploma of Dermoscopy and is dedicated to ongoing learning, ensuring she delivers the highest standard of care.

Beyond her clinical work, Abbie serves as the nurse representative on the Melanoma Network New Zealand Executive Committee and chairs the special interest group for New Zealand nurses working in skin cancer. She has also contributed to the New Zealand National Melanoma Working Group.

She is passionate about improving health outcomes through education, advocacy, and the promotion of early detection and prevention strategies.

To book an online or telephone appointment with one of our Nurse Educators, click here.

Gill joined Melanoma New Zealand in January 2021 as the Melanoma Nurse Educator and now works as Patient Support to provide advice online and over the phone to patients and their whānau via our consultation service.

Gill, is a Registered General Nurse, who specialised in Dermatology in 2002, becoming the first nurse in the UK to gain a post graduate Diploma in Professional Practice in Dermatology through the University Of Wales College Of Medicine. She also earned a BA in Community Public Health Nursing and Nurse Prescribing qualification prior to becoming a Senior Lecturer at the University of Northampton.

As a senior nurse, Gill worked with Molemap as the National Clinical Manager, providing training and management of melanographers and clinics nationwide and at Waitemata DHB as Clinical Nurse Specialist for Research and Dermatology where she managed the melanoma clinical trials and specific patient groups.

Gill is passionate about prevention, early detection and identification of melanoma.

To book an online or telephone appointment with one of our Nurse Educators or Patient Support Team, click here.

Nicola’s main focus whenever she is working with someone in the counselling space is to create a safe and warm connection. 

Her counselling centres around acceptance of the things that can’t be changed, staying connected with the present moment and working collaboratively to discover the strengths that already exist in working towards living a life that feels meaningful – even through challenge.

Nicola is qualified with a Master’s in counselling and is a full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

Nicola’s core values are empathy, family, connection, purpose, curiousity and humour. She has two beautiful girls embarking on their own interests and lives on a small block of land with her husband and a motley assortment of animals.

Geraldine is a Registered Psychologist with specialised training in health psychology.

Geraldine has extensive experience in working with individuals and groups from previous roles within public and private health settings.

Geraldine provides optimal psychological care to individuals and their families adjusting to the impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Alongside her clinical practice, Geraldine has been involved in teaching and training health psychology interns and currently teaches professional and communication skills to medical students at the University of Auckland.

Geraldine is also a therapist for research studies focusing on support for people undergoing cancer treatment and living with advanced cancer.

Richard is a NZ trained surgeon and spent two and a half years at the Sydney Cancer Centre, the largest treatment and research facility for melanoma in the world, specialising in melanoma and head and neck surgery. He completed a Master of Surgery in Surgical Oncology at the University of Sydney. Richard publishes in numerous academic journals, is a regular presenter at international conferences and is actively involved in research and clinical trials. Richard works at the Melanoma Unit and Te Whatu Ora – Waitematā. He chairs the National Melanoma Standards group and the Auckland regional melanoma group. Richard is also on the executive committees of Melanoma New Zealand, the Australian and New Melanoma Trials Group and MelNet.

Don Mackay is an independent consultant and company director. He returned to NZ in 2016 after nearly 20 years working in London, The Hague and Singapore in various senior executive and board level roles in the energy and maritime sectors. He has extensive experience in strategy development, risk oversight and stakeholder management, and understands the importance of building a strong governance culture and implementing governance best practice. He has personal experience with melanoma and is a passionate advocate for reducing its incidence with sun (UV) protection and preventing avoidable deaths through its early detection. Don is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Member of Engineering NZ.

Philip Harkness is a Chartered Accountant currently working for Coastguard New Zealand as Chief Financial Officer.

Before starting his role at Coastguard New Zealand in 2020, Philip spent 28 years working in the FMCG and corporate world in New Zealand and abroad for large organisations, including KPMG, Air NZ, BNZ and Diageo.

Along with his financial acumen, he has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, funding, and a passion for education, honed during nine years on the Westlake Boys High School Board of Trustees.

Philip enjoys playing golf, spending time with his three children and wife and is an avid Manawatū Turbos supporter.

The Hon. Amy Adams retired from politics in 2020, after 12 years as the National MP for Selwyn.  Amy initially trained and practised as a lawyer and worked in both Invercargill and Christchurch, the latter as a partner in law firm Mortland McCormack.

Amy entered politics in 2008 and was appointed a Minister of the Crown in the John Key Government in 2011.  She brings senior governance skills to her role with Melanoma New Zealand, having served as Minister in several high-profile portfolios including Internal Affairs, Justice, Courts, Social Housing, Social Investment, Environment, and Communications and Information Technology.  During her time in politics, Amy also served as the Associate Minister of Finance and as the Associate Minister for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery.

In 2021, Amy was appointed to the interim board of Health New Zealand, which was established to advise on creating and transitioning New Zealand’s 20 DHBs into a single, centralised health organisation.

As part of a farming family, Amy is a strong advocate for ensuring melanoma prevention and early detection messages reach our rural communities and outdoor workers.  She has had personal experience of the devastating impact of skin cancer, sadly losing her beloved mother in 2014.

Wellington-based Dr Sonja Bodley has extensive experience in skin cancer detection and management both as a GP, and through her dedicated skin cancer/minor surgery clinic. Dr Bodley is a strong advocate for educating people to be aware of the risks of melanoma and to promote early detection and prevention.

Throughout her career, Dr Bodley has developed written guidelines and information for parents around childhood sun safety which is now available to all Early Childhood Centres in New Zealand, and she has also partnered with local schools and organisations to give education sessions to young people and teachers around sun safety.

Pete is a strategy consultant with extensive experience and proven results in governance, strategy development and execution, stakeholder engagement and change management across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Pete and his partner have recently welcomed their two children after returning to Tāmaki Makaurau in 2019. Growing up in a family of five boys in Ōtepoti, family is hugely important to him. When Pete was in primary school, his grandfather passed away after developing melanoma. Having the opportunity to contribute and serve on the board of Melanoma New Zealand and help prevent avoidable deaths and suffering from melanoma is one that is close to his heart.

Angela is an accomplished leader with executive and governance experience spanning education, health, workforce development and research, both in New Zealand and internationally.

She holds an MBA and a PhD from the University of Waikato and is an alum of the University of Sydney School of Public Health. Angela led the establishment of New Zealand’s third physiotherapy school and led large-scale strategic developments as Deputy Chief Executive for New Zealand’s largest tertiary education provider.

Angela has held governance roles at Hospice Waikato, Sacred Heart Girls’ College Hamilton, and has worked in an advisory capacity for the Menzies Centre for Health Policy in Sydney.

Her contributions to education, public health, biomedical research, business and leadership have earned her numerous awards and fellowships in both New Zealand and Australia.

Passionate about tackling complex challenges, Angela is dedicated to creating equity and making a meaningful impact.

Richard is a NZ trained surgeon and spent two and a half years at the Sydney Cancer Centre, the largest treatment and research facility for melanoma in the world, specialising in melanoma and head and neck surgery. He completed a Master of Surgery in Surgical Oncology at the University of Sydney. Richard publishes in numerous academic journals, is a regular presenter at international conferences and is actively involved in research and clinical trials. Richard works at the Melanoma Unit and Te Whatu Ora – Waitematā. He chairs the National Melanoma Standards group and the Auckland regional melanoma group. Richard is also on the executive committees of Melanoma New Zealand, the Australian and New Melanoma Trials Group and MelNet.

Wellington-based Dr Sonja Bodley has extensive experience in skin cancer detection and management both as a GP, and through her dedicated skin cancer/minor surgery clinic. Dr Bodley is a strong advocate for educating people to be aware of the risks of melanoma and to promote early detection and prevention.

Throughout her career, Dr Bodley has developed written guidelines and information for parents around childhood sun safety which is now available to all Early Childhood Centres in New Zealand, and she has also partnered with local schools and organisations to give education sessions to young people and teachers around sun safety.