About Us
-
Hana Jensen
MANAGER
It is a privilege to be a part of an organisation supporting and empowering women in Wellington.
I am passionate about supporting those in my community and proud to be part of the Collective. I am excited to continue grow and strengthen our offering to those in need.
-
Libby Parkinson
SUPPORT
I have been working in the mental health and addictions sector for 2 years which has shown the importance of supporting women across Aotearoa. In my nomadic upbringing, I have been inspired by the strength and individuality of many women I’ve met. I am dedicated to working in a culturally and trauma-informed way to provide care and aroha for Wellington women.
-
Adele Yee
COUNSELLOR
Kia ora. I know that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming, and my priority is to create a safe, supportive space where you feel heard and valued. I believe that everyone has unique needs and perspectives, so I tailor my approach using a range of counselling modalities to best suit you. My goal is to work collaboratively—combining my expertise as a counsellor with your strengths and experiences—to help reduce the impact of challenges in your life. Open communication is important to me, and I welcome feedback to ensure our work together is meaningful, respectful, and effective.
-
Marcela Palomino - Counsellor
STUDENT COUNSELLOR
I am a firm believer in the power each one of us hold, no matter how hard our circumstances or the feelings we are navigating. As a counsellor, I put my clients at the centre, valuing their unique aspirations, experiences, needs and abilities. I provide a safe, warm, professional and respectful place where we can openly explore together your feelings and thoughts, so we can create space to move forward.
I am originally from Chile and migrated to Aotearoa in 2006. I am a mum of three young humans and one furry companion. In my free time, I love doing weaving and textile work.
-
Angela Ollswang - Student Counsellor
STUDENT COUNSELLOR
-
Jo Kinnaird - Funding
FUNDING COORDINATOR
I have worked in the not-for-profit sector for the past eleven years, and I am delighted to be able to use my knowledge and experience to support Wellington Women’s Health Collective to help other women in their well-being journeys.
While my role is very ‘behind the scenes’ at the Collective, I am enjoying calling on my experience in the fundraising field to make things happen for the women of Wellington and to support my colleagues who are integral to helping those who come to us for support.
Our Board
-
Sally Myles
BOARD CHAIR
I believe access to the information we need, when we need it empowers us all to live our best lives. I have been an active feminist for over fifty years and I am excited to join the collective who have been supporting and empowering women in Wellington for thirty five years. I have worked in the information sector for forty and am now making time to use the skills I learned during those years to support our local communities. When I am not engaged with board work I will be found spending time with my extended family, writing and supporting former refugee families to settle into our wonderful city.
-
Caroline Flora
SECRETARY
I joined the board in late 2024 and am honoured to support this amazing team to deliver a vital service to women in Wellington. I am a public servant and have spent the majority of my career in policy and operational roles in areas of child well-being, family and sexual violence and women's health. I trained as a lawyer at Otago University, and am currently studying towards a Masters in Counselling. I love working with others on a shared mission to help individuals, whānau and communities thrive.
-
Vacant
TREASURER
If you're interested in joining our board as Treasurer, we'd love to hear from you! Visit our ‘Get Involved’ page to learn more.
-
Anita Edwards
BOARD MEMBER
I’m passionate about accessible mental health support and love being a part of WWHC. I have held various roles here, including volunteering as a Counsellor for two years as a member of the Change Committee and now as a Board member.
We’ve had a busy few years and I am proud to be part of an amazing group of people who come together bound by feminist beliefs and the desire and capacity to give time, energy, knowledge and skills. With a shared intention to sustain and grow our services, I am excited to see some of our new initiatives develop in the coming years.
-
Phoebe Webster
BOARD MEMBER
Access to equitable, timely and appropriate healthcare and support is so important. My background is in the public community mental health sphere where I have held clinical roles across community adult mental health as well as mental health crisis and specialist care services. I joined the board in 2024 and am happy to be part of our wonderful governance team.
-
Jessie Manning
BOARD MEMBER
I'm passionate about helping community organisations achieve their goals. My background is in government relations, communications & engagement, and project management, and I have held roles across the Public Sector and at Parliament. I joined the board in May 2023.
Our Story
Our story started in 1986 with a safe and welcoming space focused on well-being, created by women for women, including those identifying in ways differing from traditional gender norms. This initial group formed a not-for-profit collective, enabling all staff, volunteers and members to have a say in how the organisation was run. Wellington Women’s Health Collective became an established part of the Wellington community. Over the years, we’ve called different spaces home, including a period where we were housed alongside various other community organisations supporting Wellington women. The strong relationships we built during this time continue to benefit the people we serve today.
While the Collective structure served us well for many years, we are now evolving to better align with our changing society. Our new structure, finalized in early 2021, includes a Board that provides support and guidance, alongside our dedicated staff. This shift allows us to more effectively respond to the evolving needs of our community, workforce, and environment, ensuring that the Wellington Women’s Health Collective continues to live its values with the well-being of women at its core.
Volunteers have always been a vital and valued part of our story. As we know, not-for-profit organizations often rely on the passion of both paid staff and volunteers. As a feminist organisation, we recognize the pay gap and the historical reliance on women in voluntary roles. In response, we are working to reduce our reliance on volunteers by increasing the number of paid positions within the Wellington Women’s Health Collective. This shift also acknowledges the complex skill sets required and the seriousness of our work by offering improved pay rates. We’ve started this process with a recent grant that has allowed us to create a paid Counseling position. In the long term, securing ongoing funding to sustain this initiative will provide staff stability, reduce waiting lists, and enable us to expand our services.
We hope you will join us in any way you can to help share who we are and what we do, to champion our causes, and to ensure that we continue to be here for many years to come, providing accessible, safe, and welcoming support through our mahi.
