Chief Executive, founder

Anna is an experienced health communications professional and NGO leader. Anna has over 25 years professional communications experience and has spent the last 16 years working in the New Zealand health sector. During this time, she has designed, led and delivered numerous national, regional and local public health campaigns and projects. Since 2020 Anna has been focusing on applying her public health marketing and communications skills to leading community-based health promotion organisations. She co-established the Southern Wellbeing Trust in 2020 and since July 2022 Anna has founded and led the Headlight Charitable Trust.

Project Lead - Migrant Mental Wellbeing Programme

Anna, an immigrant from China, has been in New Zealand for three years with her family, having previously lived in the United Kingdom and Singapore. She is an active advocate for local philanthropy, deeply involved in community activities. Anna not only participates in charitable events but also leads the Queenstown Chinese community in the Arrowtown autumn parade, highlighting their cohesion. Collaborating with the QLDC welcoming community, she helps convey essential messages to the Chinese community for better integration and organizes support for those in need, showcasing her dedication. With her extensive community experience, Anna provides valuable assistance to Headlight, enhancing understanding of community needs and mental well-being. Her enthusiastic leadership positively impacts community integration and development efforts.

Marketing Specialist

Carrie has completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Canada. She has worked in Digital Marketing for 6 years with a diverse range of businesses with her passion lying in working with community oriented organisations. Carrie believes in the importance of overcoming the stigma around talking about mental health and that the Trust has paved the path to creating a strong community foundation here in Queenstown.

Workshop Faciltator

Krista has lived and worked in Queenstown for 21 years.  Initially working in hospitality, after becoming a parent she returned to work for a children's NGO.  She is an advocate for peer support and has seen improved outcomes for mental health amongst parents who attend her Remarkable Mums group. She regularly runs session on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, surviving sleep deprivation and other parental peer support focused topics. Krista is also a trained GoodYarn Facilitator and has delivered numerous GoodYarn workshops for Headlight Trust. With well managed Bi Polar disorder, Krista is able to promote the efficacy of wellbeing tools which she uses herself.  

Marion has extensive health system experience working early in her career as a GP and more recently as a public health specialist. She sees strengthening the health and wellbeing of people through building resilience and increasing social connectedness, as an important way to support communities that are facing multiple challenges.

Mel is actively involved in our local community, holding space for and creating connections with many. She is passionate about supporting people in our district and sharing our vibrant community, and believes that everyone’s voice should be heard.

As a facilitator and Whanau Ora Navigator she believes that teaching our whanau skills to have peer to peer conversations are invaluable.

Merle is currently working as a Programme Manager for the School of Social Services at Te Pukenga, the Southern Institute of Technology. Her primary responsibilities include managing the development and delivery of various programmes, such as the New Zealand Certificate Health and Wellbeing (level 4) and the New Zealand Diploma Health and Wellbeing (level 5) at both the Invercargill and Wakatipu campuses. In addition, she runs a private practice that offers personal counselling, supervision, and training for NGOs and private businesses on leadership, conflict management, and managing change. Merle is also a member of the Breathing Spaces Trust in Invercargill.

Christine has worked within the Ski Industry for 12 years both in management and support roles. Originally from Canada, she has made Queenstown her home over the last 9 years, and has first hand experience being a transient member of the community, with the hardships that can follow.

Throughout her whole career, mental health and wellbeing has been a strong focus both with teams she has led, as well as peers she has worked alongside. She has created and delivered several events that bring communities together and encourage peer to peer support, and is a strong advocate for mental health literacy.

Jean has spent her career in the health sector. Starting out as a nurse she worked in hospital and community settings before moving into management. She worked in senior management roles in NZ, Australia and the UK.

Upon retirement to Arrowtown Jean was appointed as a deputy commissioner to the SDHB and then as a board member. She currently sits on the Idea services Board of IHC. Jean also participates in a range of interests and activities locally.

Yoko is a chartered accountant with experiences in the banking, retail and service industries with a focus on Sustainability.

She and her family moved to Arrowtown for a ski season and were captivated by the beautiful surroundings and the community and now call Arrowtown home.

She is originally from Japan but has spent most of her life overseas, in the US, Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong and NZ. Through her experiences, she understands the challenges of moving to a new place and the impact it can have on your mental health. She is passionate about mental wellbeing and is a strong believer in being active and connecting with the community.

Madeline is a solicitor working at Mactodd Lawyers in Queenstown. Prior to working as a solicitor, she spent 13 years working in government social sector roles, spanning operational policy, procurement, community partnerships, privacy and official information.

Since 2017 Madeline has served as the Ministerially appointed Community Representative on the Ministry of Social Development’s Benefit Review Committee, covering the Queenstown and Central Otago areas. She is passionate about ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.

Madeline is a mum to three children, lives in Arrowtown and loves mountain running. She is a strong advocate of mental health literacy and a grassroots approach to improving the mental wellbeing of communities.