Our Team

Angela Francis, our Chief Executive, loves jazz music, New Zealand art and film festival movies. “I guess I’m in the right place. I moved to Wellington earlier in the year and there’s so much going on here culturally and in the arts. It’s really invigorating. Thankfully my 5-year-old Labrador, Holly, has taken to Wellington’s beaches with gusto. It seems she approves of the aimless running to be had on the beaches here and of course there’s always a seagull to catch.”

Prior to starting at the Foundation, Angela had a 10-year stint in the Bay of Plenty and before that she lived in Auckland, where she had grown up.

At work, Angela is leading the Asthma Foundation onto bigger and brighter things. She is building on our strengths and seeking new opportunities to grow and guide us through our next phase of development.

Angela has worked in health all of her professional life and has extensive experience across the public, private and Not for Profit sectors. She has an international Master’s degree in education (with a public health focus), as well as health management and project management qualifications.

Angela’s previous roles include Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the former Eastern Bay of Plenty PHO. Before that she was with the Bay of Plenty DHB, first as the Planning Manager and later as Portfolio Manager.

 

 

Sharon Cavanagh (MBA), our National Maori Health Manager, affiliates to the iwi Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.

Outside of work, apart from spending time with her daughter, Tyla, and whanau spread across the country, much of Sharon’s time is spent as a volunteer supporting  community-based organisations.

Sharon loves to have fun and enjoys food, has a passion for fashion, as well as enjoying fine wine, animals, music, reading and cooking!

Sharon’s role is to enhance our ability to support Maori with asthma and other respiratory conditions. 

Sharon came to the Foundation as a senior operational, service delivery and commercial manager with significant health sector and Not for Profit experience. Previous roles include Regional Manager, Central Region, for Arthritis New Zealand, General Manager (Midland Region), IHC New Zealand and Community and Maternity Services Manager at Tauranga Hospital. Sharon has a strong commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi and is a passionate learner of Te Reo Maori.

 

 

Teresa Demetriou, our National Education Services Manager, is married with one son who attends college.  She watches him play football for his club and college most weekends.

In her spare time Teresa also enjoys going out with her family to the theatre and catching up with the latest movies – although if she wants to watch a “chick flick,” she’s on her own.  To relax, Teresa likes to put her feet up with a nice glass of wine and indulge herself by catching up with the latest episode of Coronation Street.

When the weathers good, she joins her husband walking their two dogs, Blue and Poppy, along the Camborne Walkway.

Teresa is responsible for educating on asthma, and championing the dissemination of information, resources, knowledge and skills for the Asthma Foundation.

An enthusiastic and widely experienced Registered Nurse, Teresa is fully conversant with the philosophy and concepts of respiratory nurse practice. 

She was a Respiratory Nurse Educator for the Wellington Regional Asthma Society from 2004 until 2009.  Most recently, Teresa was a Health Advisor/Residential Community Services Manager for IDEA Services, the delivery arm of IHC New Zealand.  Originally from the UK, Teresa has worked as a public health nurse and practice nurse.

 

Judy McLuskie, our Donor Base Co-ordinator, is energetic. Actually, you could say that’s a bit of an understatement. 

A very warm person, Judy also possesses flair in the way she deals with people.

Her family is right at the centre of her world.

“I’m married and have two children. My family is important to me."

Judy’s husband is a manufacturing jeweller. Her daughter works and her son has just started college. The McLuskies also have two cats that they are very fond of, Moomba and Coco.

At work, Judy is a very important member of our team and specialises in co-ordinating our donor base, which is very well-established.

Judy’s great at holding our donor family together.

“I genuinely care about what’s happening in the lives of the donors and their personal experiences with asthma or of loved ones with asthma and other respiratory conditions.”

Judy supports our fundraising appeals, Asthma Awareness Week and Balloon Day.

 

 

 Jolene Phillips, the Executive Assistant to our Chief Executive Angela Francis, is often in her spare time found on Paraparaumu Beach with her dog Teddy, "doing battle" with her garden, or redecorating her house. She also enjoys music and Four Wheel Driving.

Jolene is responsible for management of the Chief Executive’s diary, the organisation of our AGM, conferences and functions, co-ordinating travel and accommodation, minuting our team and Board meetings, and managing special projects.

She worked for Arthritis New Zealand from 2001 to 2005, managing the donor database, assisting the fundraising team and organising the annual conference, awards dinner and AGM. Since then, Jolene has held EA/PA roles within the public sector and most recently she was EA to the Directors of the International and Legislation teams at the Department of Labour.