Child Matters champions a future where every child in Aotearoa grows up safe, valued, and free from harm
We are New Zealand’s only national charitable trust dedicated to the prevention of child abuse.
Our mission is to educate, empower, and support communities to protect children and young people from harm
Our unique role
Unlike other countries, New Zealand does not require mandatory child protection training for professionals and volunteers who work with children. Child Matters fills that gap. We enable teachers, coaches, social workers, and any adult who works with children to develop the skills that will allow them to recognise vulnerabilities and signs of abuse. We then arm them with the knowledge and confidence to take action.
Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins all our services and relationships with iwi, hapū, and Whānau. We recognise our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and we are committed to providing culturally appropriate and supportive services that benefit all our communities.
Child protection training
NZ Diploma in Child Protection, study programmes, workshops, and webinars. Delivered both in-person and online.
Consultancy and policy advice
Supporting organisations with policy development, audits, and practical tools for child protection.
Community engagement
Working alongside schools, NGOs, government agencies, and the public to build protective environments for our tamariki.
Advocacy
Driving systemic change and best practice in child protection across Aotearoa.
Our Team
About
Megan is a qualified and registered social worker. Prior to coming to Child Matters in 2019, Megan worked at Oranga Tamariki in Hamilton and Wellington for over 16 years. This included being on the frontline as a social worker, as a Specialist Child Witness Interviewer, and a Supervisor.
Megan brings previous social work practice experience on the Paediatric Ward at Waikato Hospital. She holds a variety of governance roles including School Boards.
About
Richard is a former senior police detective, starting his career in the Metropolitan Police (London) before transferring to the New Zealand Police.
He has led Multi-Agency Child Protection, Adult Sexual Assault and Sex Offender Management teams. Working closely with Oranga Tamariki and a specialised team of health professionals, he embedded the Child Protection Protocols.
In collaboration with Oranga Tamariki, he developed and implemented the investigation practices for mass victim allegations in educational facilities.
Richard is a skilled and empathetic investigator with vast experience in the field of child abuse prevention and detection.
Gudryn Meyrick
Finance Manager
About
Gudryn is a qualified and registered accountant, graduating in 2003 and has held accounting and auditing positions in New Zealand and overseas. She has previously worked as an auditor for PwC and as an accountant for Heathcote Appliances.
Gudryn enjoys working in the charitable sector and works tirelessly to ensure the fiscal sustainability of Child Matters.
Alan McGlade
Child Protection Consultant
About
Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, Alan worked in the United Kingdom Prison Service. In New Zealand, Alan has 25 years’ experience with the New Zealand Police.
After he qualified as a detective, Alan specialised in serious child abuse investigation.
Additionally, Alan spent five years as the domestic violence mentor to Vanuatu, spending time both in-country and remotely driving improvements in legislation, policy and best practice.
Karen Rogers
Child Protection Consultant
About
Karen joined Child Matters in 2020. Karen began her foray into social services in the 90’s working in a community agency where she facilitated family violence groups prior to returning to tertiary education in 1996.
Karen then joined Oranga Tamariki and has built up 20 years’ experience as a frontline worker at Oranga Tamariki. Karen has worked in a number of roles at Oranga Tamariki and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the area of child protection.
Karen has is committed to improving outcomes for all tamariki throughout Aotearoa.
Brooke Dawson
Child Protection Consultant
About
Brooke is a registered Social Worker with over 11 years of experience working with children, young people, and their whānau. Throughout her career working within an NGO, she has held a range of roles in Care and Protection and Therapeutic Foster Care.
Her most recent role was as a trainer, delivering various trainings to staff who worked closely with tamariki including training on child protection models of practice, trauma informed care and held an Associate Trainer qualification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
Brooke is passionate about supporting professionals in building their knowledge to keep tamariki safe and to respond in ways that are trauma informed and therapeutic.
About
Ainsley is an experienced Business Support Manager with a strong background in operations, compliance, and service delivery within the not-for-profit and health sectors.
With over a decade of experience, she brings expertise in leading administrative functions, managing organisational compliance and audits, and delivering efficient, high-quality support services.
At Child Matters, Ainsley oversees business support operations, including compliance, systems, administration, IT coordination, and the delivery of government-funded programmes. She has a proven track record of improving systems and processes, implementing new technologies, and supporting large-scale training delivery across Aotearoa.
Tahlia Armstrong
Digital Marketing Specialist
About
Tahlia is a marketing and communications professional with a strong focus on social media strategy and content creation. With an educational background in design and 4 years digital marketing experience, she specialises in crafting engaging, purpose-driven content that connects with audiences and drives meaningful impact.
Tahlia is skilled in developing and managing campaigns, elevating digital presence - including website management - and communicating complex topics in a clear, accessible, and sensitive way. She also incorporates a thoughtful understanding of Te Reo Māori to her work as she continues to study the language. Known for her creativity, attention to detail, and collaborative approach, Tahlia brings both strategic thinking and practical execution to Child Matters' online identity.
Yvonne Milroy
Service Delivery Administrator
About
Yvonne has been with Child Matters for nine years in a variety of roles. She is often the first point of contact for any enquiries. Yvonne has an even longer association in working with not-for-profit organisations, particularly in the education and arts sectors.
Our Board
Our Board of Trustees brings a wealth of professional skills, experience, and diversity, providing strategic guidance and oversight to ensure Child Matters remains sustainable and impactful. The dedication of our team and Board is central to our success.
Edgar Wilson
Chair
About
Edgar Wilson serves as a Justice of the Peace and a Marriage Celebrant. With over 40 years of experience in teaching and educational leadership, Edgar has significantly contributed to secondary education both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He is presently contracted to Wintec as Community Advisor through the process of Wintec being reestablished as a stand-alone Institute of Technology.
His leadership skills are demonstrated through his recent tenure as Chair of trust Waikato, and Chair of K’aute Pasifika, a community organisation dedicated to supporting Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Currently, Edgar holds several key positions: he is the Chair of Child Matters, an organisation focused on child protection studies, and a Trustee of the Waikato Housing Initiative (WHI), contributing to the development of housing solutions in the Waikato region.
His extensive experience and dedication to various sectors underscore his commitment to community service and leadership.
Andrea Twaddle
Co-Deputy Chair
About
Andrea Twaddle is a director at DTI Lawyers, a specialist employment lawyer and workplace investigator. Andrea has extensive experience advising and representing clients on people and culture matters, including privacy and health and safety. Andrea has a special interest in the education and mental health sectors, and acts in Coronial Inquiries. She is a Deputy Chair of New Zealand’s Sports Tribunal.
Andrea is an educator on legal issues and a member of the New Zealand Law Society Employment Law Committee, which monitors and makes submissions on proposed changes to employment legislation and maintains a close relationship with the judiciary and relevant government departments.
Brendon Mclean
Co-Deputy Chair
About
Brendon McLean is the Head of Procurement and Sales Operations Planning at Prolife Foods. Brendon has extensive experience in the fast-moving consumer goods industry in New Zealand, Australia, and Asia, bringing with him strategic and commercial knowledge.
Brendon has a Bachelor of Commerce in marketing and management. He was also a member of the Community and Enterprise Leadership Foundation programme in 2016, whose mission is to build future leaders who can reimagine a stronger Waikato from asocial, environmental, cultural, and economic perspective.
Andrew Clements
Trustee
About
Andrew Clements is the Director and Lawyer and Notary Public at Grayson Clements Lawyers. Andrew regularly advises businesses, business families, private wealth clients (domestically and internationally), and charitable entities. He specialises in structural design, family governance, trusts and succession.
He is a past New Zealand editorial advisor to the British Trusts and Trustees Law Journal and a full member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (TEP). Andrew has managed national and local training providers and consulted at the board level in the STEM, educational and philanthropic sectors.
Anthea Simcock
Trustee
About
Anthea Simcock has a background in both education and child therapy and was the founding chief executive officer of Child Matters, a role she held for 23 years. In 2012 she was awarded an ONZM for services to children.
She has held many local and national roles, memberships and appointments in the social services and NFP sectors and now brings her knowledge and experience to a governance role on the Child Matters board.
Siaki Tokolahi
Trustee
About
Siaki Tokolahi is a Registered Social Worker and a member of the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) for the Social Workers Registration Board of New Zealand. He currently serves as the Practice Manager for the Te Haumirimiri Ngākau Mokopuna program, a partnership initiative between Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust, K’aute Pasifika, Tuu Oho Mai, and Oranga Tamariki. This program responds to Reports of Concern in central Hamilton and works alongside whānau to develop strategies that enhance child safety and wellbeing.
Siaki has previously held several leadership positions within District Health Boards (DHBs), often pioneering innovative roles that were the first of their kind.
Siaki is of Tongan descent and he brings both a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to strengthening the wellbeing of children and communities across the region.
Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai
Trustee
About
Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai (Te Rarawa, Waikato) is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Maori at the University of Waikato. Sarah-Jane’s PhD was in Maori Studies with a focus on Maori success in education.
She has over 20 years’ experience in the tertiary sector as a lecturer, researcher and executive leader working in university and wananga as well as 7 years as inaugural academic director of the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development, an iwi-led academic and research institution.
She is passionate about working in spaces that connect and enable her to contribute to advancing the needs of Māori and indigenous communities in Aotearoa and worldwide.
Cynthia Ward
Trustee
About
Cynthia is the founder of True Colours Children’s Health Trust. She was CEO & Nurse Specialist for 21 years at True Colours.
Previously she worked for Hospice Waikato with her Masters work being instrumental in setting up Rainbow Place. She continues to be on national working groups in improving services for children who have complex health conditions.
Her PhD - an evaluation of models of care for children with serious illnesses and their families – continues to be relevant in considering what is important to children and their families when going through challenging times. Cynthia received a QSM award for her services to children and their families in Waikato.
Throughout her time leading children’s health services, mentoring colleagues has been an aspect of her role. Since leaving the operational side of True Colours in 2025, she now provides professional supervision to health professionals.
