People behind the work
Meet the team.
A small board of trustees who set the direction, and a small part-time team who do the work — connected by patients, whānau and clinicians across Aotearoa.
Board of trustees
Setting the direction.
Five trustees with deep experience across media, oncology, radiology, finance and PR — and at least one NET survivor among them.
Jeremy Rees
Chairman
Jeremy is a journalist and editor, currently Executive Editor for Radio New Zealand, based in Auckland. He was editor of the Weekend Herald and Head of Digital Content for NZME (2006-2015), and chair of the industry's reporter training body. A self-described back-of-the-bunch cyclist, he came to NECNZ wanting to use his media skills to help raise awareness about NETs.
Dr Ben Lawrence
Medical Advisor
Ben is a Medical Oncologist at Auckland Hospital and Head of the Department of Oncology at the University of Auckland. He is the Foundation Chair of the National NET Multi-Disciplinary Meeting and leads work with the Ministry of Health measuring the quality of NET care across New Zealand. He co-leads a nationwide translational research project doing genomic profiling of NETs.
Peter Clarke
Board Member · Finance Committee Chair
Peter joined NECNZ as a Trustee in 2021. He rode in the Tour of New Zealand as a member of Team Unicorn in 2017 and has been an enthusiastic participant at the Craft Beer and Bites fundraisers. Peter chairs the finance subcommittee and is a director of Avanti Funds Management. He chairs the investment committee of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation.
Dr Jane Reeve
Board Member
Jane is a Consultant Radiologist at Allevia Radiology and Te Toka Tumai Auckland Hospital. She specialises in oncology imaging, with particular interests in molecular imaging and neuroendocrine tumours. She has been the lead radiologist for the national Multi-disciplinary Neuroendocrine Tumour meeting since 2018. Jane joined the board in 2022.
Louise Wright
Board Member
Louise is a media and public relations professional with seven years at Porter Novelli (one of the largest PR agencies in New Zealand) — first as executive director, then managing director. She's also worked as editor of several leading New Zealand magazines. A mother of two and a NET survivor, Louise brings her networks and lived experience to the board.
The team
Doing the day-to-day work.
Three part-time staff who hold up a community of hundreds. They’re the people you’ll talk to when you call, email, sign up for a Zoom or come along to an Education Day.
Dr Michelle Sullivan
Chief Executive
Michelle joined in 2020 as CEO and led the transition from Unicorn Foundation NZ to NeuroEndocrine Cancer New Zealand. She brings a range of senior health and research-sector experience — clinical trials, research funding and biotech investment. Michelle's PhD is in biochemistry, so the title 'Dr' is hers, but she's clear: don't call her if you need a doctor.
Avril Hull
NET Information & Support Manager
Avril became our Information and Support Manager in 2015 and confesses one of the ways she's learnt so much about NETs is through listening to people — patients, their relatives and friends. She also works part-time as a Nurse Specialist in Neuroendocrine Tumours at Auckland Hospital and as a Research Nurse with the NETwork! Project at the University of Auckland.
Polly Sun
Fundraising Manager
Polly leads fundraising at NECNZ — Givealittle, partnerships, the annual Tour of New Zealand, Craft Beer and Bites, and the gifts-in-wills programme. She's also picking up Salesforce administration so the patient and donor data lives in one place. If you've talked to NECNZ about a fundraiser, you've talked to Polly.
Want to talk to one of us?
Avril leads patient information and support — book a one-to-one call any time.