Our People

Wendy has more than a decade of experience in the charity and not-for-profit sector — most recently as General Manager of Bellyful NZ. A trained pharmacist (now not practising), Wendy has worked in hospitals in Aotearoa and the UK and has held a number of volunteer roles within charitable organisations. As a mother of three adult children, including premature twins, Wendy has first-hand knowledge of the significance of supporting whānau. Together with her strong leadership experience, she brings a passion to provide practical help to families in need.

Nicolette is a financial services lawyer with experience across both the private and public sectors. She is passionate about facilitating positive change for families across New Zealand and, through working with The Nest Collective, is keen to ensure that all babies have access to equal opportunities from birth. Nicolette is on the Women in Law Committee and is also a volunteer lawyer with Mother’s Project, which supports mothers in prisons to maintain meaningful connections with their children.

Dr. Kate Prickett is Director of the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families and Children at Victoria University of Wellington. As a researcher, her work focuses on how family contexts — such as poverty experiences and parenting behaviours — shape child development, and how understanding these links can inform government policy and programmes aimed at supporting families.

Dr. Louise Lee has over 20 years’ experience teaching and researching management and sustainability at Massey University and the Open Polytechnic. Her research explores how businesses and communities respond to social and environmental challenges, including food rescue initiatives that reduce waste and support people in need. Passionate about addressing inequality and climate change, Louise has served on boards including Volunteer Wellington, Volunteering New Zealand and Waiwaste Food Rescue, and volunteers with Good Bitches Baking and Te Koru Kai. She is keen to ensure every pēpi in Aotearoa has the best start in life, and was drawn to the Nest Collective’s work reducing the environmental impact of baby products.

Laura is a co-manager of The Nest Collective Dunedin. Through her work with other charities, she has seen the growing number of families in need throughout Aotearoa and is passionate about helping as many children as she can to have the best start in life. With plenty of experience packing boxes for children — mainly for Christmas Shoebox appeals — she was drawn to The Nest Collective for its sense of community and the chance to help families all year round.

Stephanie is part of the management team at Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, holding a portfolio of strategy, compliance reporting, business planning and risk management. Having spent much of her career in the public sector, joining Ngā Taonga reminded her of the strong values alignment the not-for-profit sector offers. Stephanie’s first contact with The Nest Collective was through the Nest Makers, and she is delighted to extend her support by applying her professional skills to her role on the Board. She feels strongly about offering whānau and pēpi support through the crucial first year of life.

With over eight years of frontline social work experience, Tami is deeply committed to supporting the wellbeing of whānau and communities. Based in Gisborne, she works as a social worker for a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening life skills, building resilience and supporting whānau. As a devoted māmā of three, Tami brings lived experience to her mahi and understands the everyday realities of raising tamariki. Her practice is grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, taking a strength-based and culturally responsive approach. This is Tami’s first Board position and she is very excited to be a part of The Nest Collective.

Natalia has a background in international development and is passionate about fighting for equality in our society. She is also on the board of Samos Volunteers, helping refugees on the island of Samos, Greece, where she worked for 18 months before returning to New Zealand. A mum to a 20-month-old firecracker, Maggie, Natalia loves that working with The Nest Collective helps New Zealand families while creating a fantastic community amongst volunteers, crafters and social workers.

Naomi joined the national management team in 2022 and has been key in establishing the processes and systems that ensure each branch is supported and runs seamlessly. Naomi is also a volunteer at The Nest Collective Auckland and has volunteered for a number of years, alongside working in costume props for film and television. She brings equal measures of creativity and attention to detail to her work as Operations Manager, as well as a passion for supporting young New Zealanders.

Amelia has a marketing and communications background across the private and not-for-profit sectors and is passionate about making a meaningful difference to New Zealand families. Her previous experience as marketing manager for Little Sprouts, and her current study in antenatal education, led her to seek opportunities that would see all babies given the best start in life. Amelia lives with her husband and two young children in Nelson.

Libby is a trustee of The Nest Collective and also manages the Auckland branch. Since leaving the paid workforce, she has spent her time raising her two children and volunteering for Plunket and Little Sprouts. During her time as a branch manager at Little Sprouts, Libby saw first-hand the difference that thoughtfully compiled baby boxes make to families in need. She also loves the human connections within the organisation — with social workers, volunteers, trustees, donors and makers.

Rae is a co-manager of The Nest Collective Wellington. With a background in accounting, Rae has had a lifelong passion for spending time with babies and young children — from helping at kindergarten and working as a teacher aide to many years volunteering as a Brownie Leader and with Mainly Music. A key member of the branch, she helped establish it in 2021. With her own family now overseas, Rae spends her time knitting, sewing and sterilising nappies, bottles and breast pumps, among many other tasks to support families.

Heather, a Wellington branch co-manager, enjoyed volunteering and working with children for many years through playcentre, primary school, the scout movement and as a teacher aide. Involved with Little Sprouts Charitable Trust and then The Nest Collective since it opened in Wellington, Heather manages large baby items like cots, bassinets and prams — making sure they are suitable and safe for the families receiving them. She also makes up the sets of books for each baby, and loves to sew, knit and spend time with her grandchildren.

Shirley’s love of children was realised as a primary teacher, a mother of three and now a nana of four grandchildren. When her children were small she volunteered for Plunket, including a stint as president, and she has served on a School Board of Trustees and worked as a Ministry of Education advisor. As a co-manager of The Nest Collective Wellington, Shirley coordinates the packing schedule and trains volunteers. She loves to knit for babies, recently learnt to crochet, and can often be found washing and mending donations. “How lucky I was to find this new volunteering journey,” she says.

Sue, co-manager of The Nest Collective Kāpiti, saw first-hand the impact of practical support for families while working with infants and young children. After more than 40 years in health as an Occupational Therapist, Sue joined as a volunteer, crafter and now branch manager. Now retired, she enjoys helping provide families with baby essentials, knowing community partners are providing advocacy, mentoring and support. A keen crafter, Sue also loves to recycle clothing and upcycle fabrics into beautiful baby items.

Angela has had a lifelong passion for helping babies get the best possible start in life. After 13 years’ involvement in the early days of The Aotearoa Brainwave Trust, focusing on the importance of infant attachment, she saw an opportunity to also care for the physical needs of babies through The Nest Collective. She loves being part of a community that brings together the expertise of crafters, the generosity of donors and the enthusiasm of everyone involved.

Laura is a co-manager of The Nest Collective Dunedin. Through her work with other charities, she has seen the growing number of families in need throughout Aotearoa and is passionate about helping as many children as she can. With plenty of experience packing boxes for children, she was drawn to The Nest Collective for its sense of community and the chance to help families all year round.

Chelsea, co-manager of The Nest Collective Dunedin, is passionate about supporting babies and whānau in Ōtepoti. Having worked on numerous charity fundraisers — including Christmas Shoebox appeals — and currently managing a marketing & design studio, The Nest Collective offered the perfect chance to combine these skills to help local families. As a māmā, Chelsea was drawn to The Nest Collective as a way to ensure babies in the rohe have the essentials they need to thrive in their early years.

Daniela joined The Nest Collective in September 2024, bringing a decade of nursing experience with a special focus on paediatrics. Since 2022 she has worked in neonatal care, where she witnessed first-hand the inequities many whānau face in accessing essential items for their pēpi. This deepened her passion for ensuring all families have a safe, supported and healthy start. Daniela is committed to making a tangible difference by helping provide pēpi packs to those in need.

Jenny’s journey with The Nest Collective began through knitting, contributing to Little Sprouts before The Nest Collective was officially launched. She joined the Christchurch team as a volunteer in 2022 and has been a dedicated part of the team ever since. A proud grandmother of two, Jenny works part-time as a Learning Assistant at a local primary school and enjoys exploring her family’s genealogy and vintage car events with her husband. She believes every baby is precious, no matter their background.