Our People and Structure
CWS Board members
CWS Staff members
Supporters’ Council
Supporters’ Council 2022 with Alwynn Javier, ACT Alliance Asia Pacific
Supporters’ Council 2021 with Rev. James Bhagwan
Supporters’ Council 2020 with Professor David Tombs
Supporters’ Council 2019 with Archbishop Sir David Moxon
Supporters’ Council 2018 with Marian Hobbs
The Christian World Service Board made up of 8-12 members is appointed by the Board. Partner Churches can nominate 5 representatives. One appointee is nominated from the Supporters’ Council. Other members for their skills and expertise. One-quarter of members must be from outside of Christchurch. Board members are appointed for a three-year term that can be renewed once.
The Board determines the overall strategic direction of the organisation and approves all policies, strategic plans, annual plans, budgets and annual accounts. It employs staff and receives reports and recommendations from its subcommittees as well as making governance decisions.
It holds an Annual General Meeting after the Supporters’ Council meeting each year in the same location. Supporters are welcome to observe its proceedings. The Board meets approximately four times a year, twice face-to-face. There are a number of Board vacancies at present. Information about how to apply is available here.
The Board has delegated agreed functions to the following Advisory Committee:
- International Programmes Working Group
Board Members

A graduate of the CWS Mentee programme, Kate was appointed to the Board in 2020. She works as a science administrator for Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. An active member of The Village Presbyterian Church in Christchurch, Kate co-leads the Kids Club and is a member of the Parish Council. She is interested in matters of faith, social justice and the environment, especially climate change.

Jonathan is a retired diplomat. He was National Director of CWS from 2004 to 2008. During this time, he was also on the Board of the Council for International Development and a founding member of the Australia & New Zealand Board of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation. In 2009 he returned to Wellington to work on the New Zealand Aid Programme at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, initially as an infrastructure adviser. In 2013-2015 he was Counsellor (Development) at the New Zealand High Commission in Port Moresby. He retired in 2017. Jonathan is the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) appointee on the Board.
Quakers recognise the equal worth and unique nature of every person. This means working to change the systems that cause injustice and hinder true community. It also means working with people who are suffering from injustice. CWS in its work gives practical expression to these concerns.

Beginning her career as a social worker, Jill went on to become the Director of Christian World Service for 10 years (1993-2004). Jill worked as a consultant for the World Council of Churches to set up ACT Development (Action by Churches Together) and became its first Director in 2007. ACT Development joined with its sister emergency response alliance to form the ACT Alliance in 2010 and Jill was appointed as the Deputy General Secretary. ACT Alliance, of which Christian World Service is a member, is one of the largest global humanitarian alliances with 130 member organisations in over 50 countries. It is based in Geneva. Jill and her family returned to Christchurch in January 2011. She is the Executive Director of the Christchurch Methodist Mission.

Georgina works as a manager of compliance and risk at KPMG in Auckland. A law graduate from the UK, she has a strong interest in compliance systems with experience in anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption and fraud. She helped churches in North London design and implement data protection policies and procedures and provided legal advice on employment issues as a volunteer. She is currently a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI), Financial Professionals (INFINZ), Women on Boards (Governance of New Zealand) and the International Compliance Association.

Steve has extensive development experience as a dairy consultant encompassing, managing and setting up farm systems, on the project cycle, and working with multiple stakeholders. He has worked for the New Zealand Government’s aid programme, governments and multilateral organistions including UNDP and the FAO. Steve has worked with small farmers, government officials and industry people in Aotearoa New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Lao DPR, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ethiopia. Steve represents the International Programmes Working Group which manages CWS’s relationships with our partners.

Sally Russell has a longstanding interest in development work, including as a member of the NZ China Friendship Society. She currently holds the position of Missions Convenor for Presbyterian Women Aotearoa. A member of St Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Havelock North, she represents the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tara brings a wealth of advocacy, community development and ecumenical experience to the Board. From 2001-14 she worked in a number of roles with the World Council of Churches as a Special Advisor to the General Secretary, a Coordinator of Global Training and the Coordinator of the Global Scholarships scheme. In Aotearoa, she has worked as a teacher and policy analyst. Currently she is the Senior Parliamentary support person for Rt Hon Winston Peters and Hon Shane Jones in Whangarei. Tara represents the Methodist Church, and was appointed the new General Secretary Designate in early 2020. She will take up her new role no later than February 2021.
“Christian World Service changes lives, challenges our thinking, and offers us an opportunity to contribute to real transformation. With its faith-based approach, Christian World Service offers hope for all who work together for a world without poverty.”

Fei brings considerable international experience to the role. He has advised to Pacific governments on sustainability, development, climate and disaster response and on West Papua and has been the chairperson of PANG (Pacific Network on Globalisation) since 2006. From 2000-2008 he served as the executive secretary for the Pacific Region of the World Council of Churches before working as the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches from 2008-11. In both positions, he brought Pacific Churches and others together on key regional issues like sustainable development and climate resettlement. Fei is a member of the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and represents the Anglican Church.
Photo Credit: Anglican Taonga

Michael is the vicar of Dunedin North Anglican Parish and chaplain of Selwyn College Te Maru Pūmanawa at the University of Otago. After studying arts and theology at Otago, and ecumenical theology at the Irish School of Ecumenics/Trinity College Dublin, Michael served as Youth and Schools Coordinator at CWS 2003-2004. He has been involved with the Student Christian Movement from local to global levels; he served as General Secretary of the World Student Christian Federation, based in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva 2004-2010. He is currently chair of the Student Christian Movement Aotearoa Trust. Michael is a member of the Council for Ecumenism and the General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia.

National Director (ex officio). Murray joined CWS as the National Director in August 2021, following a wide ranging career in the field of education, most recently as Principal of Te Kura Tuatahi o Kaiapoi – Kaiapoi Borough School. Murray was a classroom teacher for a number of years, including two years in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In addition Murray has led several different schools as Principal. Some of this leadership experience was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he lived with his family for 6 years and was the Director of Bingham Academy. He has recently completed a leadership coaching qualification and has experience working on a variety of trusts and boards.
Staff members
National Director
Murray Overton murray.overton@cws.org.nz 021 0825 0118
International Programmes Coordinator
Rob Wayne (part-time) rob.wayne@cws.org.nz
International Programmes Officer
Lorraine Borrmeister (part-time) lorraine.borrmeister@cws.org.nz
Kathlene Soo (part-time) kathlene.soo@cws.org.nz
Communications Assistant
Lily Wenmoth (part-time) lily.wenmoth@cws.org.nz
Administrator Assistant
Jordyn Kotara jordyn.kotara@cws.org.nz
Administration Coordinator
Nadine Wells nadine.wells@cws.org.nz
Communications Coordinator
Gillian Southey gillian.southey@cws.org.nz
Unless otherwise stated, please contact CWS staff members via the National Office: cws@cws.org.nz or 03 366 9274.
Supporters' Council
The CWS Supporters’ Council is part of the new constitution agreed in November 2013. It is made up of partner churches, organisations, and individuals committed to the vision, values, and objectives of Christian World Service and who have provided financial support for CWS work in the past two years. It meets annually in different locations.
The Supporters’ Council can nominate persons for membership of the Board.
This position is currently vacant. Further information and the nomination form are available here.
Supporters' Council 2018
The Supporters’ Council met on 30 November 2018 from 6 to 8 pm at All Saints Anglican Church, Dunedin. The AGM of the Board was held on Saturday, 1 December. Former MP, the Hon. Marian Hobbs addressed the Council:
We do have the Power
With good humour and infectious enthusiasm, former cabinet minister Marian Hobbs urged Christian World Service supporters to take action in our shared quest for justice and peace. Pointing to the enormous problems in the world, she said it can be hard but we need to take the necessary small steps to make change happen.
Long interested in international affairs, Marian says the possibility of nuclear war remains. Pointing to the growth in military power, nuclear weapons can now be launched from drones, ships or suitcases. The US spent $3 trillion on new drone delivery systems during President Obama’s term in office – money that could have been spent to make the world a safer and more peaceful place.
“There are new players in risky parts of the world and war is different,” she told the annual CWS Supporter’s Council meeting at the end of last year in Dunedin.
The world faces huge issues but we must not feel overwhelmed. Movements can take time to build. They have often been financed by many small contributions and people inviting friends to join them.
“We have the power to advocate for those without a voice. If we are silent, the space is filled by populist voices instead. Good arguments based on informed knowledge can change how people see and act in the world.”
Remembering the Springbok Tour of 1981, Marian said people came out in opposition because they were informed. The same change can be seen in the growing awareness of the need for more urgent action on climate change.
Images like the refugee child washed up on the Greek coast or the vast damage caused by California’s wildfires have the power to unite people.
CWS has built long term partnerships around the world. These partners know what is good for the marginalised and vulnerable people they work with and can find local solutions. “We must not give up on sharing, building trust and knowledge. We do have the power, we just need the determination,” she concluded.
Marian was a Labour MP from 1999 – 2008 and the former Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Official Development Assistance) in the Fifth Labour Government.
A member of the Society of Friends, Marian served on the CWS Finance Working Group for many years before entering parliament.
Thanks to Board Mentee, Kate Boardman for the notes.
(Published in Touchstone, February 2019)