Our Board of Trustees

Paul Gregory, Chairman

Paul has a background in senior roles in financial services in New Zealand and Australia, and is currently part of the executive team for the Financial Markets Authority as Director External Communications and Investor Capability.  Prior to working in financial services he was a newspaper and magazine journalist. He is married to Tess and has three young children.

Helen Milmine, Treasurer

Helen moved to NZ from England in the year 2000, with her Kiwi husband Paul. They have two children, Luke, who is affected by autism, and Kim. Helen has an accountancy background with 11 years in the magazine publishing sector. Since the diagnosis of her son, Helen has concentrated her efforts in the autism and disability sector and has founded and runs the North Shore Autism Support Group. Helen joined the CAF Board as she was very concerned about the lack of support and affordable services available to families.

Hugh Ammundsen

Hugh has over a quarter century of experience in analysis, corporate finance and consulting. Hugh is married to Vicki and has two children, one of whom has Asperger’s Syndrome. In his “spare time”, Hugh enjoys working on his vineyard in the Far North.

Elisa Slaat, Secretary

Elisa has a Masters Degree in Special Education, is an ABA therapist and has worked for the Centre for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) for four years doing intensive ABA training with children.

Advisers to the Children’s Autism Foundation Board of Trustees and Staff: 

Deborah Ross

Originally from Scotland, Deborah has lived in NZ for 20 years. Deborah’s academic background was business and marketing however she became qualified as a trainer and assessor in 1995, has worked as learning and development manager in NZ for Telecom, for ASB and for KPMG. In the past ten years Deborah has become a well-respected Leadership and Culture coach and remains passionate about leadership behaviour and making a difference to workplace culture. Deborah has been interested in autism for over 20 years and had a role in Scotland as learning and development manager for The Scottish Society for Autism. In NZ, Deborah has volunteered when possible and is delighted to be an advisor to the CAF Board.

Dr Paul Taylor (Children’s Autism Foundation Board Advisor)

Dr. Paul G. Taylor is an experienced consultant pediatrician. During his 34-year career as a specialist Paul has developed a strong interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder and enjoyed working directly with countless young people with autism, their families and their schools. Paul has worked as a Pediatrician in Northland and understands the need for this research.

Shane Cortese – Children’s Autism Foundation Patron

Actor Shane Cortese became our patron in November 2011. We are very grateful for his passionate and generous support.

“Your involvement in the Children’s Autism Foundation will allow the organisation to help make positive changes to the lifestyles of many families and children, affected by autism”
Shane Cortese, CAF Patron