GOVERNANCE
Good welfare needs good governance
Equine Welfare NZ is a registered charitable trust, governed by a Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the organisation, protecting its charitable purpose and ensuring EWNZ is managed responsibly and sustainably.
Our trustees bring experience from across veterinary care, law, finance, education, business, animal welfare and the wider equine community.
MEET THE TEAM
Equine Welfare NZ's Board of Trustees
ALICE HAYWARD
FOUNDER
Alice is the founder and driving force behind Equine Welfare NZ. What began with personally helping animals in need grew into Rodney Animal Rescue and, ultimately, the nationwide organisation EWNZ is today.
An experienced veterinary nurse, Alice brings extensive hands-on knowledge of equine rescue and rehabilitation and is often at the centre of complex welfare cases, emergency responses and transport. Her approach has always extended beyond simply rescuing horses. She is passionate about practical support, education and working with owners and professionals to create better long-term outcomes.
Alice plays a central role in the day-to-day operations of the rescue, responding to welfare cases and serving as the first point of contact for all on-the-ground matters.
SARAH MCCORD
CHAIR
Sarah brings a background in business development, commercial leadership and governance to EWNZ, alongside a longstanding passion for animal welfare.
As Chair, she has a particular focus on the organisation's strategic development, fundraising, communications and partnerships, helping build the support and resources EWNZ needs to grow sustainably and reach more horses. She is especially passionate about developing relationships between EWNZ, businesses and the wider equine community, and ensuring the organisation has a strong future beyond individual rescue cases.
Outside EWNZ, Sarah lives on a lifestyle block in Mangawhai with her husband and an ever-growing collection of rescue and personal horses, dogs, cats, chickens and cattle.
HANNAH HOLLANDS
SECRETARY
Hannah brings experience in events, operations and stakeholder engagement to EWNZ, along with four years as Secretary of Waitematā Rugby Football Club.
Horses have always been part of Hannah's life. She grew up in a multigenerational equestrian family, and her grandmother, Valerie Bruce QSM, was a passionate horsewoman and founder of Wairoa Pony Club. That history has given Hannah a lifelong appreciation for horses and the place they hold in people's lives.
At EWNZ, she uses her experience to strengthen relationships, create opportunities and grow the organisation's profile, helping build the connections and support EWNZ needs to reach more horses throughout New Zealand.
AMY BARRETT
TREASURER
Amy is EWNZ's Treasurer and brings strong practical financial experience from more than 14 years managing the accounts of her family business. She oversees the organisation's financial health, budgeting and resource management, with a focus on making sure funds are carefully managed and invested where they will make the greatest difference.
Amy also brings governance experience from serving on another committee. Although horses weren't part of her childhood, she discovered a deep passion for them later in life and now spends much of her spare time training and caring for her young horse.
When she isn't horse-side or buried in numbers, she's a keen hiker and loves exploring the outdoors.
MADELEINE FLANNAGAN
LEGAL
Madeleine is a barrister, a founding trustee and EWNZ's Honorary Lawyer. She is also a specialist trainer of wild and unhandled horses, an unusual combination that makes her equally at home with legal frameworks and challenging horses. She brings expertise in charity and animal welfare law alongside extensive practical experience training wild and feral horses through her North Waikato business, Whitiora Equine Counsel.
Madeleine is closely involved in EWNZ's legal and governance framework while also assisting with some of the most behaviourally complex horses in EWNZ's care. Based in Pukekawa, she is known in the equine community through her social media profile, A Horse Called Feijoa.
As for how many horses she owns, she has sensibly stopped counting.
ELISE MUGGLESTONE
VET ADVISOR
Elise is an equine veterinarian with 15 years' experience working in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. She holds a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Practice) from the University of Liverpool and has worked across equine general practice, referral hospitals, surgery, reproduction and performance horse medicine. Elise brings valuable clinical expertise to EWNZ, helping ensure the welfare and veterinary needs of horses remain central to the organisation's work and decision-making.
She is particularly passionate about improving equine welfare through practical, evidence-based care and education, and supporting both horse owners and veterinary professionals to achieve better outcomes.
Her experience gives EWNZ's governance and wider welfare work an important veterinary perspective.
JEN JONES
EDUCATION
Jen combines more than 15 years in education with a love of horses, innovation and finding better ways to share knowledge.
She has developed education and professional development programmes across a range of sectors and brings that experience to EWNZ's education work. Jen also runs Belmont Farm NZ, a riding school built around the belief that excellent horse welfare should be visible from a rider's very first introduction to horses. She is passionate about raising that standard across New Zealand and helping owners understand what happy, healthy horses really need.
Her own herd includes Tucker, Monkey and Chives. As a self-confessed chestnut enthusiast, she admits there may be a slight colour bias in the collection.
THE BOARD'S ROLE
Responsible for the organisation. Accountable to its purpose.
The Board of Trustees provides governance and strategic oversight of Equine Welfare NZ.
Its role is to ensure the organisation remains focused on its charitable purpose, operates responsibly, manages its resources appropriately and makes decisions that support the long-term future of EWNZ and the horses we help.
Day-to-day rescue and welfare work is carried out by our wider network of volunteers, foster carers and professionals, including several of our trustees, with the Board providing oversight and direction.
Purpose
Keeping EWNZ focused on its charitable purpose and the welfare outcomes it exists to achieve.
Direction
Setting EWNZ's long-term direction, with a focus on prevention and education so fewer horses reach crisis.
Oversight
Overseeing strategy, finances, risk and the responsible operation of the organisation.
Standards of care
Making sure every horse we look after receives care that meets high welfare and veterinary standards.
Accountability
Making decisions in the best interests of EWNZ, being accountable to our supporters and community, and meeting our regulatory obligations.
HELP MORE HORSES
Good governance, better care
Careful governance means your donation goes further.
A regular gift of $5 a week helps more horses get the care they need.
Equine Welfare NZ Registered Charitable Trust Building on the work of Rodney Animal Rescue
Charity Registration CC63890