MEET THE BOARD
The governance team
DR SUE BAGSHAW
Founder & Trustee
ANGELA BLAND
Board Chair
SARAH MATTHEWS
Trustee
Dr Sue Bagshaw (BSc (Hons) MB BS FRACShM, FRNZCGP (Hon), DNZM, is a Senior Lecturer in adolescent health in the department of Paediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine, in addition to being an educator with the Collaborative Trust, which she helped to establish in 2003. She worked as a primary care doctor specialising in youth health at a one stop shop (YOSS) community youth health centre for youth 10-24 years old. Additionally, she served on the Board of the International Association of Adolescent Health (IAAH) from 1997 to 9, holding positions as a member, President, and Immediate Past. She is working with others to set up a Youth Hub of services, recreation, creativity and transition housing. Sue has worked with young people both nationally and internationally for 40 years. She has 4 adult children and 7 mokopuna
Angela Bland PhD (Education), MA (TESOL), GradDip TchgLn is currently involved in the professional development of educators across the motu with UniServices, University of Auckland. As an educator, she has worked in the primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors. For ten years, she was a middle leader as a Head of Department of English as an Additional Language and teacher in a secondary school in Ōtautahi. A particular focus for her was working with and supporting Pasifika languages. Angela sits on another Board which supports youth with intellectual disabilities to experience the outdoors. She is currently finishing her Executive Masters in Business Administration in 2024 and continuing her te Reo Māori growth.
Sarah Matthews is studying counselling at Laidlaw college, is a youth worker in a high school, and is very passionate about all aspects of mental health. In 2023 she published My Mental Health Tool Kit: A Recovery Guide, a book full of tips and tricks to help you through difficult times and enhance your mental wellbeing. With personal experience in the child and youth mental health system she has seen the gaps and is passionate in supporting others struggling. When not working or studying, Sarah spends her time playing Canterbury and NZ representative handball, listening to music, and trying to catch up on as much sleep as possible!
MEL GRAHAM
Trustee
TOM MOHAMMED
Trustee
FLORINA PIRNEA
Trustee
Mel Graham (she/they) is a full-time student in her second year of study at the University of Canterbury. She hopes to use her studies to continue working with tamariki and rangatahi in the future, as she is passionate about advocating for young people. This year Mel will also be working as a live-in Residential Assistant for students entering their first year of university study, as well as providing swimming lessons to children two days a week.
Her interests are English, politics, and philosophy, and hobbies include board gaming and trumpet playing.
Tom Mohammed is a lawyer with experience working closely with charities of differing size and purpose, supporting them to engage effectively with stakeholders, strengthen governance frameworks, and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment. He brings to the Board a strong interest in evidence‑based decision‑making, sound governance, and risk management. Tom is passionate about supporting rangatahi and the systems around them and applies his knowledge to help ensure the Trust is well positioned to deliver meaningful and effective outcomes for rangatahi across the motu.
Florina Pirnea B.A., B.Com, CA, ACGNZ is a Senior Chartered Accountant with a comprehensive background in accounting, finance, credit, and education, including teaching and school counseling. She currently serves as the Chair of the Chartered Governance Institute New Zealand – Canterbury Branch and is a National Board Member of both Chartered Governance New Zealand and Canoe Racing New Zealand. With over a decade of experience in sports-for-purpose organisations, Florina has honed her expertise in organisational strategy and communication, championing constructive board dynamics and fostering innovative solutions.
STEVE LANGLEY
Trustee
PIP MEHRTENS
Secretary
PHILIP SIATAGA
Advisor to the Board
Steve Langley MA (Hons), Dip Tchg. dedicated his career to fostering positive youth development as an English teacher in various high schools and specialized educational environments, including DSW residential schools, parent units, and a men's prison. He has served as Principal in three different special schools, worked as a lecturer in teacher training, and spent20 years as a part-time counselor on the AlcoholDrugHelpline. Additionally, he was the editor of “English in Aotearoa,” the national journal for English teachers, for 13 years and has conducted workshops on topics including HIV-AIDS education behavior management, the DARE program, Alcohol/Drug, and Listening Skills. Now a Grandpa, and editor, Steve is passionate about promoting positive mental health in young people, particularly by encouraging them to express their experiences through writing.
Pip Mehrtens is a business consultant for small and micro-businesses, both start-ups and established. As The Generalist she helps start-ups test ideas for financial viability and helps established business owners move forward by acting as a sounding board for ideas and challenges, helping with strategy and growth planning, and running 1-on-1 business and marketing planning workshops. She also provides a range of business operational services such as building websites, business research, marketing, digital transformation, and administration. Pip is currently doing this for a number of Not-For-Profits.
Acting as The Collaborative Trust's Business Manager and Board Secretary, she is the main point of contact for anything operational, including workshop bookings and research requests.
Philip Siataga has served on several NGOs over the past 35 years in the health and social service sectors, including 15 years in diverse roles within Therapeutic Community rehabilitation programs. He is a counselor specialising in mental health and addiction and currently serves as the research and workforce development for Mapu Maia, a national Pasifika health provider. Additionally, Philip is a member of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Steering Group (Te Whatu Ora) and is the Director of Belonging Ltd, a research consultancy. Passionate about fostering inclusive communities, he is also a proud father of two wonderful daughters.
MIKE TAMATI
Advisor to the Board
Mike Tamati M.Ed. (Leadership), Dip. TchLn (Social Science), B.A. (Political Science), CertPsycCouns. Mike is a teacher of Social Science, History and English at an all boy’s state school in Christchurch. Previously, he has worked in corporate management at a US global manufacturing company, been a national manager for a German fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) corporate and been the owner/director of a New Zealand based hospitality and restaurant franchise. He has been involved with youth in Auckland and Christchurch through rugby coaching whilst undertaking these roles, seeking to utilise his experience as a professional rugby player in New Zealand and abroad. An advocate of relationships over data, Mike encourages youth to tell their story so that a context is given, and structures can be engineered that are cognisant of their needs, issues, and concerns.