Our National Board
- Terry Jordan – National President
- Fr Alan Roberts – National Spiritual Advisor
- Mike Daly – Membership
- Michael Burrowes – Legal & Governance
- Phillipa Huberts
- Gerard Stevens
- Paola Minehan – Youth Advisor
- Gabrielle Carman
Terry Jordan
Terry was elected National President of the Society in October 2021.
He has been a member since 2008 when he joined the Conference in Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt and has held leadership roles at Conference, Area Council and National Board levels. In 2017 Terry became National Treasurer after his predecessor Gavin Kennedy died.
Terry is an accountant and has experience in taxation, management and financial accounting and insurance. He recently retired from his role as Operations Manager for the Insurance Council after almost twenty years service, where he facilitated the general insurance industry’s work on home and contents insurance, finance and taxation issues, regulation and compliance and human resource issues. He was the industry spokesperson on insurance fraud.
Terry is a proud catholic and regards his membership of the Society as the “works” by which his faith is strengthened and sustained. The role of the Society is to meet the spiritual and material needs of the poor which makes it more than just another welfare organization.
Terry is married to Julie and has seven children and 15 grandchildren. In his spare time he follows sports, particularly rugby and cricket and likes to read and write poetry.
Fr Alan Roberts
Alan Roberts is a priest of the Archdiocese of Wellington and has served in parishes throughout that diocese since 1973.
He spent 3 years as Chaplain to Victoria University and worked for 5 years as Spiritual Director to the National Seminary in Auckland.
Alan trained in Ignatian Spirituality soon after ordination and has maintained his interest in this to the present day, conducting retreats throughout the country.
He is the author of Make the People Sit Down - an encouragement to deeper prayer, and I Know You Are Near - a journey to faith.
He is currently parish priest of Pukekaraka, St Mary's Parish, in Otaki and nearing retirement.
Mike Daly
I have served as a Vincentian for 14 years and as Christchurch Area Council President for 5 years.
I am a St Bede’s College Old Boy and Lincoln University graduate. After spending 24 years working in agricultural research for the Crown, I left to form my own Company 20 years ago. I work with my son and a number of part time employees. Our company makes soil enhancing products for the farming sector.
I have 5 adult children and 11 grandchildren. I am married to Marianne and live in Christchurch
I believe that everyone has gifts and we need to value each individual; by recognizing one another’s gifts, and accepting each other’s weaknesses, we can then work effectively together to achieve our mission.
Michael Burrowes
Michael commenced work at the Financial Markets Authority in late April 2021 as a senior solicitor. Prior to that he was Head of Legal at Cigna Insurance NZ from January 2016. He held a number of additional roles at Cigna at various times including Executive Director, Head of Compliance and Chief Risk Officer. His roles for 2020-2021 were General Counsel and General Manager Governance. In these roles he had overall responsibility for all legal matters, corporate governance and regulatory affairs.
Michael is an active member of the NZ Institute of Directors, and the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has had a number of governance roles in his career – prior to becoming a National Board Member for SVDP he was for 3 years a director of a company owned by Mary Potter Hospice undertaking a $17m property development.
He is also a leading insurance law specialist. With over 30 years’ experience providing legal advice to the insurance sector, Michael is renowned for his depth of knowledge of the insurance industry.
Prior to joining Cigna in 2016 Michael was senior partner at Mahony Burrowes Horner, Barristers and Solicitors. MBH had its roots in Burrowes and Company, a boutique Wellington law firm established by Michael in 1997. Prior to establishing Burrowes and Company, Michael was a partner at the national law firm Dentons Kensington Swan for 11 years. He holds an LLB (Hons) degree from Victoria University.
Phillipa Huberts
I joined SVdP about 14 years ago as treasurer for the conference which I did for approximately 5 years. Following that I have been president of the conference several times and am currently president for the Central North Island Thermal lands Area Council.
I have worked in a variety of jobs and businesses, but for the last 15 years have settled to administrative work, first at a secondary school, and currently working fulltime at a polytechnic.
This includes secretarial work, pastoral support, management of resources, working with various computer programmes and liaising with students, staff and stakeholders.
Before that Ken, my husband, and I, owned a retail business for 22 years. This was open 7 days and employed more than 20 staff at its peak. Together we handled all facets of the business. Prior to that I worked with the NZ Police and the NZ Army.
While I was born and raised in Auckland, I have now lived most of my life in Gisborne, where we have raised our 3 children. They all now live in Hamilton, along with our first grandchild.
Gerard (Gerry) Stevens
Gerry became involved with the Society in 2013 when he joined the Petone Conference and also became the Spiritual Advisor for the Hutt Wairarapa Area Council.
Prior to that he was working in the Information and Data Storage industry managing his own company. He was also the foundation Chair at his children's school on the introduction of “Tomorrow's Schools”.
Moving to Otaki “to retire” from business he maintained his connection with the Petone Conference and the Hutt Wairarapa Area Council. He was elected Area President for Kapi Mana (Tawa to Levin) in 2018.
He is married to Stephanie and has five daughters and ten grandchildren.
Paola Minehan
Experienced in community engagement my career involves a wide range of age and demographic. I have held a variety of roles including governance for NGO’s, schools and non profit.
I have enjoyed working as a member for various Boards achieving short term and developing long term goals and strategies. I am community focused with a strong aim bringing diverse communities together while developing individual resilience.
Gabrielle Carman
For the last 8 years I have been a member of the St Joseph’s Conference of St Vincent de Paul in New Plymouth. I am a past President and current Secretary of the Conference and of the Taranaki Area Council.
I have been married to Tony for the last fifty years, am mother of three and grandmother to six much loved grandchildren. They are all highly supportive of my Vincent de Paul work. The Society gives me the means to share myself with others and hopefully to make a positive contribution to the lives of people in need.
I started my working life as a school teacher, although the last thirty years was spent working in Human Resources at a corporate level.
Being part of the Board allows me contribute to this Society, whose work is as relevant now, is it was in 1833 when it was founded by Frederic Ozanam.
Get in touch
If you are seeking help for yourself or a friend in need please go to Our Shops and contact a shop in your area. They will direct you to the nearest St Vincent de Paul Centre.
Society of St Vincent de Paul in New Zealand
Level 1, 35 Victoria Street, Wellington 6011
Postal: P.O. Box 10-815, Freepost 992, Wellington Central 6140
Phone: +64 4 499 5070 / Email: national@svdp.org.nz
Charities Commission Registration Number: CC34707
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in New Zealand is a member of the International Confederation of Saint Vincent de Paul Societies.
