Our call takers are the calm voice at the end of the line. They are a critical part of the team, connecting you to the help you need.
Our dispatchers make sure we get the right help to the right people, in the best possible time.
Our paramedics know what to do in an emergency and how to get you the help you need. Three plus years of clinical training and continual on-the-job learning means they are equipped and ready to look after you at your time of crisis. More than that, they care about you and your community.
Our Patient transfer team collect and transport patients from A to B between hospital treatments. They offer reassurance you are in safe hands and you will be looked after in the best possible way.
Our volunteer event medics are at major events, fairs and sports fields most weekends. They do everything from strapping ankles to giving life-saving care until the ambulance can arrive.
Our people are here for you.
Ross Martin, Chair – Ross joined the Board in 2007 and is currently the Chair. He is a chartered accountant and a graduate of the Stanford University Advanced Management programme. He is currently the Chair of Wellington Zoo and also holds other directorships.
For 17 years Ross was at the head of Stagecoach Asia Pacific, where he led the successful expansion from 180 buses in Wellington to over 2,350 buses, ten ferries and 7,000 employees in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.
Kerry Prendergast, Deputy Chair – Former Wellington Mayor Vice-President of Local Government New Zealand, Kerry holds an MBA from Victoria University.
Kerry joined the Wellington Free Board in 2013 and is also Chair, Director, or Trustee of several other organisations including the New Zealand International Arts Festival Trust, Wellington Jazz Music Festival Trust, WorkSafe New Zealand, the Endangered Species Foundation and the Wellington Community Trust. She was awarded a CNZM in 2011 for her services to local government, and is a distinguished Alumni of Victoria University.
Catherine Rossiter-Stead – Catherine joined the Board in 2013. She is a marketing and communications specialist with a background in the music industry.
She has held senior management roles in a number of organisations, and formed her own marketing and communications consultancy, PRomote Communications, in 2010. She headed-up the highly-successful 2011 Rugby World Cup activity in the region. Catherine was appointed by the New Zealand Rugby Union as the first woman to serve on the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union Board. She is also a member of the Wairarapa District Licensing Committee and has recently taken up the role of chairing the local Chamber of Commerce.
Alan Isaac – Alan has a long career in accounting, corporate advisory work, and a wide range of directorships. During the 80s his expertise in helping struggling corporates through a process of recovery saw him become involved in many assignments where organisations reshaped themselves in order to to carry on and thrive.
In recent years Alan has held high profile directorships for organisations both here and overseas, including President of the International Cricket Council, Chairman of Cricket NZ Inc, Chair of the Audit Committees for Sport and Recreation NZ, and Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd in the lead up to the rugby world cup.
Stephen Ward – Stephen is a partner in the corporate and commercial department of Simpson Grierson. He advises corporations and crown entities on all aspects of corporate governance, statutory compliance, companies law, mergers and acquisitions, overseas investment in New Zealand and related issues.
Stephen also has more than 25 years’ experience establishing, managing, amalgamating and winding up life and general insurance companies, superannuation schemes, KiwiSaver schemes, and other investment vehicles. He is an independent non executive director of ASX-listed Sydney Airport and of Sovereign Assurance Company Limited.
Stephen is a trustee of the LifeFlight Trust, a New Zealand Rugby Union Appeal Council member and the Independent Chair of the Advisory Council of the Financial Dispute Resolution Scheme.
Ken Greer – Ken has been a GP in Northland for more than forty years. He is a graduate of Otago Medical School who completed his Clinical training at Wellington hospital and has postgraduate qualifications in Occupational Health and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Alongside practising his profession he has always been a small business owner/operator and currently owns and runs Northland Village Surgery in partnership with Compass Health. In addition currently he is the Primary Care Clinical Advisor to Capital & Coast District Health Board working in the Systems Integration & and Development Unit.
As Board Chair of Wellington After Hours Medical Services Ltd for 13 years he guided the development of this company into a sustainable commercial model that local GPs were keen to invest in. The Wellington Accident and Urgent Medical Clinic was transformed into the ACC Accredited facility it is today where General Practices provide out of hours care to Wellington City. He stood down from the WAMC Board in 2015.
More than 50 years ago Shirley was a member and later president of the ‘Ladies Auxiliary’; a group of women who worked hard on getting the whole community behind keeping Wellington Free Ambulance free.
She fondly remembers the stand out fundraising events.
“We were the first to hold a charity race day. Companies paid for big marquees. It was a real event,” Shirley remembers. “We had beautiful food and the ladies wore hats and gloves.”
“I will remember the last ball forever.” Shirley is talking about the final fundraising ball held at the Majestic Cabaret in Willis Street. “We had a waiting list of people who wanted to get in. It was just a night to remember,” she says. “Black-tie and ballroom dancing. It was such a wonderful place to hold a function – the best in Wellington.”
“The ladies of the Auxilary prepared all the food. We were the first to arrive, and the last to leave at these events. It was hard work you know. It wasn’t about sitting pretty.”
In 1989 things wound up. “As many women are in the workforce it is difficult to recruit new members who have the time to commit themselves to take office, or even serve on the auxiliary.”
Shirley continues to support Wellington Free Ambulance and attends most of our events, although she doesn’t need to do any of the work anymore!
We are a charity that is only partly funded by Government, and the rest comes from the community. We are lucky to have businesses, schools, groups big and small, and people like you supporting us, so that we can keep caring for you. Nice One.
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