Meet The Board

Founder/CEO/ Advocacy Director

I love to spend time with my son Jorge, go out for walks and just relax and watch Netflix

 I Started EWA in 2020, and it’s so exciting for me to see it growing so much, This community was created in the early hours of one Sunday morning back in Feb 2020 when I was in so much pain, had been in and out of the hospital, was not being listened to and was tired of feeling alone, tired of not being listened to, and was really struggling as a single mother. I wanted others to know they are not alone I wanted to offer help and support to others like me. Some background on my journey, I have had multiple surgeries over the years to remove my endo, far too many pregnancy losses, and a lot of hospital time and even though I have had a hysterectomy to remove adenomyosis, I still have endo, along with other chronic pain illnesses. I am a warrior like you I know what it is like to have to fight for answers, not be taken seriously. I’ve been where you are, I am where you are, and I want to help people as much as I can. I want you to know you are not alone. I have been at a point where I had my period for 6+ months and struggled to afford period items, and doctors’ appointments, So I created this group to support others, and to bring others together, our illness may be invisible, but we are not.

Community Connector & Volunteer Coordinator 

I love gardening, it makes me feel peaceful and happy! I also love to bake and cook! I also work full-time in the HR and H&S space which I love- I find it fascinating!

I have been helping Jess for a while before she asked me to come on as a founding member of EWA! I was shocked and very humbled that Jess would consider me!

Having Endo myself it is very important to me that no one suffers alone, without the support and that they know their rights within the medical system! Naturally, this goes hand in hand with Period poverty! Everyone deserves to bleed with dignity no matter who they are or where they come from!

I don’t get a lot of spare time, but when I do I usually will take my Cadillac to car shows, or fly to Auckland to spend time with my son.

I have been actively involved in the community for the last two decades including youth work with secret level youth centre, police liaison for street link, a life skills tutor for pre-teen/teen youth offenders. I met jess around 18 months ago and provided sponsorship initially for distribution of period packs, and ongoing sponsorship for "take as you need" pick up points throughout the Hutt valley. I accepted the offer to sit of the board as I believe that my experience in business, and as an advocate of community growth and youth development will provide useful insight.

This Organization is important to me on a personal level as I have friends that suffer from endometriosis, and I also believe that the stigma surrounding period poverty can be removed from our community with transparency and conversation from those from all walks of life and backgrounds.

I wanted to become a board member of EWA as I stand behind the values and work Jess has done to help prevent period poverty. 

I found it near impossible on my endo journey to find a gender-inclusive charity and had heard too many stories of trans and non-binary individuals having to deal with transphobia whilst just trying to find answers for uterus-related issues. It added a layer of anxiety and isolation endo had already given me. This is why I find it so important that we decolonize the ideology around periods and gender and do the mahi for everyone who needs support. It’s nice to help and that’s all I want to do! 

I really love swimming in the ocean – I don’t mind the cold Wellington water! I also love tramping and exploring the Tararuas as much as I can.

It is an honour and privilege to be a board member of EWA. EWA is an incredible organisation (run by an incredible person!) doing critical work around menstrual health and endometriosis.

I am a gynaecological biomedical scientist and I hope to make a difference for those suffering from endometriosis and other menstrual problems through my research. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside and support the vision and goals of the EWA.

I am incredibly passionate about performance and visual art which I use as an outlet to express my pain, joy and use as a way to connect with other people like me. I also very much cherish connecting with my polyamorous partners to learn how to love myself and have time where my body isn't being treated soley as 'female' or medical.

I am a gender fluid, neurodivergent, disabled, DID (dissasosiative identity disorder) system that has struggled with chronic pain and fatigue from undiagnosed endometriosis since I first started getting periods. 

My experiences with trying to access support from the medical system has been incredibly painful and traumatising due to my transness and neurodivergence not being at all understood or accepted within our current medical system which has led to a downward spiral of mental illness and severe chronic illness exacerbations from medical neglect and abuse. I am self-driven by spite from my own experiences to use all the energy I have to advocate for myself and other people like me.