Ambassadors
Mr John Adshead
ONZM, JP
English-born former head coach of New Zealand’s national football team, John is arguably one of the most influential people in the history of New Zealand football.
In 1982 he coached the All Whites to the FIFA World Cup. His coaching career spans 40 years and over this period he has become synonymous with the continuing rising popularity of football in this country.
Mrs Viv Jones
Welsh born Viv has lived in New Zealand since 1979 and was one of the initial drivers for setting up MDNZ in 2009 as a member of the MD community. Viv was a founding Trustee, serving 6 years on the MDNZ Board. She has been a tireless advocate in raising the awareness of MD in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region.
Mr Gordon Harcourt
Gordon joins his mother, Dame Kate Harcourt, as an Ambassador for Macular Degeneration NZ. He first became aware of MD because she had an amsler grid on her bathroom wall, and has a 50% risk of developing MD because of the family history.
Gordon is best known as a presenter of TVNZ's Fair Go, especially for being assaulted by a car dealer who wasn't keen on his business dealings being featured on television!
Mr Pic Picot
MNZM
Pic Picot is the owner and founder of Pic’s Peanut Butter, a spread that in nearly 10 years has become the best-selling peanut butter in New Zealand.
Pic, who was declared legally blind in 2010, has joined MDNZ in the hope that his story might show others with the same condition that it need not negatively affect their quality of life.
Trustees
Dr David Worsley
MB ChB, Dip. Obs,FRANZCO
David graduated from Auckland Medical School in 1981 and undertook ophthalmology training in Auckland and Hamilton to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists in 1986. David undertook sub-specialty fellowship training in medical and surgical retina at Bristol Eye Hospital, England (1989-1991).
Ross Legh
As a trustee of MDNZ, Ross brings to the board the reality of what it is like to have MD. As an engineer Ross had a need for excellent vision. He was given an Amsler grid on being diagnosed with early stage MD over a decade ago. Whilst sitting in a recent meeting in Sydney he noticed how similar an adjacent building’s window mullions were to the Amsler Grid lines. He began to check each eye and noticed the mullions appeared as wavy lines. An urgent appointment was made with his ophthalmologist on his return home to discover his MD had progressed to the ‘wet’ type and anti-VEGF injections were commenced. ‘Dr Sharp saved my sight which allowed me to continue working’ says Ross.
Dr. Ainsley Morris
MB, ChB, FRANZCO
A graduate of the University of Auckland, Ainsley undertook ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. Following time in the UK and a Fellowship in Medical Retina and Uveitis at Moorfields Eye Hospital, she returned to NZ in 2005, to public and private appointments.
As a Medical Retina specialist, Ainsley has always valued the exceptional work MDNZ does in education and support, not only of patients and their whanau, but also eye care professionals.
Steve Hayes
BCom
Steve is an Audit Partner within the Auckland office of RSM New Zealand and is the International Contact Partner for audit and assurance clients.
Steve graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce. He is a Qualified Auditor, Chartered Accountant and a member of Chartered Accounts Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). Steve is also an Approved Auditor of the Office of the Auditor-General in New Zealand.
Richard (Henry) Ford
B Ag Com
Henry completed a B Ag Com degree at Lincoln College and spent the first part of his career with the Rural Bank. After a period of farming he returned to the bank and eventually migrated into the retail area of the National Bank as a result of their acquisition of the Rural Bank.
One of Henry’s close friends has recently been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration.
Chris Bradley
Chris is a specialist in company and commercial law with a particular expertise in franchising and licensing. He also has substantial specialist knowledge and experience in banking and finance. In the general commercial arena, Chris advises a broad range of medium and large companies on commercial issues from start-ups, joint ventures, licensing and property contracts through to intellectual property issues.
General Manager
John Adam
With 28 years Optometry experience John is in private practice in Remuera Auckland. John originally qualified from the School of Optometry in Auckland and has continued his education over the years to include Ocular Pharmacology and Ocular Therapeutics. He has specialised for many years in contact lenses and is driven by a desire to offer the best vision and eye health care available to his patients.
Jo Sims
MB ChB, FRANZCO
Jo graduated from Auckland University in 1999 before training in general ophthalmology in NZ. Her sub-specialty training was in Singapore and Melbourne from 2006 to 2008 in the areas of medical retina and uveitis (inflammatory eye problems).
Jo works at Greenlane Clinical Centre and in her private practice at Eyes and Eyelids. She is on Pharmac’s Ophthalmology Subcommittee and has a strong interest in improving access to eye medications and treatments.
Sarah Berman
General Manager
Sarah has been General Manager since September 2022, having first joined MDNZ in 2015 as Fundraising Manager. Prior to this, Sarah worked for many years in leadership roles in the for-purpose sector, as well as commercial directorships and management in horticulture. Sarah is committed to advocating for access to quality healthcare and resources for all.