Our Trustees

 

Stephen Dil

Founder Trustee and Past Chair 

Stephen is Managing Director of Dil's Funeral Services. Through his daily work he has first hand knowledge of the challenges facing those affected by grief and loss. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (Management) from Massey University and the National Diploma in Funeral Services.

"I have thought for a long time there was a need for something like this. When I heard about the Grief Centre concept I knew immediately I wanted to be involved."
 

Maureen Frayling

MCounselling, MNZAC

Founder Trustee,Project Manger and Secretary

Maureen has a long history with the North Shore Hospice working as a nurse, counsellor and teacher in the area of grief and loss. She has been involved for many years with the National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG). Maureen is also a part time tutor on the counselling program at North Tec in Whangarei.

“I have been concerned for a long time at the lack of support and services for those that are grieving. I hope this initiative goes some way in providing that support”

 

Gaynor Larsen

Founder Trustee and Chair

Gaynor is Funding Development Manager of North Shore Hospice and has many years of fundraising, volunteer and community centre management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is a Past President of Conference of Churches of Aotearoa NZ.

"I feel excited about helping to establish the Grief Centre and know that this is an organisation that will go from strength to strength and be of great benefit and support to many people throughout Auckland and beyond."

 

Dr Margaret Agee

Trustee

Margaret is a Senior Lecturer and the coordinator of the Counsellor Education programme in the School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work in the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland. She is the President of the National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG) and was a founding member of the organization. She is also a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement, and of the Association for Death Education and Counselling. Margaret has had a longstanding involvement in the area of suicide bereavement, and she has undertaken research into counsellors' experiences of the suicide of a client. She is currently part of a research team investigating adolescents’ experiences following the loss of a family member. With Philip Culbertson and Cabrini Makasiale, she co-edited the book Penina Uliuli: Contemporary Challenges in Mental Health for Pacific Peoples published in 2007. As an experienced counsellor in a range of contexts, she is a member of the Ethics Committee of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and co-editor of the New Zealand Journal of Counselling.

 

Andrew Thompson

MPhil, MANZASW

Trustee

Andrew is a Social Worker and Therapist at the Starship Children’s Hospital where he works with children and families who are going through tough times. Andrew was a founding member of the Starship Paediatric Palliative Care Team and the Starship Bereavement Service. He also teaches at the University of Auckland, where his topics include communication in healthcare, bereavement, and health social work.

“It’s remarkable that we can provide an excellent range of supports when a person breaks a leg or an arm. But when that person experiences a bereavement and potentially the greatest psychological and emotional distress of their life there is very little to help them get through. The Grief Centre is a beacon of hope for children and adults who want to find their way through the difficult times.”