Our Team
Katheren Leitner, CE Asthma New Zealand
Katheren has been heavily involved in the innovation and entrepreneurial sectors and has a number of directorships including, Chair of the NZ Institute of Management board, past Chair and current board member of the YMCA, and board member of Papakura Netball.
Ann Wheat, Nurse Manager, Asthma Nurse Educator (Auckland)
Ann is originally from the UK and trained as a nurse and midwife in the 1970’s at Auckland Hospital, eventually becoming a Practice Nurse. Ann joined Asthma Auckland in 2002, having completed the Asthma NZ/Unitec Asthma course, and has since completed her COPD Nursing Course. In 2005, Ann also gained her Bachelor of Nursing Degree.
Bekitemba Maseko, Asthma Nurse Educator (Auckland)
Registered nurse originally from Zimbabwe. Moved to New Zealand in 2007. Bekitemba previously worked in the Age Care Sector and also as a Bureau Registered Nurse. He started at Asthma New Zealand in January 2019 as an Asthma Nurse Educator and he is loving it.
Jee Ho Rodriguez, Accounts Manager (Auckland)
Jee Ho has been with Asthma Auckland for over 10 years.
Swarna Hemachandra, Fundraising Manager (Auckland)
Swarna joined Asthma New Zealand/ Auckland Asthma Society in 2000 as an Asthma Nursing Course Administrator having completed the Certificate in Business Administration & Computing. Since then she joined the fundraising team as well.
Amanda Vercoe, Asthma Nurse Educator (Rotorua)
Born and raised in the lakes region mother or five and nana to nine, all with Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa heritage, Amanda has strong community links and work with dedication to the people of the region. Started nursing later in life completing in 2006, She has worked as a community nurse since 2009 including District Nursing and Preschool public health nursing. She enjoys education with all people but especially enjoys working in school, teaching students about their asthma.
Adie Riddell, Asthma Nurse Educator (Wellington)
Adie joined the Wellington branch 7 years ago. She comes from a strong background in Public Health and holds the belief that we should be leading the charge from the ‘top’ of the cliff rather than the bottom by providing robust health education.
Anne Couper, Asthma Nurse Educator (Wellington)
Anne has been working for Asthma Wellington since September, 2017. She is a a latecomer to nursing, finishing her training in 2009 and subsequently working as a practice nurse.
Aggie Plappally, Health Promotions (Auckland)
Aggie has been working for Asthma NZ since September, 2019. She is passionate about creating new tools and designing campaigns that help raising awareness about asthma and COPD, and improve asthma management. She believes that the expansion of Asthma NZ access to a bigger audience, collaboration with others and above all education is a clue to achieve 50% reduction from asthma and COPD hospitalisation by 2029 – AsthmaNZ’s mission.
