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Kat MacMillan - Chief Executive Officer
Kat has many years experience in management particularly in managing equestrian centres in the UK, Australia and in Malaysia.
Much of her equestrian experience has been working for equine welfare charities including the International League for the Protection of Horses in the UK. She has a university degree in Zoology with a focus in psychology and animal behaviour from the University of Liverpool, UK. Kat has recently gained a certificate in Small Business Management from Te Wananga O Aoteoroa.
Kat also has experience in working for local government and before coming on board at RDA was working as a health promoter for the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand.
Kat is a keen and experienced horse rider herself and competes in all equestrian disciplines but particularly enjoys bringing on young horses. Kat lives on a lifestlyle block in Welcome Bay with her husband and two sons Lucas and Jed.
Contact Kat by email at
manager@equestriantherapycentre.co.nz
Mina - PA to CEO
Mina is twelve years old and watches all the goings on from the offices at RDA. Her favourite part of the day is morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
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Katharine Birks - Fundraising Manager
Katharine has had a career in fundraising, sponsorship and public relations spanning more than 30 years based in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Chiefly this experience has involved working with tertiary institutions, equine sport and animal welfare organisations.
Katharine has also worked in a volunteer capacity within these sectors and served on the boards of animal welfare and equine sport organisations.
Contact Katharine by email at
fund@equestriantherapycentre.co.nz
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Jessie Vale - Coach
Emigrating three years ago from England with her parents and younger brother, she moved up from Queenstown with her partner Aaron to the Mount to pursue a Career in the Equine industry.
Growing up with horses, Jesse gained experience in a range of different disciplines as well as using her own horse on the weekends to give riding lessons to children. She has a passion for show-jumping and would like to hopefully include this in some of her lessons.
Jesse started volunteering for us in August two years ago and soon realised that this was the place for her. She is eager to progress and is now a NZQA qualified RDA coach. She loves meeting people and working with children.
Contact Jessie by email at
coaches@equestriantherapycentre.co.nz
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Sharon Aldersley - Coach
Sharon is a physiotherapist and enjoyes helping our riders with disabilities achieve their goals. Sharon spent three years volunteering for Gisborne RDA as a teenager. She has also been a keen volunteer at Tauranga RDA.
It was Sharon’s work with RDA that originally motivated her to become a physiotherapist. Sharon enjoys riding herself and is passionate about horses. She also has a lot of experience working with people and children with disabilities.
Sharon is married to Tony and has four children, Anna, Luke, Sophie and Nathan and they live in Welcome Bay. Sharon is very involved with her children’s schools and is very committed to her community.
Contact Sharon by email at
coaches@equestriantherapycentre.co.nz
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Elisha Brownrigg - Volunteer Co-ordinator
Elisha works in our main office from 8.30am to 1.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and coordinates, trains, supports and recruits volunteers. Elisha also undertakes all our administrative duties.
Elisha lives in rural Te Puke with her partner their son and a menagerie of animals.
She has a high level of experience in various administration roles including, administration manager, Operations manager, receptionist and PA and she has a bachelor of Tourism Management degree.
Elisha has been riding for years and competes in various disciplines, but focuses on Eventing and enjoys bringing on green horses. Elisha is also an equine Craniosacral Thereapist. Elisha’s other interests outside horses and family are, squash, kickboxing and mountain biking.
Contact Elisha by email at
info@equestriantherapycentre.co.nz
T: 07 5441899
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Joye Koerber - Accountant
Joye moved to Tauranga from the USA two years ago and has recently become a NZ resident. She is a degreed accountant with eighteen years experience working for non and not for profit organisations. Her last position was with the state of Florida government as a financial manager for the Department of Financial Services for ten years.
Joye first came to Tauranga in 2002 for her son’s wedding and knew then that this is where she wanted to live. She now lives in Tauranga and has her son, daughter-in-law and a wonderful little granddaughter to spend her time with.
Her other interests are drama, church, tramping and sailing and although she has only limited experience as a horse rider she’s eager to become more experienced.
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Cara Burgess - Holiday Program Co-ordinator
Cara immigrated into New Zealand six years ago with her family and dog. They settled in Tauranga and Cara felt at home at once.
Horses have always been an interest of Cara’s so when she left school she went straight into a career with horses which has given her over 20 years of experience ranging from being a groom, to yard manager to being a student of Dr Andrew McLean's Equitation Science which she will be qualified in by next year.
Cara is married with 3 children Brooke, Luke and Casey who all enjoy riding and support her enthusiasm for everything equestrian.
Cara enjoy a hands on approach. Teaching, schooling and re-training are all passions of hers. Cara also has a business called Effective Equine Training Solutions.
For info regarding the Holiday Program please
contact Cara by email at
T: 07 544 1899
info@equestriantherapycentre.co.nz
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