Our Executive Team

Tony Paine – Chief Executive

Tony comes most recently from Life Unlimited Charitable Trust, a national disability service provider, where he was Deputy Chief Executive. He took up this role after leading the AccessAbility Group into a merger with Life Unlimited in 2021. He has over 30 years experience in not-for-profit leadership and management working in the health, social service, and cultural sectors.

Tony’s career includes work with the NZ AIDS Foundation, the Christchurch Methodist Mission, and in CEO roles at Comcare Trust, the Christchurch Arts Centre, Victim Support, New Zealand Red Cross, Philanthropy New Zealand and the AccessAbility Group. 

Tony served on the Board of Housing New Zealand for five years, has a Masters in Management, is Chair of the Silver Noodle Soup Trust that runs drama and film making with young disabled people, and lives in Wellington with his partner Bernadette and their two daughters, Sally and Maggie-Rose.

Dr Astrid Adams – Medical Director

Astrid trained as a Doctor in London where she undertook most of her Junior Doctor posts. She trained in Palliative Medicine in the Oxford region. She has been working as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine since 2010. She worked for five years at Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice in Oxford before emigrating with her family to New Zealand. She has been involved in management projects and service development as well as clinical work.

She has a particular interest in education and was the Course Director for the Palliative Medicine Medical Student Course in Oxford. She now works closely with the clinical team developing the education and research programme at Mary Potter Hospice, as well as undertaking clinical work and her leadership role.

Astrid qualified from UCL in 1998 with an MBBS and a BSc Hons in Anatomy and Developmental Biology. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), has an MSc in Palliative Medicine from Cardiff University and a Diploma in Undergraduate Education from Oxford University.

Donna Gray – Director Clinical Services

Donna is an experienced Registered General Nurse with post-graduate qualifications in Sick Children’s Nursing and Palliative Care. She has worked in a number of management and leadership roles in the UK and New Zealand across inpatient and community settings.

Donna has been with the Hospice for 10 years, most recently as our Community Services Manager, and is looking forward to continuing to provide clinical leadership to support the implementation of the Hospice Strategy, Our Place in Palliative Care.

Vanessa Eldridge (Ngāti Kahungūnu and Rongomaiwahine) – Director Health Equity

Vanessa has a background in nursing and has led and developed several programmes relating to loss and grief for Māori, compassionate communities work and leads a team focussed on the provision of an equitable service for all. The priority groups are Māori and Pacific peoples.

Vanessa has contributed to national research, publications and professional development material including the Foundations of Spirituality Programme with Hospice NZ and more recently Mauri Mate; A Māori Palliative care Framework for Hospices.  Vanessa links to the Advance Care Planning Team at the Health Quality Safety Commission and the Cancer Society Wellington Branch. Her team leads our connection to mana whenua and Pacific communities through the Pacific Advisory Group and Te Pou Tautoko. Vanessa is a qualified bi-cultural supervisor.

Vanessa is Wellington born and of Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Kahungūnu descent. She has two sons and lives in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Philippa Sellens – Director Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

Philippa has extensive experience in the government, private and NGO sectors, most recently with Airways NZ and IHC. Her experience includes executive leadership, government relations, reputation management and fundraising communications.

She holds a Master of Public Policy, is an accredited member of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand and has a Certificate of Journalism.

Philippa is a proud Wellingtonian and is passionate about ensuring a free hospice service exists for the Wellington region.

Peter Sewell – Director Retail

Peter joined Mary Potter Hospice in May 2021 to lead the retail operations. He brings a wealth of experience guiding the performance of retail and hospitality businesses, and leading sales and service teams to deliver a great customer experience. 

Peter is looking forward to further developing operational practices and working with the team to provide value to local communities through our charity shops and important revenue for the hospice service.