Neurological Foundation of New Zealand

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 2008

While each year brings new challenges, this one proved to have more than its fair share. The turmoil in the world financial markets has been a major concern for many charities and its impact remains to be seen on the Foundation and what the long-term effects will be.

Nonetheless, the year saw the Foundation maintain its research budget of $1.6 million, covering research and travel grants, scholarships and, for the first time, the SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust Repatriation Fellowship. This award is intended to help promising neuroscientists return from studies aboard so they can build careers in New Zealand. The first recipient was Dr Helen Fitzsimons, who returned from Ireland to study at Massey University. Over and above the research grants, the Foundation also established the Neurological Foundation Clinical Chair in Neurology with initial funding of more than $3 million.

Mr Greg Thompson (Deputy Chairman-NF National Council)
Mr Ian Robertson (Chairman-NF National Council)

As always, none of this would be possible without the Foundation’s generous supporters and their contributions are appreciated even more in a recession. I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the Council, the Scientific Advisory Committee, volunteers in the divisions throughout New Zealand, the staff at the National Offi ce and the community liaison and bequest coordinators who continue to work hard to enable the Foundation to continue its work and grow from year to year.

The Foundation has had a very stable staff for many years now. One of the first staff engaged not long after I joined the Council and a fundraising programme was started was Cecilia Pascoe, the South Island Public Affairs Manager and Canterbury Community Liaison and Bequest Coordinator. Cecilia has now decided to retire after 14 years with the Foundation. On behalf of the Council and the Foundation’s many South Island supporters, I want to thank Cecilia for her enthusiastic and committed service and to wish her and her husband all the very best for the future.

I would also like to acknowledge the significant and generous support from many of our supporters and in particular the following companies, charitable trusts and individual donors:

ABN Amro Craigs
Biogen Idec Australia Pty Ltd
Freight Lines Ltd Otorohanga
GlaxoSmithKline
Ryman Healthcare
Anonymous Trust
Ara Lodge No 348 I.C. Charitable Trust
Ara Lodge No 348 Irish Constitution
Century and Perry Foundations
David Levene Charitable Trust
Douglas Trust
Hugh Green Trust
New Zealand Federation of Women’s Institutes Inc
NZ Ltd, H B Williams Turanga Trust
Rotary Newmarket
Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate
SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust
St Lazarus Trust Board
The David & Genevieve Becroft Foundation
The Dowdall Trust administered by the Public Trust
The Four Winds Foundation
The T Clark Trust
The N H Taylor Trust
The Ted and Mollie Carr
Endowment Fund, J A Redwood
Charitable Trust, and the
Ernest Davis Endowment Fund
administered by the Guardian Trust
The Thanksgiving Trust
The W and WAR Fraser Trust
Robert Cooper
Miss M Bailey
Mrs I M Bollam
Mr & Mrs M H Fleming
Tony Gibbs
Miss F D Horsley
Mrs S K Lacy
Mrs J H Millar
Alan and Jill Priest
Mr I M Shroff
Mrs W A Thorburn
Mrs E M Woodcock

Finally, I want to emphasise the importance to the Neurological Foundation of our supporters and my gratitude for their generosity. The Foundation has been able to make a real and lasting contribution to the health of the nation and helped achieve a better understanding of devastating neurological disorders because we have had very considerable financial support from people like you.

Ian Robertson
Chairman
National Council

Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2008
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2007
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2006
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2004
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2003
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2002
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2001