Our Board
SPCA is an independent society lead by a CEO and governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. All directors are members of the society.
David Broderick
Board Chair
David Broderick is Managing Director of Metalworld, a Christchurch-based contract manufacturing company specialising in precision profile cutting of metal components.
He joined the SPCA Canterbury Board in 2010 and in 2016 was appointed Chair and elected as a member of the RNZSPCA Board. During his 14+ years of involvement David has helped to guide the organisation through a period of significant structural and transformational change.
David’s has held a variety of professional services and finance roles including 8 years with Bank of New Zealand in advisory and relationship roles – in both business banking and property – with accountability for managing groups of complex institutional and investor clients, and with LexisNexis supporting the technical resource needs within the legal industry.
David lives with his partner Kirsty in Christchurch with their 8 month old SPCA cat Rosa, and enjoys spending time restoring classic cars, mountain biking, music and snow boarding.David Heald
Board Member
David is passionate about using entrepreneurial skills to ensure the future sustainability of the charitable sector.
Coming from an accounting background, David is now a highly experienced board trustee. He holds positions on the Chartwell Charitable Trust and Glenice and John Gallagher Foundation, among other trustee and director appointments for a varied number of client and personal entities.
David joined the SPCA Board in early 2022, relishing the opportunity to care for the animals and help those unable to help themselves. His own animal whānau include a dog, a cat and a small breeding flock of baby doll sheep.
Jane Holland
Board Member
Jane is an experienced business leader and influential Board member, recognised in the New Zealand property industry as a sector expert.
Currently, she is a Partner at Bell Gully and holds Board positions with the New Zealand Green Building Council and (as a New Zealand Superannuation Fund appointed director) with New Zealand Hotel Holdings.
She joined the SPCA Board in early 2022, after many years supporting the organisation and previously being a member of the Auckland SPCA Board – prior to the organisation becoming one national entity.
Jane currently has a tabby cat called Toby, who is a SPCA kitten Jane and her partner fostered before adopting. Jane has had a number of much-loved cats over the years, all from the SPCA.
Jennifer McGowan
Board Member
Jennifer McGowan joined the SPCA Board in 2024 after many years being a passionate supporter of the organisation.
Jennifer holds a Masters and Post Graduate qualification in Business Psychology. She spent the first 10 years of her career working in management consulting roles both here and abroad in London and Hong Kong, and the latter part of her career in leadership positions across a number of international and local financial services firms. She is excited to bring her experience across strategy, transformation, people and culture to the benefit of the SPCA and the animals we care for.
Jennifer's love for animals stems from a childhood surrounded by various furry friends. Her current animal whānau includes Reggie the Jack Russell and Rani the long-haired tortoiseshell cat.
Julie Sellar
Board Member
Julie joined the SPCA Board in early 2022, excited to make a tangible contribution in a governance role aligned to her values.
Julie Sellar holds the Finance Director role for the largest aged care provider in New Zealand, BUPA. As a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors, she brings her experience with complex financial and company structures to our SPCA whānau.
Julie’s love for animals stems from a lifelong love of cats and childhood growing up with dogs. She lives in Wellington with her husband, two daughters and their much-loved cat Smokey.
Lizzy Ryley
Board member
Lizzy Ryley joined the SPCA Board in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in business leadership, marketing and data-driven customer engagement.
Since 2017 she has been Chief Executive of Loyalty NZ, a company specialising in the clever use of data to help Kiwi businesses, such as Foodstuffs, BNZ, IAG, The Warehouse Group and Z Energy, know and communicate more effectively with their customers.
Prior to this, Lizzy led marketing for a number of retail and FMCG businesses in Australia and the UK. She holds an MBA from Sheffield Hallam University (UK), is a member of Global Women, the NZ Institute of Directors, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors.
Lizzy lives in Auckland and is married with two adult children. She is an enthusiastic animal lover and lives with dog Ernest and cats Oscar and Aloysius.
Steve Merchant
Board member
Steve joins the SPCA Board having been in both executive management and governance having, most recently, been Chief Executive and Director (co-founder) of Pet Doctors, New Zealand’s largest group of companion animal veterinary practices. Pet Doctors flourished based on innovation and a strong team-centred, high-service model.
From 2013 to 2016 Steve was Chair/Director of The New Zealand Veterinary Association involving on-going lobbying and networking across both government and commercial sectors, locally and internationally. Steve is currently working with digital and AI technology in the veterinary sector.
Steve brings a wealth of experience in developing and implementing strategy, culture, new product development and innovative distribution channels.