About Us

Our Vision

cbm envisions an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

Our Mission

cbm works alongside people with disabilities in the world’s poorest places to fight poverty and exclusion and transform lives. With over 100 years’ experience and driven by Christian values, cbm works with the most marginalised in society to break the cycle of poverty and disability, treat and prevent conditions that lead to disability, and build inclusive communities where everyone can enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

Sure Prospects Primary school is an inclusive school. It is a partner school with CoRSU hospital, CBM’s partner in Entebbe district in Uganda. Please refer to respective report. Here Shamilla a 12 year old girl with other pupils in the classroom. Shamilla has cerebral palsy and associates well with other children in this school.

Our Values

  • We Champion Inclusion
  • We Strive for Justice
  • We Pursue Excellence
  • We Embrace Partnership
  • We Live with Integrity

aboutus-history

Our History

cbm (formerly known as the Christian Blind Mission) was founded by the German Pastor, Ernst Jakob Christoffel in Turkey in 1908. His pioneering work, establishing homes for blind children, orphans and the physically disabled in the Middle East and Asia, was driven by his deep faith in God. Although two world wars threatened to destroy his work, he did not give up, continuing the work through illness and into old age. Today cbm continues in his footsteps, as an international Christian development organisation, working to improve the quality of life of the world’s poorest persons with disabilities.

Our Staff

Murray Sheard

CEO
Murray was born in Wellington and grew up in Thames. From there, he has lived and worked across the world, including a year within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Murray joined cbm in August 2018, after working at Tearfund
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Robyn Tane

Engagement Director
Robyn has worked in the charitable sector for over 12 years. Originally working in the finance sector, she says she had an ‘ah ha’ moment in her first charity role where she could ‘finally use her skills to help people.’
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Judi Jones

Finance & Operations Director
Judi grew up in South Africa, and moved to Auckland with her family in 2009.She joined cbm in June 2019, after having served as a financial auditor for 25 years across various industries and sectors
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Linabel Hadlee

International Programmes Director
Linabel has contributed with work and research in the international development field for the last 15 years. Linabel’s previous experience includes roles in the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs based in New York and as an advisor for the United Nations Environmental Programme.
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Hermie Petersen

North Island Engagement Manager
Hermie joined the cbm team in 2010. Prior to working for cbm she lived in South Africa and worked as an External Business Banker. What I love about my job is: I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of cbm.
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Bruce Morriss

South Island Engagement Manager
Bruce came to cbm in November 2018 after almost 21 years in the charity sector. Up until 2009 he worked part-time for Tearfund and part-time as a Mechanical Services Engineer in Christchurch.
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Our Board Members

Susan Willis-Hirst

Board Chair
Susan joined the Board in 2014. Susan is the Chair of the Strategic Marketing Committee and a member of the Personnel Committee. Susan holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters in Marketplace Christianity from Regent College, Vancouver
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Ray Coster

Board Member
Ray joined the cbm NZ Board in 2015 because of his conviction that the heart of God is to care for the poor and needy. Knowing that as cbm cares for the poorest of the poor and the disabled among the poor, that this is a ministry where he would like to give some of his time
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Veronia Houghton

Board Member
Veronia is a chartered accountant and chartered member of the Institute of Directors. She is a self-employed business woman, a company director and financial officer for several private property development and investment companies and serves on local community not-for-profit boards
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Tony McLean

Board Member
Tony joined the Board in 2015. Tony is the Chair of the International Programmes Committee and a member of the Strategic Marketing Committee. Tony has held a variety of roles within the formal disability support system of Aotearoa New Zealand for over two decades
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Andrew Smith

Board Member
Andrew is new to the cbm board
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Les Stephenson

Board Member
Les joined the Board in 2016. Les serves on the Audit and Finance Committee and the International Programmes Committee. Les has an MBA from Southern Cross University, Australia, and is a New Zealand chartered accountant
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John Bergin

Board Member
John joined the Board in 2020 and brings a wealth of professional fundraising and communications experience. He is the Chief Executive of Fundraising Consultants Ltd and has worked with numerous charitable organisations in New Zealand and overseas.
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Geraldine Crudge

Board Member
Geraldine joined the Board in 2020 and is on the Personnel and Compensation Committee. Geraldine is a solicitor, and currently works in-house as an employment lawyer for a large public sector organisation.
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Our team would love to hear from you

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