Welcoming Melanie and Grace

Kia ora koutou to all members

We hope that you are all coping well during this lockdown and thought it timely to share some good news with you all.

It is our pleasure to welcome two new additions to the CP Society family.

A message from Melanie Louden who joined our team today in the role of Communications Manager:

Melanie Louden, CP Society’s new Communications Manager.

Hi, I’m Melanie and I’m really looking forward to being part of the team at Cerebral Palsy.

Prior to joining the not-for-profit sector, I spent 17 years in community journalism, working my way up from junior reporter to editor with Auckland’s Suburban Newspapers. I left the world of journalism in 2016 and joined The Hearing House as the Fundraising and Communications Manager before moving to Surf Life Saving NZ where I was the Communications and Marketing Manager. I then returned to the disability sector, taking on the role of Communications and Marketing Advisor with the team at the Muscular Dystrophy Association of NZ, before accepting this exciting role with the Cerebral Palsy Society.

Outside of work, I’m married to Brian, and we have an 11-year-old daughter. We live in Laingholm, a beautiful part of West Auckland and we have a dog, a cat and 6 fish. I love to take photos, but don’t get enough time to indulge. I love travelling, going to live theatre, and enjoy going out for dinner, spending time with my family and friends, and managing my daughter’s football team.

I’m really looking forward to meeting members and sharing your stories and information that’s relevant and helpful.

An introduction to Grace Stratton who was recently appointed as a Director to the Cerebral Palsy Society’s investment entity “Essential Assets Ltd”;

Grace Stratton, a Director to the CP Society’s investment entity “Essential Assets Ltd.”

Grace is a 21-year-old, who has lived with Cerebral Palsy her whole life. She is the founder and director of ALL IS FOR ALL a global consultancy service, which assists businesses to understand disability rights and see disability as a part of culture, All is for All has worked with businesses ranging from THE ICONIC, to launch their world-leading adaptive edit, the United States’ Global Brands Group, to launch their inaugural access focused campaign and more. ALL IS FOR ALL’s work has seen Grace listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia for 2021, win a supreme AIMES award, previously won by the likes of Lorde and Lydia Ko and most importantly for Grace, the company has created numerous employment opportunities for disabled people, such as the inclusion of disabled people in New Zealand Fashion Week for the first time.

Grace is also an Attitude Trustee, for Attitude TV, and near finished Law and Communications double degree student. Grace is particularly passionate about ensuring that people with Cerebral Palsy and Disabled People are enabled in society and that we shift away from the medical model of disability, toward the social relational model.

Please join us in welcoming both Melanie and Grace.

Ngā Mihi
Clare and your CP Society Team