Meet Our Board
Priya Patel
Chair
Ko Priya taku ingoa, tangata tiriti, and proudly raising two tamariki in a culturally diverse home. I was fortunate to join a Mothers Network group soon after returning home from living away for 10 years and starting a family. Connecting with other mums who truly understood the highs and lows of motherhood and rediscovering who I am and have become through the journey was an unexpected but wonderful gift.
I gained so much from my experience that I wanted to give back, so I completed facilitation training and soon co-facilitated my first group. I joined the Governance Group in August 2020 and took on the role of Chair in mid-2024, bringing with me my experience of a career in HR.
Mothers Network matters to me because I see the essential we play to provide a nonjudgmental, supportive space where mothers can be their whole selves and find connection and support through the ups and downs at any stage of mothering.
Madeleine Taylor
Governance Group Member
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
Hello to you all,
my ancestors came from Scotland, Ireland and England over four generations ago and I grew up under the shelter of Mt Meredith next to the Whareama River. However, Mount Ruapehu is close to my heart. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the cloak that is wrapped around my shoulders. I live in Wellington with my husband, and have three adult sons and a cat.
I graduated as a social worker in 1979, and worked in health and mental health. I have maintained my membership of ANZASW since the 80s.
In 1995 I moved into private practice and now work as a People Skills Consultant. I'm passionate about collaborating with people to find answers that support them to achieve their goals.
I support leaders, staff, managers, and teams often within complex environments and tricky issues of grief and loss, negotiation, influencing and managing difficult behaviours.
I'm an accomplished facilitator and long-time trainer. I also provides professional supervision and leadership coaching across a range of professions. I handle tough issues in a way, which, while remaining sensitive, is also playful.
Ngā mihi. Madeleine (She/Her)
Hannah Carty
Treasurer
I am a Chartered Accountant employed in the private sector, and am mum to my boys, Oliver and Finlay. They eat up most of my spare time with ballet, football, hockey and rugby, but when I have some time to myself I enjoy reading and spending time in the outdoors. I also hope – now that the boys are a bit older – to be able to resume skiing and rock climbing, which were once a large part of my life.
It is a real privilege to be able to share my skills and experience as a member of the Mothers Network board. It is so easy to lose yourself in the busyness of all that comes from being a parent. I attended a Working Mums group in 2019. I enjoyed having a safe space to connect with other mothers, share stories and support each other. I’ll be working hard as Treasurer to ensure that Wellington mothers can enjoy the same support and connections that I experienced.
Marg Lawson
Governance Group Member
Kia ora koutou, I’m a parent of three adult children who I deeply admire for the diverse ways
they are living their lives. I love how I keep learning and growing as a human being and as a
parent from all they share. I divide my time between te Whanganui-a- Tara (Wellington) and
the Wairarapa. You will often find me in my happy places in the garden or the sea.
I belief in empowering and supporting women in all aspects of their lives, including being a
parent. I know what it’s like to be human and struggle at times, and how reassuring it is to be
able to share and connect with others.
I joined the Mother’s Network board in August 2025. I bring skills and experience I hope will
be valuable from three years of governance experience in the not-for-profit sector and four
decades in social research for not-for-profits and government.
Employees
Angela Humphrey
Groups Coordinator
I am delighted to be part of the team at Mothers Network and to be able to assist with all the mahi that is required to deliver such a precious service to our Wellington mums. After a long period of being at home with my children it is good to be able to offer something to the wider community, drawing on my skills from the not-for-profit sector, while also supporting, driving, enjoying, cheering on and listening to my two teenagers.
I look forward to continue meeting many of you within the Mothers Network support system, and especially to welcoming more of you in to this community on behalf of Mothers Network.
Group facilitators
Are you interested in becoming a Mothers Network facilitator?
Our group facilitators are special people.
They are generally women who have participated in our groups previously and decided they would like to make that experience happen for someone else by giving back of their time and effort to help the group sessions run smoothly.
No prior experience is required, just a willingness to want to give other mothers the experience they have had. We run facilitator training regularly and all new facilitators will go through a training session and are then buddied up with an experienced facilitator to run a session together. It's a great way to build some skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Our facilitators are paid a koha, $500 for six 2 hour group sessions, which includes time spent on admin, set up and travel.
If you have participated in one of our groups previously and would like to give this a go then please get in touch.