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NEWS ROUNDUP The 2024 MDANZ Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 26th April via Zoom. National Executive Chairperson Trevor Jenkin presented his report and spoke to MDANZ’s response to its values - sustainable, empowering, connected and proactive. Trevor did stand for re-election as National Executive Chairperson and was elected unopposed. Trevor will be supported by Rebecca Poad, Vice Chairperson. Due to two Councillor’s terms ending, nominations were called for two Councillor-at-Large positions. Three nominations were received for the two vacancies. Scott Boyle and Emma Ferry (South Island Region) were elected as Councillors-at-Large. Scott Boyle I am a 29-year-old from Christchurch, who lives with SMA-2. Back in the simpler days of 2018 I was recruited to take up the role of Rangatahi Representative, and since that day I have served on the National Council in one position or another, even as Vice Chair for 18 months. My goal has been to provide a lived experience of a young person that’s physically disabled with SMA, and advocate for those that can’t do it themselves. As any of the National Council members of the last few years can attest, I enjoy a good fight, and fight for what’s right. AGM Update 2024 MDANZ held its annual general meeting at the end of April, and we’d like to introduce you to the National Council’s newest members. Emma Ferry I am a trained teacher with a bachelor’s and master’s degree, only getting 6 years out of my chosen career. I have had to make the tough decision to give up full time work since my disability has made it impossible to do what I worked so hard for. I now tutor online part time, tutor face to face, relief teach and volunteer each day at a local school for an hour. This allows me to give back to the community and get to do what I love – help children to be the best that they can be. I refuse to let my disability define me or stop me from helping others and would love the chance to inspire people both living with disabilities and living without by bringing awareness and being a voice for those that don’t have the opportunity to do so. I believe I will bring passion, enthusiasm and empathy to the National Council along with my experience from being on two previous board of trustees – as well as being that much needed representation from the southern region which has not been present for years. Scott and Emma join existing councillors Joy Jenkin and Jessica Anderson (Northern Region), and Kim Russell (South Island Region) The branch representatives were announced at each region’s AGM and they are Yaz Dolbel-Neville (Northern), John Hawkins (Central), and TBC (South Island).