Louise Chan
She/Her, Ia
Louise (Ngāpuhi) strongly identifies as takatāpui and lives with her wife, dog, three chickens and ‘a couple of cats’ in Te Wharangi, Foxton Beach. Louise and her wife love ‘scooterin’ life’ – taking opportunities as they come and running with them!
Louise is a neurodiverse and eclectic character with many passions, but at the heart of them are just two things; our people and our communities. Never is she happier than when she sees people actualise their own potential.
Louise is a registered mental health nurse and has worked within mental health and wellbeing services since 2001, in Aotearoa and UK.
In 2003, Louise founded a charity, Students for Kids International Projects, which partners UK medical schools with communities in developing countries supporting the health, welfare and education to some of the words most impoverished children.
Louise completed a law degree in 2014 in order to better understand the drivers for change associated with making sustainable differences in our communities.
Louise currently represents Aotearoa on the International Council of Nurses Global Nursing Leadership Institute programme and sits alongside 29 Global Nursing Leaders from around the world focused on influencing health policy so that nurses and nursing are recognised, supported and receive ample investment in order to lead and deliver health for all.
In her spare time, Louise is completing her Master of Health Science (Nursing) looking into how mental health nurses recognise and respond to personal burnout.
Louise was appointed to the Board in 2022 and was later elected as a Board Member in 2023.