SPCA New Zealand

Senior Leadership Team

Our leadership team run the day-to-day tasks of managing the organisation

Todd Westwood

Todd Westwood

Chief Executive Officer

Todd is a seasoned and experienced change leader. Along with his wealth of executive management skills, he brings an innate passion for building strong culture, an excellent track record in organisational transformation, and a commitment to understanding and leading teams towards a brighter future.

Todd has broad cross-industry experience in Energy, Technology, Telecommunications, Finance – as well as with New Zealand’s largest occupational health, personal welfare and physiotherapy rehabilitation provider: Habit Health – which includes the EAP service. During his career, he has honed his skills in transformational growth, strategy, operations and leadership. His enthusiasm is infectious and he has a true knack of bringing people with him on a journey.

With a genuine dedication to SPCA’s cause, and keenness regarding the world of animal welfare, Todd aims to harness the collective wisdom, passion, and expertise of our SPCA team members.

Corey Regnerus-Kell

Corey Regnerus-Kell

GM - Animal Services

Dr. Corey Regnerus-Kell joined the SPCA family as the General Manager Animal Services in August 2023. A qualified veterinarian, Corey was familiar with the SPCA from his placements while completing his Veterinary Degree at Massey University, but also volunteering in Tairāwhiti while employed with the Ministry for Primary Industries. He brings experience in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, biosecurity, leadership and governance, plus a passion for mental wellbeing within organisations.

Outside his professional experiences, Corey has a lovely family with his husband and son they co-parent with a family friend. A self-confessed lifestyle ‘blockie’ with a real life McDonald’s Farm, Corey's abode is home to a range of animals, from ostriches to guinea pigs to bees! Corey has a rescue tortoiseshell named Lynk, a ragdoll named Oscar, and a black Labrador named Bonnie.

Arnja Dale

Arnja Dale

Chief Scientific Officer

Arnja Dale has over 20 years working in the field of animal welfare science in New Zealand and overseas. Prior to joining SPCA, Arnja was a Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, headed numerous research projects, and also led the animal welfare investigations training programme at Unitec.

Arnja is passionate about animal welfare science and changing the hearts and minds of the next generation through evidence-based education initiatives.

Her house is filled with three cats (Tortoiseshell Lucy, Tabby Smallie and Bengal Leopard) plus Louie, a Chinese Hairless Crested dog who she adopted from the Auckland pound.

Jason Copus

Jason Copus

Chief Financial Officer

Jason is a finance and business leader with 20 plus years finance and operational experience, across a number of industries, including 16 years as CFO/CIO of premium department store Smith and Caughey’s, Property and Investment Business that is 48% owned by a charitable trust.

Jason is a qualified Chartered Accountant and member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He lives in Devonport Auckland with his wife, two children, Archie the dog and Weazal a ginger cat who rules the house (and the dog!).

Jason is passionate about using his finance and operational experience to help SPCA to grow and thrive. Over the years, he has had a number of wonderful animals from the SPCA who have all been amazing characters.

Julia van de Coolwijk

Julia van de Coolwijk

GM - Engagement

Julia is an experienced leader in marketing, communications, product development and sales - with a strongly practical, commercial focus resulting in positive outcomes. With broad cross-industry experience across many FMCG brands, service organisations and health, from larger companies such as Unilever and Bupa, to entrepreneurial SMEs, Julia brings a wide range of management skills and experience.

With a strongly authentic leadership style, Julia aims to coach and empower her teams to achieve more than they thought they could.

Julia is passionate about customer experience, and she views the many facets of SPCA’s activities through a constant consumer lens, all the while being strongly dedicated to animal welfare and the animals we care for.

Cathy Crichton

Cathy Crichton

GM - Retail

Cathy joined the SPCA team in 2020 as we embarked on a journey to optimise the contribution from Op Shops to deliver a sustainable income flow. She is passionate about retail development and bringing an entrepreneurial approach to realising our potential through retail and new business opportunities.

Cathy's background is in multi-channel retail general management. She has worked for New Zealand, Australasian and global retail chains, from boutique to large format companies. Cathy brings experience across sales, marketing, property and HR.

Cathy's love for animals comes from a childhood of growing up with pet cats. As an active relaxer Cathy enjoys valuable time with family and friends. She is an avid sports fan, has a love for the for the great Kiwi outdoors and travel adventures.

Liz Andrews

Liz Andrews

GM - People, Culture & Safety, Human Resources

Liz is an accomplished and highly skilled Human Resources professional with 20 years of experience in the development and implementation of HR management, strategy and initiatives, in both global and local organisations in New Zealand and Australia.

Liz has worked in many industries including Manufacturing, Government, Medical Research and Retail. She is extremely passionate about ‘for purpose’ organisations, and this is her second NFP role after working in Australia for the Children’s Cancer Institute. She has extensive experience in engagement, culture change, reward, performance development, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, and health, safety and wellbeing.

Liz’s passion for animals saw her volunteering part time in our Māngere Centre for two years prior to joining the Senior Leadership team at SPCA. She is committed to leading with purpose to create a culture of trust and respect for all the SPCA team.

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