As we celebrate our 7th birthday this week, we are also delighted to introduce Dementia Alliance International (DAI) member Alister Robertson as our new Chair.
Alister has been a member since 2016, and has recently stepped down as our Vice Chair, to take on the role of Chair.
We are truly delighted to introduce Alister Robertson as our new Chair to you. Alister has been a member of Dementia Alliance International (DAI) since 2016, and has recently stepped down as our Vice Chair, to take on the role of Chair.
Alister is taking over from Kate Swaffer who continues as a board member, and the CEO.
About Alister: Alister's new leadership role has been endorsed and welcomed by the Board of Directors and by our members, and is recognition of the hard work Alister has done globally for our members, and in New Zealand where he is on the Board of Alzheimers New Zealand and a member of their Advisory Group.
He has a strong commitment to supporting people with dementia to have a voice, and to be included locally, nationally and globally.
Alister graduated from Lincoln University, Canterbury New Zealand in 1978 with Bachelor Agricultural Commerce. Spent the following 30+ years in the rural finance sector lending money to the primary sector.
In 2009 Alister and his wife, Charlene decided they would like to do something together, given their four sons had finished their schooling and were doing their own thing. Alister and Charlene resigned from their respective jobs, sold their newly built home and purchased a Motel in Taupo, which they sold four years later.
They then moved to Napier, Hawkes Bay (2013) to be closer to their son and his family. They had a retail and café business until Alister’s dementia diagnosis.
Alister’s father had Alzheimer’s and Alister was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s in 2014, aged 60 years. He endeavours to follow the advice of trying to maintain a healthy brain by way of diet, remaining socially involved, good sleep, staying mentally active and exercise. Alister is a keen cyclist, which is his main mode of transport and this helps keeping him fit.
Alister participates in the various activities provided by DAI and would like to see more Kiwi’s become active members of DAI, as well as more people with dementia globally to join for peer-to-peer support, and to get involved in the global work done by DAI.