TAGNZ Board Biography 2025

Mark Liddle ~ President

He is a cool guy with a cool smile.

Wendy Neilson ~ Vice President

I am very involved in the disability sector in NZ taking many national leadership roles over the years. I am an Access Assessor and work as a consultant to Tauranga City Council and other organisations advising them on NZ Building Code access requirements. I have run Disability Awareness workshops over many years including under contract to CCS Disability Action. I have been a JP for 23 years.

I have taught at primary, secondary, polytechnic and university levels.

In my retirement I volunteer on the JP Service Desk at the Citizens Advice Bureau, I am Past President of the local JP Council, Chair of the WBOP Disability Support Trust, Vice President the Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Board (TAGNZ) and a member of TCCs Positive Aging Advisory Forum. I have been a member of the Tauranga City Council’s Disability Advisory Group.

My son (an art teacher) and daughter (a policewoman) both have teenage children.

Jo Coffin ~ Secretary

I am married to Duane and have three sons
Jake, Ben and Josh. Josh has arthrogryposis and when he was 5 we
attended our first TAGNZ conference and I became a board
member. Shortly afterwards I became the secretary. We have all
really enjoyed being part of the TAG family and enjoy the
connections we have made over the years.

I am a teacher and have always been interested in making sure we
meet the needs of each child so that each child can reach their true
potential. I come from a family of 5 children, my older sister has a
physical and intellectual disability, and I have been very involved in
advocating for her along with my mum. I have been on several
boards/committees over the years which I get a lot of enjoyment
and satisfaction from.

Having a big family means that there are always lots of family
occasions to celebrate and I love spending time with my immediate
and extended family. I also enjoy being involved in our kids school
life and sports/events. Walking, cooking and spending time with my
friends are other things that I like to do in my spare time.

Alan Neilson ~ Treasurer

I was a University lecturer in Economics and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Waikato but am now retired.

I have been Treasurer of several voluntary groups and also the reviewer of the financial accounts of several similar groups.

I  am very happily married to Wendy who is also a TAGNZ Board member . I enjoy gardening, solving puzzles and fishing as retirement hobbies.  We live in Tauranga.

Anna Armstrong ~ Board Member

Kia ora, I’m Anna Armstrong. I joined the TAGNZ Board in 2021 after being invited to contribute. Hayley was born in 2018 with Arthrogryposis affecting both her arms and legs, and my journey as her mum has sparked a deep passion in me to help grow awareness, understanding, and support for families navigating life with AMC.

In my day-to-day life, I run my own business as a personal trainer. This has been a huge asset in helping Hayley strengthen and get the most from her body in ways that support her mobility, confidence, and independence. I bring creative energy to TAGNZ, particularly in the areas of social media and community engagement. I’ve also initiated and continue to run a biannual fundraiser to support TAGNZ’s work and outreach.

In 2024, we had the opportunity to travel to Shriners Hospital in the U.S., where we accessed world-class support and second opinions not available to us here in New Zealand. If any families are considering similar options or need guidance, I’m always happy to share our experience.

I’m proud to serve on the board, and I’m committed to helping build a more informed, connected, and supportive community for everyone affected by Arthrogryposis.

Dr Brian Vest ~ Board Member

I’m originally from America and have been living in New Zealand for over 20 years. Before attending my first TAGNZ conference with my family, I really hadn’t met very many people with Arthrogryposis (either in America or in New Zealand) and became a TAGNZ board member shortly thereafter. What I really enjoyed most about the conference was the connections established among those that have been impacted by Arthrogryposis in some way.

Despite having AMC, I managed to attain a doctorate in chemistry and have held a variety of jobs throughout my career. I’ve been a laboratory supervisor, lecturer, high school teacher, business analyst, data analyst, IT support desk engineer and FX day trader, to name a few. I’m passionate about supporting students with disabilities in material sciences, as these fields often include equipment that are problematic to use for those with physical disabilities. Hence, I’ve reached out to various universities and disability support groups to help provide some guidance and support for adapting equipment so that they are more user-friendly for students and workers with physical disabilities.

I’m an avid gardener in my free time and love being in the garden with my wife and two children (when they’re not trying to pull everything up). We are also experienced foragers and love to set out and forage wild fruit, vegetables and mushrooms that are in season. When it’s not raining or blowing a gale southerly, I also enjoy being out at the beach with some mates and fishing the afternoon away.