Elle – Team Lead (Sunday to Wednesday)
My name is Elle. I was born in the UK and moved to New Zealand when I was 7 years old. I have grown up with cats all my life and adopted a dog named Dolly who lives with me.
My passion and love for animals lead me to study vet nursing. After 2 years of study, I graduated from Otago University with a diploma in vet nursing and worked as a vet nurse for 2 years. I decided to explore other avenues while still doing what I love and joined the Cats Protection family at the beginning of January 2024.
In my spare time, I like to go for big walks with Dolly, blow off some steam at the gym, catch up with friends or go see a movie at the cinema.
Delwyn – Team Lead (Wednesday to Saturday)
Delwyn volunteered at the shelter for 8 years before taking up one of the first full time Team Lead roles in 2018. She holds a NZ Certificate in Animal Care, and taught animal care at WelTec for 4 years.
Although clearly a big fan of cats, Delwyn has a passion for a wide variety of animals. She was a volunteer at Wellington Zoo for 5 years, and has assisted at a number of emergency shelters during disasters as a member of the HUHA Emergency Response Team.
When she's not at the shelter Delwyn can often be found at a theatre – either on stage, as part of the crew, or watching a show.
Rebecca – Shelter Assistant
Ever since I adopted my first cat from Cats Protection Wellington, I knew this was where I belonged and began volunteering here at 15. Even after moving away from Wellington for a while, the cats and community had already stolen my heart, drawing me back to start working here officially in January 2024.
Over the years, I've adopted two cats myself and am currently owned by my perfect boy, Jojo. My evenings at CPW are spent putting the cats to bed, giving them their medications, cleaning up, and sneaking in as many cuddles as possible. A full-time biomedicine student at Victoria University, I also manage our desexing programme, write weekly Facebook updates, and support our foster programme.
Working at CPW combines my love for animals with my passion for helping them thrive!
Julie – Relief Team Lead
I’m thrilled to be the new relief team lead at Cats Protection Wellington, which means I provide cover for the other team members when they're away on leave.
I've worked with animals my entire adult life, as a qualified vet nurse, and later teaching part-time at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. I also volunteered at two catteries, and then ran my own for around 8 years on the Kāpiti Coast.
When I’m not working I’m walking dogs, drawing, painting or potting. My husband and I have two daughters, and two very beautiful, adored cats, Harry and Suki.
Iona – President, CPW
Having been a Registered Nurse in mental health, elder care and nursing education for around 25 years, Iona took what was supposed to be a short break from nursing employment in August 2005. That break – which became considerably longer than initially planned and eventually permanent – included voluntary and paid work with the SPCA, and a cattery manager role at the Khandallah Vet Clinic.
Owned by cats since forever, April 2010 saw the beginning of her volunteering with Cats Protection and since then she has taken on a number of roles, including shelter volunteer, volunteer co-ordinator, committee member and (since 2014) President of CPW.
Her goals have always been to help CPW stay healthy and positive as a charity, to help the volunteers and paid employees feel valued and supported, and to be part of maintaining a warm, safe and kind environment to provide best practice care for cats until they find their forever homes.
Jeremy– Shelter Ambassador
Jeremy is CPW’s resident cat, having lived in the shelter since he was a kitten. He has an important role in our community, welcoming new cats as they come in, and also greeting visitors at the front door.
After being too timid to be adopted for a long time, he is now a social butterfly, seeking out attention from volunteers and staff. He’s usually first to show up to meetings, and holds the land speed record for finding a lap at morning tea.
Our Care for Life programme was created when we merged our foster and sponsor programmes, and Jeremy is our last surviving sponsor cat. He is now 18 years old, and he is very happy and much-loved in his shelter home.
Jeremy is also featured in the miCat book about Pier Paolo Pasolini, available for purchase through our online shop.
Current CPW Committee
President: Iona Anderson
Vice President: Amanda Smith
Secretary: Kate Curran
Treasurer: Sharon Bailey
Comms & fundraising: Gabby Fussell
Health & safety: Charine Collins
