Our People

Our People

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Prostate Cancer Foundation Board

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is very fortunate to have a broad range of skills from all our board members. Our board is elected from the members, by the members. If you think you could be of service to the Foundation, consider becoming a member today.

Ian Armstrong
Diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer in 2018, Ian was told it was incurable. Following surgery and chemotherapy he is now on regular treatment for life. In 2020, with a colleague and friend, Ian helped revitalise the Tauranga Prostate Cancer Support Group of which he is C0-Coordinator. He is passionate about getting the message out for men being tested for prostate cancer and sharing their journeys. With more than 40 years of international business experience, Ian has held a variety of senior management and leadership roles, and independent board director / chair positions, and currently focusses on volunteer roles in several community organisations. He also holds two science degrees, an MBA and a diploma in viticulture and wine science.

Ian brings a wide range of strengths and experience to the board, including management and corporate discipline, and governance; leadership; and is an analytical, flexible, and personable team player, understanding of different points of view. He is married to Patti, has two children and two grandchildren. Travel, wine appreciation, theatre and concerts are among his many interests, not least of which is keeping fit (running, walking, gym). Ian has completed 102 marathons (incl. 39 ultramarathons) and over 295 half marathons.

Danny Bedingfield | President
Danny was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 37, just nine months after his father lost his five year battle with advanced prostate cancer. He has been an advocate for younger men to get tested and has been part of multiple media campaigns during Blue September to try and raise awareness around the benefits of regular PSA testing. Danny is the support coordinator for the Porirua area and attends many events in the greater Wellington region. Danny is a digital native and very keen to help the Foundation move forward into the 21st century and utilise online tools to promote our message. Danny is a Regional Facilitator with Cyclone Computer Company Ltd, is a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Google Educator and Adobe Educator. He lives in Titahi Bay with his wife and daughter and occupies his downtime with snorkeling, kayaking and spending time with his family. Danny is also a keen photographer and videographer and loves combining his passion for travelling and the outdoors with filming and making movies.

Jenny Corban
While Jenny’s job as Urology Oncology Coordinator at Taranaki District Health Board involves supporting people with all urology cancers, her passion lies in the support and education of men with prostate cancer. She has a particular interest in supporting men through the continuum of diagnosis, treatment, decision making and survivorship, to ‘take control’ of their cancer and health with self-management tools such as nutrition, exercise and mental health strategies along with conventional medicines / surgeries. A regular supporter and friend of the PCFNZ support group in Taranaki, ‘Men Can Talk’, Jenny was instrumental in the creation of an exercise group for men with prostate cancer, the inspiration behind Prost-FIT.

A registered nurse for over 30 years working at both Taranaki and Fremantle hospitals (Australia), Jenny completed her post-graduate diploma in specialty nursing (specialising in cancer nursing) and has just commenced her Masters Degree in nursing. Outside of work and study Jenny lives an active life, full of photography, trail running and mountain biking, and two adorable grand children.

Bart Couprie

Bart was diagnosed with stage 3a prostate cancer at the end of 2014, at the age of 47. After three years of androgen deprivation therapy coupled with seven weeks of external beam radiation therapy, he has been in remission since the end of 2017.

Bart has been serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy since 1986 and continues to serve. He has represented New Zealand at the Invictus Games for wounded, injured and ill service members in Orlando in 2016 and again in Sydney in 2018. Bart currently works at the Leadership Development Group in the RNZN, as a member of staff at the Officer Training Squadron. He has an extensive background in personnel administration, as well as instructing leadership development courses at all levels.

Bart and his wife, Jude, have been very vocal in spreading the message around prostate cancer and men’s health.   Bart and his brother Boudewyn (also a prostate cancer survivor) have appeared in TV and print media encouraging men everywhere to take control of their health. Still a keen sportsman, Bart remains involved with the Auckland Wheelchair Basketball Club, and is an avid, if directionally challenged golfer.

Chris Jones | Vice President
Since being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004, and treated 2005, Chris has been closely involved with the Christchurch Support Groups and the Board. He was elected Vice President in 2015, managed the 2006 and 2007 Movember campaigns for PCF, then the first Blue September campaign. Chris has also been involved in growing the Support Group network around New Zealand and developing national resources and training for volunteers. He holds Diplomas in Agriculture, Valuation and Farm Management, and Business Studies and prior to 1990 was a Registered Property Valuer and since 1985 is a Financial Advisor. He is a team player who thinks creatively, thinks outside the square, and is not afraid to address contentious issues. 

Richard Kittelty
Richard brings extensive board experience, in managing difficult governance issues, in policy development and dealing with government officials and MPs. He was Chairperson of EBS Healthcare for three years, during which time he managed a process of change, overseeing the transformation of the company. A retired Aucklander with extensive community connections, Richard has a MA (Hons) from Victoria University. He has worked for the Ministry of Education, Ministry Review Office, Victoria University, Auckland University and various Auckland schools. Richard also has Union senior level experience including vice president at and Council positions of VUW.

John McFedries
John was diagnosed with prostate dysfunction in 1995 and has had a number of surgical procedures and medications over the years. Since then he has been on ‘watchful waiting’, with a PSA slowly climbing which may require intervention before too long. In his case ‘watchful waiting’ has been a success over a long time.

John joined the newly-formed Prostate Awareness and Support Society (PASS) in 1996, then based in the Bay of Plenty. In practice this amounted to receiving an occasional mailing, and it was not until the early 2000s that the members started meeting nationally. He became a member of the PASS Committee then about 2006 the Committee decided on a name change to Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand (PCFNZ). He was a member of the Board for the 10 years to 2021 and has recently been re-elected. In parallel with this, he has worked with the Vice-President to establish four active Support Groups in Christchurch and has taken an active interest in other Support Groups in the Canterbury Region.

In the 1970s John worked in marketing for an international corporate then in the ’80s founded his own international marketing company which is still operating today. He is the director of several private companies and serves several charitable organisations. As well as spending time with family, John’s personal interests include flying, 4WD mountain driving, international current affairs and charitable work.

Trish Wright | Treasurer
Trish brings a ‘southern’ voice to the Board, having lived in Southland most of her life. Her husband Terry began attending support group meetings 15 years ago, and when women were welcomed around 5 years later, Trish relished the opportunity to attend, becoming the coordinator of the Invercargill Support Group nearly three years ago. She says it has been a steep learning curve listening to their members’ stories, and welcomes the opportunity to take that step up and continue to help the Foundation, and men living with the prognosis of prostate cancer. Trish has a background in accounting, banking and literacy, having both been a proof-reader and teacher of adult reading. She and Terry have been married for 43 years and they have two adult children living in Auckland and Melbourne.

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Medical Advisory Committee

Dr Andrew Williams
Urologist
One Six One
161 Gillies Ave, Epsom, Auckland
Phone: 09 623 061
Email: reception@161.co.nz

Dr Jim Duthie
Urologist
Bay Urology
120 Hanilton St, Tauranga
Phone: 07 571 2288
Email: jbduthie@gmail.com

Dr Peter Fong
Medical Oncologist
Auckland District Health Board
Email: PFong@adhb.govt.nz

Dr Leanne Tyrie
Radiation Oncologist
Kathleen Kilgour Centre, Tauranga
Phone: 07 929 7995
Email: leanne.tyrie@kathleenkilgourcentre.co.nz

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Medical Research Committee

Professor Brett Delahunt
Professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Wellington School of Medicine
Phone: 04 385 5575
Email: brett.delahunt@otago.ac.nz

Professor Graham Le Gros
Director of Research, Allergic and Parasitic Diseases
Malaghan Institute
Phone: 04 499 6914 ext 822
Email: glegros@malagham.org.nz

Professor Mark McKeage
Assoc Professor in Clinical Pharmacology
University of Auckland
Phone: 09 923 7322
Email: m.mckeage@auckland.ac.nz