Meet your advisory council

Diabetes NZ’s Advisory Council is all important. Just who are they and what do they do? We talked to Advisory Council Chair Lyndal Ludlow.

Diabetes NZ’s Advisory Council is responsible for providing consumer and advocacy support for the CEO, and therefore the Board, on a range of issues affecting people with diabetes and their families.

There are eight members of the Advisory Council, who all bring a wealth of lived experience to the organisation. Chair Lyndal Ludlow says, “Around the Advisory Council table are people who represent the Māori health sector, Pasifika communities, youth, clinicians, carers, and people with type 1. Everyone on the Council has a direct and immediate connection to living with diabetes.”

The Advisory Council was first set up in 2012, but as the new structure of Diabetes NZ evolves, the Council’s role is evolving too. Lyndal sees the Advisory Council’s role as ensuring that Diabetes NZ is connected and having two-way conversations with people who live with diabetes: “It’s essential that the higher-level advocacy and projects stay connected to the people that the outcomes will affect.”

Advisory Council members put a lot of time into the council on behalf of their communities. There are monthly Zoom meetings, articles and submissions to read and write, and, of course, constant liaison with people who live with diabetes.

“To keep the Board connected to the people they’re serving, the Advisory Council needs, in turn, to remain connected to people living with diabetes and their daily lives. The realities of life with diabetes – for those who are diagnosed and for their support people – needs to be kept front and centre of all decisions made by the Board.

"The Advisory Council also provides valuable support to the operational arm of the organisation, especially with respect to advocacy."

Lyndal says, "In order to keep Diabetes NZ relevant and influential, the Advisory Council is continually looking for more ways to connect with those who are living with diabetes, and to ensure their voices are heard."

If there are issues you would like to raise with the Advisory Council, please email dnzac@diabetes.org.nz.

Ativalu Lemuelu: “Diabetes is personal”

Diabetes New Zealand has welcomed two wonderful new members to our Advisory Council this year. One is Ativalu Lemuelu.

When Diabetes NZ put out a call for applicants to the Advisory Council, one of Ativalu Lemuelu’s colleagues passed the information on to him and asked if he knew anyone from a Pasifika community who might be interested in applying. Ativalu asked around for some time, before thinking: “Actually, I’m interested.”

A relationship manager at the Ministry of Social Development, Ativalu applied and was selected.

He says his interest in diabetes is personal: “I’ve been pre-diabetic for a number of years. And lately my doctors have been harping on at me – you need to look after yourself more …

“Actually, I had a wake-up call at the same time as I had my first meeting at Diabetes NZ. That was when I had a lightbulb moment: this is the reality … Accessing the wrong foods is so quick and cheap, and there are cultural issues on top of that. ‘Don’t eat…’ This is easier said than done.” He realised that the struggles he was having were the same as those of thousands of others around the country.

So, Ativalu sees his role on the Advisory Council as a way to give back to Pasifika communities at the same time as keeping himself accountable. “Type 2 diabetes is rife in my Dad’s family. Dad’s mum passed away, Dad’s got it now, and I want to use this to motivate me to be better as a diabetic and be more responsible and accountable to myself and my family. My nephews – I’m doing it for them especially...

“I’m famous for getting into fads and diets. This time, I want to take the changes slowly, take my time with it, build it into a lifestyle. I’ve fallen off the wagon so many times, but this is a long-term commitment for me.”

He sees one of his key roles on the Advisory Council as being a connector, and he’s excited to see what he can contribute in the way of networks and resources. “I’m really enjoying being part of the Advisory Council – and learning more about the bigger picture when it comes to diabetes.”