Executive Leadership Team

Denise Cosgrove

Chief Executive

Denise has a leadership career spanning more than 30 years with significant CEO experience leading large, complex operational businesses focused on social and commercial outcomes in the government and not-for-profit sectors in both New Zealand and Australia. Most recently CEO of Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) for the past five years Denise was responsible for the provision of social and health and disability services in the upper North Island under the brands of Lifeline, Shine, Family Works and Enliven. Her earlier career has included roles as Chief Executive of the Victorian Work Cover Authority in Australia, General Manager (Claims Management and People & Business Services) at ACC, Assistant Auditor General (Strategy) at the Office of the Auditor-General and General Manager (Organisational Development and Communications) at Housing New Zealand Limited. In addition to serving as a Board member with a number of NGO and social enterprise organisations, Denise supports New Zealand’s contemporary art and design sector, especially new and emerging talent.

Liz Gibbs

Chief of Social Impact

Liz has been a major figure in Aotearoa New Zealand’s philanthropy and fundraising sphere for over twenty years. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was Group Head of Philanthropy at Perpetual Guardian and a member of their Group Executive Team. Her impressive career to date has also included senior roles with The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Save the Children New Zealand, Philanthropy New Zealand and the Plunket Society. In addition, she has been involved in advising senior Government Ministers and officials on a wide range of innovative social investment, social enterprise strategy and social development issues.

Liz is passionate about helping not-for-profits achieve their charitable goals through philanthropy and fundraising and has very strong values around giving back to the community. Liz has extensive governance experience and currently serves as a Director of Givealittle and Trustee for UNICEF’s Children’s Foundation and the Education Partnership and Innovation Trust. 

Jason More

Chief Operating Officer

Jason began his career in chartered accountancy in New Zealand, before moving to the United Kingdom, where he worked for eleven years across a variety of sectors. He returned to New Zealand in 2011 and began his retirement village career by joining Vision Senior Living as acting Chief Financial Officer with a focus on the recapitalisation of the group. When Metlifecare acquired Vision (along with Private Life Care), Jason worked on the financial integration of the entities. In 2013 he joined The Selwyn Foundation and was appointed Chief Financial Officer. At Selwyn, Jason has responsibility for the finance function along with treasury, legal and non-retirement village commercial operations. He is also heavily involved in setting and delivering on group strategy. At Selwyn, he has led a number of key strategic projects including formation of the Haumaru Housing joint venture with Auckland Council and the acquisition of Sprott Village in Wellington. He has provided advice and undertaken strategic reviews for other retirement village operators in the charitable sector. Jason was co-opted to the RVA Executive in February 2020.

The Reverend Caroline Leys

Director, Spirituality

Since ordination as an Anglican priest in 1990 Caroline has worked in private practice as a therapist, facilitator, trainer, educator, and strategic thinker in ministry and business development. As Director of Spirituality with The Selwyn Foundation since 2019, Caroline is responsible for the development and refinement of Selwyn’s operational expression of Faith and Tikanga, which is written into our Constitution and is the basis for all that we do and exist for as an organisation. Caroline also leads our strategic development of the spiritual wellbeing dimension of The Selwyn Way — our approach to the care and wellbeing of all who connect with us. Spirituality is embedded and made accessible across everything we do as a charity. Chaplains are present at Selwyn Village and continue at the villages now transferred into the ownership of Metlifecare.  The Selwyn Way informs our community services offered in partnership with parishes in the Dioceses of Auckland and Waikato, and Hui Amorangi o Te Tai Tokerau; as well as education and knowledge exchange for staff, older people and their families.