Real Life with John Cowan

Equip Mental Health Services is associated with Windsor Park Baptist Church and supports people who experience mental well-being issues. It provides a range of services to support people to move forward in their lives and holds contracts with the three Auckland Metro District Health Boards.

Naomi was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2020 New Year’s Honours for a lifetime of community work, youth work and service to mental health.

In the early years, she undertook leadership roles at Boys’ Brigade, fostering, Youth for Christ - where she became their first female director - and various ministries in the churches in which she has been involved.

In more recent years she has chaired the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education & Recreation Centre and presented parenting and relationship seminars with John. She is the chair of Platform Trust and currently leads the Global Leadership Network in New Zealand. She was also part of the national mental health response to COVID and led the team that fought for pay equity for community support workers.

Naomi and John have three children and a dog, Gromit.