US & International
AustraliaOur People
Fighting for freedom together.
Board Members
Child Rescue’s board members provide advice on policy, advocacy, fundraising and public relations.
Wendy Steele
Sales, Marketing & Media
Wendy jumped at the opportunity to serve on Child Rescue’s board after reading Christian author Daniel Walker’s book titled God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey Into Sex Trafficking And Rescue.
Wendy is passionate about helping those in need and was part of Global Poverty Project in Auckland for many years. She has plenty of experience in marketing, media and event management having previously worked in travel, hotel, not-for-profit and media sectors. She is also a director of the Intermedia Group, a publishing company that specialises in business-to-business publications and events.
In her spare time, Wendy enjoys cooking, gardening and sewing.
Jonathan Watts
Pastoral & Business
In early 2017, Jonathan joined our board after following Child Rescue’s growth and impact for a few years.
He has a wealth of corporate knowledge from years in the travel industry, including a role as senior management at House of Travel and Air New Zealand Holidays. Jonathan has also served as an elder, preacher and worship leader at Northcross Community Church in Auckland. Today, he owns and runs a mortgage broker business.
He desires to see Child Rescue functioning at full capacity, doing all it can to spread its message to New Zealanders and inspire them to help free children worldwide.
Jonathan lives in Auckland with his wife, Jodine. He has three adult sons. In his spare time, you will find him drinking coffee or halfway between Takapuna Beach and Rangitoto Island on his kayak.
JD
Operations
In 2012, JD handed in his landscaping business and joined us as a volunteer in Thailand and Mozambique.
He worked in many roles after then, including second-in-command for rescue missions in Thailand. He also managed and trained baristas at a Destiny Rescue-owned café in Thailand where our rescued girls used to work to gain employment skills and experience.
Before moving back to New Zealand in late 2015, he served as director of international operations which included project start-up and oversight, victim rescue operations, security risk management and intelligence gathering.
Steven Perich
Finance & Accounting
Steven Perich founded his own accounting firm Perich & Co Ltd in December 2020 after managing his first company Eden Perich Prewett for 21 years.
Steven has been operating in the NFP sector for all of his career, ranging from creative arts to churches and teaching ministries. Steven is passionate about seeing not-for-profit organisations thrive, with a particular focus on immaculately-managed financial processes.
Steven is married to Catherine Perich, who is involved in pastoral ministry in West Auckland. They have four adult children, and enjoy hosting people at their lifestyle property in Oratia.
Steven and Catherine took their four children to experience a different culture for twelve months when they worked at a missionary school in Chiangmai Thailand. They are both passionate about seeing all people in all cultures free from all kinds of oppression.
Our Team
Is united in the fight to end child sex trafficking and exploitation
Louisa Welsh
Donor Care
Born in the Solomon Islands, Louisa has lived in NZ from age nine, with stints working in Sydney and London. An accounting graduate and former teacher, she wants a bright future for children caught in trafficking and abuse. A presenter for Launchpad she loves relating to children.
Passionate about the great outdoors, she particularly enjoys swimming in oceans and lakes, hiking, cycling, kayaking and boating. Music plays a big part in her life – singing, piano, guitar and saxophone.
Tony Steele
Events and Marketing
Tony loves to hear the stories of children being set free from human trafficking and child slavery and being a part of an amazing team. His role in Child Rescue is technical support and digital marketing.
Tony has a wife, and we have 3 awesome children, Christopher, Caitlin and Amy.
He enjoys spending time with my family and friends, studying and discussing the wonderfulness of God, watching sci fi and playing with technology. Tony is currently studying at Bethlehem Tertiary Institute.