The Kiwi Families Team
All of the Kiwi Families team are parents who come from impressive professional backgrounds. We've built this team with a view to ensuring that they are real assets to you - as a parent of a New Zealand family. Our team is made up of mums and dads who have been in professional roles, but who now choose to combine part-time work with raising children in order to have some work-life balance. They are all passionate parents who are working hard at being better mums, dads, guardians and mentors.
Please find their profiles below. We're sure you'll find it useful to put faces to the names behind both the website and our communications with you.
Kerry Burridge - Editor
Coming late to motherhood, Kerry decided to take the fast-track approach, giving birth to three kids in three years before she turned 40! With the help of her wonderful partner, Ian, she has managed to keep her career going at the same time.
Kerry loves a mental challenge, and has a considerable list of achievements to her name. She has completed three business degrees, lectured in the Faculty of Business at AUT for 10 years, written a textbook on banking, been the Economic Advisor to the Government of Niue, and successfully run her own construction company. In this most recent role she built up a small Tauranga business to a peak of 28 staff and multi-million dollar turnover.
She has found establishing Kiwi Families enormously stimulating as it enables her to combine a love of business with her passion for parenting.
When not working, Kerry loves spending time with Abby (8), Liam (7), Sam (5) and Ian on their lifestyle block in Tauranga.
Kathy Fray - Reg. Midwife:- Pregnancy, Childbirth, Newborns
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Kathy Fray has a very colourful background --- read about Kathy on her own website www.kathyfray.com --- an ex-Hippy on LSD, now mother of three, managing director of BabyOK™ Products (creators of the unique Babe-Sleeper infant cot secure), registered midwife, keynote speaker, prolific writer for numerous publications, and author of the hugely popular "OH BABY... Birth, Babies & Motherhood Uncensored".
Susie Brebner - Topic Manager Travel
Susie joins the Kiwi Families team bringing with her a wealth of travel knowledge and experience. Married to Scott, the couple has two children, Holly (8) and Max (5).
She has an extensive background of 18 years within the travel industry, including operating her own travel consultancy business and working as a senior travel and tour consultant in both Tauranga and Auckland. Susie has managed travel agency branches, as well as the Australian division of a wholesale travel company.
Susie is a "people person" who excels in building relationships and delivering first class service to clients. She is passionate about parenting, and has even run antenatal tours through North Shore Hospital for soon-to-be parents!
Her Kiwi Families role includes managing the Travel section, as well as working closely with Justine to look after our advertisers.
eRiQ Quaadgras - Creative Director
eRiQ is an Imagineer, living in Omokoroa. A freelance illustrator, cartoonist, graphic artist, digital photographer and director of multi-media design company X-StatiQ.
When eRiQ is not busy creating, drawing and surfing the web he loves to spend time with his wife Debra and 11 year old son Quentin of whom he is very proud.
As well as creating the graphics for the site, eRiQ has a particular involvement in the Entertainment section. He has always had a passion for movies, having subscribed to the Empire magazine since 1990. He has written articles for local newspapers, magazines and e-newsletters and is always searching for new ideas on the internet.
eRiQ’s mottos are “if it can be conceived it can be achieved” and “live life with passion”. He believes that Kiwi Families incorporates both of these mottos. He is delighted to be a part of this exciting project that he believes is going to be of benefit to thousands of Kiwi Families.
Debra Quaadgras - Administrator
Debra lives in Omokoroa with her husband eRiQ and together they are the driving force behind X-StatiQ Multi Media Design. She has an extensive background in secretarial / administration work and gets a lot of satisfaction from helping others. She is the dynamo who keeps Kiwi Families running smoothly behind the scenes.
When Debra is not working she loves to watch movies or relax with a good book. She also makes sure there is quality time spent with the family, whether it be watching a good movie together, taking a walk along the beach or spending time with friends. Debra is step-mum to Quentin (11) and thoroughly enjoys the time they spend as a family.
Debra shares the same motto as her husband “if it can be conceived it can be achieved”. She is delighted to be a part of the Kiwi Families team and share in the journey with others who have the same drive and passion.
Ian McWilliam - Sales Director
Ian wears several hats and juggles several balls all at one time. When not being "primary care giver" to 3 primary schoolers, chief cook & bottle-washer, and after-school "taxi-driver", Ian helps out as "chief sub-editor" and Sales Director for Kiwi Families.
The Kiwi Families website enables Ian to combine two passions in life --- a love of words and a love of helping other people, whether it be Kerry, the children, Support Groups, or advertisers.
The variety of roles results in a hectic and stimulating environment, always with lots of things on the go, which is quite a challenge for a bloke with a past motto of "one thing at a time"!