The power of two - CHARITY QUEENS’ NEW MISSION

After a family tragedy, business whiz Theresa and her sister Angela are committed to changing lives

- Nicky Pellegrino

In the business world and her charity work, Theresa Gattung is a powerhouse, a woman who makes things happen. So, when her much-loved father John was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer, it was tough for Theresa to accept there was nothing she could do.

The very next day New Zealand went into its first national lockdown and, sitting in her favourite chair at her beach house in Waihi, Theresa was left with time to think. She might not be able to change things for her father, but was there more she could do to improve life for others?

“That whole period was a difficult time,” she recalls. “But throughout it, I was thinking about how I could make a really profound impact with my money, my time and my energies.”

Since her very first paycheck, Theresa, 60, has donated money to charities, and the former Telecom CEO has since played an active role in organisations that inspire and advance women and help animals – the two causes she is most passionate about. Now she wanted to take things to the next level and create her own charitable foundation.

“I knew I couldn’t do it by myself,” she explains. “I burnt out in 2018 because I was doing too much, and besides, I don’t have all the necessary skills.”

Theresa turned to her younger sister Angela, who with her background in education and charity work, was the ideal person to join forces with.