2006-2007 Executive Committee

Wade Downey; North Shore - PresidentWade Downey; North Shore - President

I have been in the funeral industry since 1987 and joined the NZEA in 1991.

My first 6 years were spent running the mortuary of one of New Zealand's larger funeral companies, giving me valued experience in all aspects of the embalming.

Following my first 6 years there I had a further 6 years with them in a position of Funeral Director/Embalmer, and have now settled into Dil's Funeral Services on the North Shore of Auckland, where I am also Manager.

I believe the benefit of continuing and maintaining the high standards of both the industry relations and the education that the NZEA is able to provide its members is something that makes the NZEA such a special organisation to be involved in. I value the forward moving direction of the NZEA and for me it is a pleasure to be a part of the driving force behind that movement.

I am married to Michelle and we live on the Hibiscus Coast with our two sons, Kellin and Jordan and our daughter Brie.



Barry Holmwood; Nelson - TreasurerBarry Holmwood; Nelson - Treasurer

I began my funeral service career in 1985 at Shone & Shirley Ltd in Nelson. I left there in 1990 after five years as I needed a change, to return to my trade as a qualified timber machinist.

I moved back into the timber industry to gain my advanced 2nd qualification within that industry. I was there for 13 years. I then had the opportunity to return to the funeral service industry in 2003 at Marsden House Funeral Services, Nelson.

I graduated from the Weltec Embalmers Course in 2005, followed by the Funeral Directors Course in 2006. I graduated from the embalmers course obtaining the Noel McNee Award and gained the National Diploma in Funeral Service in 2006. I have been a member of NZEA from 2004.

I am proud to be involved in the funeral service industry, both embalming and funeral directing, as I feel they both play an important role in helping and assisting the needs of the families and communities in which we serve.

I am married to Evelyn and live in Richmond, Nelson with our two daughters Hollyrose and Annakate, and our small dog Lou.

Outside of work I enjoy working on classic cars and bikes, spending time in my garage fixing or building different types of projects in and around the house, and spending time with my family.



Andrew Ellis; Christchurch - SecretaryAndrew Ellis; Christchurch - Secretary

I started my career with John Rhind Funeral Directors of Christchurch in 1996. I qualified as an embalmer from CIT, Upper Hutt 2001, and now I am funeral directing as well as embalming. I was elected to the New Zealand Embalmers Association Executive at the end of 2005 as one of its Executive Members. Elected Secretary in November of 2006.

I am married to Natasha and my children are Carly, Jayden, and Emma.

When not on call, or at work I enjoy playing cricket, pounding the pavement with our dog, and spending time with my family.



Cameron Moray-Smith; South Taranaki - Executive MemberCameron Moray-Smith; South Taranaki - Executive Member

I began my funeral service career in 1998 working in and around the Wellington region for most of the time since. My professional career (and indeed me life) took a big turn when I was 'lured' across to the West Island of New Zealand (aka Australia) in the later part of 2006; After only two years in Australia I had to come home for family.

I attended CIT in Upper Hutt in 2000 completing my National Certificate in Embalming and then more recently I attended the Wellington Institute of Technology completing the National Certificate in Funeral Directing and National Diploma of Funeral Service in 2004; in which I received the FDANZ award for Top Student 2004.

I have been involved with NZEA since 2000 when I became a student member, followed by full membership in 2002. In May 2004 I assumed the role of Website Coordinator for the NZEA; a role which I still continue to work away at today. In November 2004 I was elected to the executive committee, and in November 2005 was elected to the position of NZEA Secretary. Due to my move to Australia I had to step down from my role as Association secretary in November 2006. At this time I felt that I still had much to contribute to the NZEA and as such I stood for the position of Executive Member.

I have a very real passion for my chosen vocation and being a part of this amazing organization is something that I hold very dear. I see my role within the funeral industry as being very important, and as such I involve myself in not only the operational aspects of the NZEA but also in the ongoing training and education of our upcoming generations of embalmers.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time keeping fit and active through cycling, squash and also on the golf course.



Paolo Guglietta; Dunedin - Executive MemberPaolo Guglietta; Dunedin - Executive Member

After work experience through school I entered the industry in 1989 as a trainee embalmer and FD's assistant with Geoffrey Hall Funeral Services in Rangiora. In 1993 I graduated from the CIT with the Award in Embalming.
From 1994 I moved to Australia and spent the first year with KM Smith in Brisbane, then moved south to Melbourne joining a team of 6 full time embalmers within the Tobin Brothers network. During this time I traveled throughout Britain and spent 3 months with a Trade Embalming firm in Liverpool.

Returning to New Zealand in 2002, I was employed by Hope and Sons in Dunedin where I continued with mortuary duties for 2 years. I then became self employed offering an embalming service to several funeral companies throughout Otago and Southland. Recently I have returned to a fulltime position with the team at Gillions in Dunedin.

Over the past 5 years I have been involved with mentoring and supervising student and trainee embalmers, which I've found very rewarding.

I am married to Emma who works at the hospital in Dunedin. One hobby of mine involves preservation of a different nature, including pickling, drying and bottling of fruit, vegetables and meats.



Executive Appointments 2007-2008

  • Almoner
    • Paolo Guglietta
  • Auditor
    • Dennis Blank
  • Disaster Response
    • Simon Manning
  • FuneralCare Representatives
    • Brendan Jacobson
    • Fraser Stewart
  • FSTT Representatives
    • John Schipper
    • Simon Manning
  • Practical Examiners
    • John Peryer (Chief Examiner)
    • Gavin Murphy
    • Rod Demler
    • Mark Pattinson
    • Adrienne Foley (Australia based NZEA International Examiner)
  • Trustees
    • Michael Wolffram
    • Barrie Head
  • Website Administrator
    • Cameron Moray-Smith
New Zealand Embalmers Association. 19a London Street, Christchurch, Email: executive@nzembalmers.org.nz