Meet the Team

Marsha Mackie - Head of Youth and Type 1

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Marsha and I’m the Head of Youth and Type 1. My role is to support, guide and
lead the hardworking team of Youth and Type 1 Coordinators across Aotearoa.
Together we work to connect, empower and support people living with type 1 and their whānau.

Best part of the job?

There’s lots of variety in my job which I love. Rarely are two days the same and often I find myself immersed in a project that I couldn’t have foreseen at the beginning of the year. I also love leading a team of people who are passionate about what they do and genuinely care about the communities they support.

A moment that's stuck with you?

A few years ago I attended the Live Brave Mana Ora summer camp in Auckland. One of the campers was incredibly homesick, and watching the Diabetes New Zealand Youth Coordinator, clinicians and youth leaders support him with such compassion and encouragement was something I’ll never forget. Over the course of the camp, his confidence grew so much that by the end he seemed like a completely different kid. Since then I’ve seen the boy’s name come up in subsequent camp registration lists, and I always smile knowing
how far he’s come.

Every camp has young people who struggle with homesickness, and whenever I hear the stories, I think back to the little boy. It reminds me that despite the initial discomfort, many of these children will have some of the best and most empowering days of their lives at one of our camps. It fills me with pride, knowing we can have such a positive impact on youth with type 1 and their whānau.

Go-to pump up song right now?

Fever Dream by Alex Warren, though I’ve heard it so much now I’m almost ready for something fresh.

What are you into outside of work?

I weight train 5 days a week and on weekends I like to get in the garden, go for a hike or let my creative juices flow in my art studio.

What does living brave mean to you?

My personal moto is “fortune favours the brave”. It’s served me well both personally and professionally and reminds me that fear is often just a mindset. When I confront the things that scare me, or even just make me nervous, I almost always find it pays off.
To me, living brave is about backing myself, embracing uncertainty, and taking action even when I don’t feel completely ready. Some of my biggest opportunities and greatest growth have come from stepping out of my comfort zone and choosing courage over comfort. More often than not, the rewards on the other side of fear are far greater than the fear itself.