For nearly 19 years, John Miller has served as Board Secretary for ADHD NZ, contributing his time, expertise, and leadership to support the ADHD community across Aotearoa. 

Over that time, ADHD NZ has evolved significantly, shaped by dedicated volunteers bringing diverse skills and perspectives. For John, what keeps him going is seeing the real impact of that collective effort. “The reach is very humbling,” he says. “I get a lot of satisfaction from that.” 

Alongside ADHD NZ, John volunteers across several organisations, including the AS/NZS Joint Standards Committee, Engineering NZ Practice Area Assessor, and Howick Baptist Church. 

John is especially proud that ADHD NZ has continued to represent the ADHD community while growing its voice and influence. He reflects that ADHD NZ is contributing to changes in Government policy, supported by strong relationships across agencies, sector leaders, and the community itself. 

ADHD NZ has been fortunate to have the right people in the right place and at the right time. Volunteering can be about long-term commitments but can also be about contributing at a crucial moment.  

Volunteering with ADHD NZ has also offered balance to his technical career, connecting him with people from different backgrounds and broadening his perspective. 

“I’m proud of the volunteer work I do for ADHD NZ.” 

“I think we underestimate the resources needed to utilise volunteers. We have to invest a lot of time and effort to make opportunities for volunteers and match [them] up. I don’t think we are short of volunteers, but need to have the ability to use the volunteer resources being offered.”  

For more information about our people at ADHD NZ, please visit our about us page.   

This article has been made possible by support from the Volunteering New Zealand IVY 2026 Celebration Activation Programme grant.