Meet our devoted executive members

Joanne Piper (Awd. Emb, NZ Dip. FD)Treasurer
Joanne studied at the Central Institute of Technology, Trentham in 1985 and after 33 years Jo is still passionate about
embalming. Jo has devoted a significant amount of time writing to the government to request the regulation and registration
of embalmers for much longer than her time as an executive member.
embalming. Jo has devoted a significant amount of time writing to the government to request the regulation and registration
of embalmers for much longer than her time as an executive member.

Kirsty Mehrtens (Nat. Dip Emb, NZ Dip. FD)Secretary
Kirsty has been a member of the New Zealand Embalmers Association since 2011 as a newbie student and understands
how education is of fundamental importance to the families that we serve. Voted onto the executive in 2020 I am also a
representative on the editorial board of Funeralcare
how education is of fundamental importance to the families that we serve. Voted onto the executive in 2020 I am also a
representative on the editorial board of Funeralcare

Jo Renner (Awd. Emb)Executive Member and Training Co-ordinator
Jo joined the funeral industry in 1997 and attended CIT (in 1999) to study the award in embalming, this was the last class of the ’20th century’.
After over 20 years in the funeral industry, Jo has been honoured to look after many family’s loved ones and she knows the importance of our role.
Jo has always enjoyed seminars, learning new skills, and sharing knowledge with fellow embalmers.
After over 20 years in the funeral industry, Jo has been honoured to look after many family’s loved ones and she knows the importance of our role.
Jo has always enjoyed seminars, learning new skills, and sharing knowledge with fellow embalmers.

Keith Smith (BA (hons), Nat. Dip Emb)Executive Member
My pathway to the funeral industry started about 18 years ago after gaining a BA(hons) from Otago University. Upon completion I realized I had never really contemplated what I wanted to do as a career.
I have currently been in the funeral industry for a total of 17.5 years. The first 2.5 years as a Funeral Director/Assistant and the remaining 15 years solely focused on the mortuary aspect of the industry.