Board

Since moving from Christchurch to Hamilton in 2008 to take up the role of Principal at Waikato Diocesan School, I have been an enthusiastic advocate of the city. I enjoy its natural environment, the active lifestyle it offers and the exciting growth and development that is increasingly evident. Nine years of leading the Dio community has also confirmed for me the importance of community engagement to personal purpose and wellbeing. For these reasons, I felt an immediate affinity with the purpose of the Alandale Foundation and look forward to utilising my governance, executive and property development skills and experience for the benefit of the village. I am committed to preserving and enhancing Alandale’s exceptional environment, first-rate facilities and vibrant community spirit and I support the philosophy which allows residents the independence of owning their own homes while also enjoying the security, opportunities and companionship of the village lifestyle.

In 2017 I relinquished the Principal’s role and my husband and I have valued the flexibility this affords us to visit our children overseas and to become more involved in the wider Waikato community. I am currently on the boards of Trust Waikato and the Perry Outdoor Education Trust and I find governance in the not for profit sector to be particularly satisfying. I am also a member of the Institute of Directors and a contractor with the NZ School Trustees Association, providing professional development in governance to school boards.

 

I was born in Morrinsville and have spent most of my life in Hamilton, completing my primary, secondary and tertiary education in Hamilton. 

I am a director of Braithwaite and Pearks Limited, a Chartered Accounting firm in central Hamilton with clients ranging from large corporates to small sole traders.  I am a fully qualified chartered accountant (NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants) and have successfully completed the Company Directors Course with the Institute of Directors.  This, along with my governance experience has given me comprehensive experience in financial and risk management and an understanding of the role, duties, skills and knowledge required by directors.  

Currently I am on the Board, and am Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, for both Hospice Waikato and NZ National Fieldays Society Inc.  I have only recently retired from the Board of Waikato Diocesan School for Girls after nearly 11 years.  I am passionate about governance and find governance in the not for profit sector fulfilling.  I believe it is important to be involved with organisations where your values and beliefs align.  This is particularly what attracted me to Alandale and I fully support the philosophy of independent living of the residents while still being part of a vibrant and active community lifestyle.

 

 

It was an easy decision in 2022, for Mary and I to take up the "Easy Living By The River" lifestyle that Alandale offers.  The genuine village feel and layout; the beautifully maintained grounds; the great facilities on offer; the sense of security; the ownership model, and of course the villa we chose, continually reinforce that we made the right choice.  While we both have busy lives outside the village centred on family and our respective sporting interests, we have met and developed friendships with a number of residents who share the same perceptions.

My working life has given me a skill set that I believe will help me to fulfil the role of Resident Trustee.  I was involved in education for 20 years serving much of that time as a rural school principal and as deputy principal and long-term acting principal of an inner-city Hamilton school.

I also worked for 27 years in senior management roles with Livestock Improvement, the largest dairy herd improvement farmer cooperative in New Zealand and a world leader in dairy genetics.  The staff management, farmer relations, strategic planning, and governance roles I held, are I believe, directly applicable to the role.

My focus will be to ensure that there continues to be alignment between the interests of residents and strategic direction of the Board.  I want to see Alandale adapt and innovate as required, to remain the village of choice in the Waikato.

 

Helen and I moved into Alandale Retirement Village in 2017.  We have enjoyed living in the village and have made a number of friendships as well as maintaining relationships with friends, family and organisations outside the Village.  We have found Alandale to be a friendly, safe, supportive community in which to spend our active retirement years.

I worked for over 55 years in the building industry in a number of general  management roles including responsibilities as a Board Member.  My practical skills were focused on timber processing, manufacturing and development, housing construction, general  building materials, marketing and retailing.

My objective as a Resident Trustee on the Alandale Board is to represent the best interests of the residents and the strategic future development of the Village.  Also to encourage open and frank communication between the residents, management and the Board of Trustees and to add my personal experience and knowledge to the considerable expertise that already exists with my fellow Board members.

.