Board

I am Hamilton born and raised. After receiving the benefit of Dufty Wilson’s teaching I left Hamilton Boys’ High in 1959 and started studying accountancy. Once qualified and in 1965 I joined the Hamilton firm of Bindon, Champion and Fraser and was admitted as a partner in 1968. I practiced with that firm and its successors for 36 years, now under the name of Staples Rodway, and during that time was its managing partner for 12 years. I tutored in Cost and Management Accounting and WTI, a term as President of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, on the Board of the national accounting firm Ernst & Young, an inaugural Trustee of the Waikato Medical Foundation, a term as President of Yachting New Zealand, the sports authority and made a Life Member of the Hamilton Yacht Club, as well as raising 3 children.

About the end of 1995, Fletcher Residential, the owners of Alandale decided to sell the village and approached the residents. Early in 1996 I received a call from Peter Sanders (manager) and Graham Hobson (resident) to help decide on a course of action given the residents were not prepared to purchase outright but did not want the village to fall into “commercial” hands. We looked at various scenarios before deciding on the present structure of a charitable trust after successfully negotiating with Fletchers and Countrywide Bank. I was appointed Treasurer by the new Board of Alandale and succeeded Jim Grace upon his retirement from it. I am currently its Deputy Chairman. Now semi -retired, along with Angela we enjoy golf, sailing, travel and grandchildren. I however continue to consult back to Staples Rodway to keep my mind active.
 

I am delighted to be included in the Alandale team and one of the custodians of this beautiful Village.  An independent Director and Trustee of Alandale since 2014, I find my values and beliefs about the Village are still aligned and grow stronger as I understand its attractions and compare these with what’s available in the expanding retirement sector. 

After 25 years working as a specialist veterinarian including eight years as executive director of a biotechnology company taken from start-up to sale, it was time to pursue other goals. Already an active equities and property investor, I am using my business and investment skills in governance in both not for profit and commercial sectors. With husband Jeff, and son Christopher we enjoy a beach house at Whangamata, water skiing on the Waikato River and good company. 

 

I was appointed as the Treasurer by the Board in 2003, as the successor to Brian Smith upon his appointment to the Board and I have loved every year of my involvement with the Village!  I am Hamilton born and raised and started my accounting career in 1994  as a graduate with the firm that was then known as Ernst & Young, now Staples Rodway.  After 6 years of hard work and dedication I took the leap from employee to employer and become a Director of the firm in 2001. 10 years later the time was right for another challenge, so I stepped into the position of Managing Director for the firm in 2011.  With a blended role of leading and inspiring the Staples Rodway team to be the best that they can be and working closely with clients of the firm to be the “sounding board” for their own businesses, there is always an opportunity to make a difference in some way. 
 
I am also a Trustee for two other local charitable organisations, Waikato Medical Research Foundation and Balloons Over Waikato.  I have a love for all styles of dance, having spent many years in dance classes as a kid and teaching both Jazz and Tap for many years in the past.  I also enjoy being active, with my current favourite activities being Yoga and running up the Hakarimata Stairs.   
 

Living back in my home neighbourhood after two decades living in Dunedin and Auckland, I run an advisory business with a focus on business growth and development, with specialist skills in marketing, funding and governance. My background as a marketing and management specialist started at TVNZ, then moved to Adidas New Zealand as Marketing Manager and have now had my own consultancy for over 12 years working with a range of visionary businesses and projects including private entity, Trusts and Charities.

I'm an Independent Director for Rowing New Zealand, an Independent Director for Tidd Ross Todd Limited and continue working with advisory clients focused on navigating them to growth.  My passions are shared with my young daughter Lily  - we both love show jumping our horses and enjoying our two and half acre block near Cambridge as well as getting out on the many walking and running trails around the region.
 

I am passionate about governance, property, sustainability and building communities. With 12 years of board experience and over 20 years of senior management experience in the property industry, I have a deep understanding of the risks and rewards of the industry. I am a member of the Institute of Directors and have a Masters of Business Administration from Massey University.

Experience has taught me that having a long term focus drives the best outcome and returns for shareholders as well as delivering the best outcome for the built environment and the community. I have an extensive network of business and property relationships and am currently a Property Development Manager for Auckland International Airport. Current directorships include the Lake House Arts Trust in Takapuna, Auckland and the New Zealand Green Building Council.

I was born in Hamilton and attended Horsham Downs Primary School. I now have 4 children and live on Auckland’s North Shore but my memories of growing up in the Waikato are very strong which is where my interest in becoming involved with Alandale retirement village started. This is a unique community offering the benefit of freehold titles in one of the best parts of Hamilton nestled on the banks of the Waikato River. I am pleased to be part of the dedicated board looking to protect and enhance this wonderful development.

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.

 

Before I came to live at Alandale I had a wide and varied career including being a Mum to two boys (now adults with their own children), farming and working for Radio New Zealand where I ended up as Accounts Manager. This was followed by Administration Manager for Arthur Young Accountants, then a position of Administration and Finance Manager for the YWCA. I then spent time on both the YMCA and YWCA Boards.
 
During this time I also managed our own property portfolio, including overseeing some commercial developments. I have lived at Alandale for 10 years and feel that the time is right to put something back into the village as a Resident Trustee.
 

I am a retired secondary mathematics teacher with a special interest in those students who struggle with learning.

Since arriving in Alandale Village in 2014 I have become very involved in many aspects of village life, especially the Art and Craft Group, and when I began to show an interest in village governance, I was asked to stand for the Trust Board.

I am enjoying the task of being involved in the governing of the village with its varied and complex issues.

I have spent the last 57 Years involved in the construction industry, mostly in the supervision of
multi-storied building construction and a full range of housing.

I was a contract Assessor for the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment for many years to assess New Zealand builders for their licenses. I have been involved in the construction of three retirement villages in Auckland and Mt Maunganui. After volunteer work I have been involved in extensive construction work for the Woman’s Refuge in Hamilton. 

After looking at many Auckland villages I moved to Alandale 5 years ago to be closer to family and because of its connection to the Waikato river and all the associated river walking and biking tracks, added to this, the model of buying and selling your own unit on the open market appealed to my wife and myself. The social life and facilities are all superb. I look forward to playing my part on the board as a trustee and Director to help enhance the village to new heights.