Board and staff

John Prendergast - Chairperson

I have been Chief Executive of the Community Trust of Southland, since 1998.  We are a community owned philanthropic organisation that distributes $9-10m each year in grants for projects which will benefit the Southland community.
I went to primary school in Oamaru, boarding school in Auckland for intermediate, and spent all my secondary school years in Invercargill.
Some people have a "gap year" immediately after leaving school - I had 4 of them! - spending that time working in various roles. I then graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce.
I've worked for Coopers & Lybrand as a chartered accountant in Invercargill and overseas. I left public practice accountancy to work in industry, around the south Island, before returning to Invercargill in to take up my present role. I am still a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
The skills and interests I think I bring are a mixture of strong corporate

Outside of work my other current hats are:
-    Chair, Philanthropy New Zealand
-    Chair, St. Theresa's Parish Council
-    Chair, Rotary District Training Group
-    Trustee, Verdon College Board of Trustees
-    Trustee, St. Theresa's Primary School Board of Trustees
-    Justice of the Peace
-    Steering Group Member, Pathways to Partnership
-    Trustee, Otago/Southland Catholic Diocese Board of Management 

Kate Frykberg - Deputy Chair

Since 2005 I have been Executive Director of the Todd Foundation (www.toddfoundation.org.nz), a family foundation established in 1972 which focuses on funding for children, young people, their families and their communities.  
I am also active in philanthropy in my personal life, establishing the Thinktank Charitable Trust in 2003 after the sale of our family-owned Internet company.   I am chair of this trust, and we focus on funding that supports young children and their families.  This reflects my personal passion that every child should grow up in a family that is at least "good enough" and non-damaging.
My background includes a degree in English Literature and 20 years in the IT industry.  My previous role was Managing Director of The Web Limited, an internet company founded by my husband and me in 1995 which grew to 40 staff in two locations.  I continued to manage the company through its successful acquisition by KPMG Consulting in 2002.   While at The Web Limited I won the 2000 ASB Business Woman of the Year award and received a royal honour, the NZ Order of Merit for services to business and the community, in the same year.
I have been a volunteer all my adult life and currently help out with Refugee Services as a resettlement volunteer and with Changemakers Refugee Forum as an advisory board member.
I am married with three sons and in any time that remains after family, work and volunteering, I enjoy reading, attempting to play the piano and horse-riding.

Stuart Burns

I am Chief Executive of the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust. I first became involved with the Trust in 1994 as a Trustee. I stepped down as deputy chairman in 1995 to take up my current role.
After completing my secondary schooling in Rotorua I attended the University of Waikato and completed a Management Studies Degree. I am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
My Accountancy career enabled me to work in the Pacific Islands before returning to Rotorua in 1984. I have spent most of my life in Rotorua, and am passionate about the future wellbeing of the Rotorua District.
My skills are in the area of Trust management, administration and Investment where I am involved with the ongoing management of the Rotorua Trust investment portfolio.
I have a strong business focus and was recently appointed to the Board of NZX listed Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Limited
I have also been involved with a large number of sporting and community organisations and nationally have previously served as counselor for the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, secretary of Philanthropy New Zealand and national treasurer of the Ulysses Club of New Zealand.
In my spare time I ride and restore classic motorcycles, like to travel both in New Zealand and overseas and spend time with my wife Andrea, my children and granddaughter.

Jennifer Casey (BA LLB Dip Tchg)

I am a trustee of two charitable trusts. The Tindall Foundation was set up by Margaret and Stephen Tindall in 1994. Its programme areas include families and social services (which are the main focus), the environment, enterprise and employment, and support for the third sector.
The recently established Hikurangi Trust is a collaborative undertaking between The Tindall Foundation and The Todd Foundation to address risks posed by climate change, at the same time working to protect and improve our environment for the long term benefit of New Zealanders.
As a qualified lawyer, I have worked mostly in the legal environment. I was the National Information & Research Manager for a large law firm when I decided in 2005 on a change of focus. I continue to carry out legal research for a barrister.
My priority is to keep up to date with legal issues and identify those that may be of relevance to the Foundations I help govern, and the charitable sector in general.
I have a background in education as a teacher and in governance. I was a Board of Trustee member when "Tomorrow's Schools" was implemented, finishing as Chairperson.  In over 35 years of school, work, church and children's sports activities, I have developed a network of friends and contacts from all walks of life.
I am married with four adult children and have always been in the fortunate position of being able to put my family first when considering career options.
I have a particular desire to improve the future for New Zealand children through the social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing of families.  My interests in law and government provide insight as to how change can be brought about.

Helena Francis

I am chair of my Family Trust, the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust. I also Chair a sub trust called Lifepaths which is committed to promoting emotional resilience and reducing anxiety in young people.
I was born, raised, and educated in the Christchurch area, where I still live with my husband and two children.  After leaving school I worked in the family business, Nevele R Stud as equine veterinary assistant,  I am presently the Stud's Director.  I experienced life on campus at Canterbury briefly until injury and temporary disability put that to a stop, my majority of work experience is in sales and is related to human resources.
The priority of the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust and area of personal interest is issues around young people, particularly strengthening personal resources of young people to assist with transition into adulthood, and improving resilience.
 I most enjoy working alongside our youth advisory group and especially enjoy our youth leadership scholarship project because  I  get to spend some time with young people, our future leaders. Always fun and inspiring.

Jennifer Gill

I have been CEO of the ASB Community Trust since October 2004. Prior to working in the philanthropic sector I had a career in the voluntary sector that included working for CORSO, Presbyterian Support and the YWCA.
Be fore I joined the staff of ASB Community Trust. I was CEO of Fulbright New Zealand for ten years. During this time we significantly expanded the reach and range of the organisation, widening the funding base while developing and expanding the number of participants in the Fulbright and Ian Axford fellowship programmes.
My career in philanthropy began in 1985 when Sir Roy McKenzie appointed me as the executive officer of his personal foundation, the Roy McKenzie Foundation.  While working with Sir Roy McKenzie I was also appointed as a trustee of the J R McKenzie Trust, acting as Chair in 2003.
During this period in my working life I was a founding member of the board of the Wellington Regional Community Foundation which I chaired for five years, and worked with Sir Roy McKenzie on the establishment of the Funding Information Service and of Philanthropy New Zealand.
I have served on numerous non-profit, philanthropic and educational committees and boards at a community, national and international level in my personal and professional life.
I am in my second term as a member of the Philanthropy New Zealand Board having just completed a five year term as the Chair. I see value in promoting giving and have spoken and written widely about the role of philanthropy in society. I am currently a Trustee of two small grant making philanthropic trusts.

Iain Hines

Iain Hines has been the Executive Director the J R McKenzie Trust since 1997. Before that he was a social worker and manager in government and community agencies.

In 2002 he studied aspects of grantmaking in several European countries with the help of a Churchill Fellowship. Iain is happily married with four children.

Tyron Love Te Ati Awa (Te Whanganui-a-Tara)

I am a descendent of Te Ati Awa (Te Whanganui-a-tara). I trained as a primary school teacher in Wellington and upon graduation travelled to the UK where I taught for two years. I returned to New Zealand in 2002 to study management and was an assistant lecturer in the school of management at Massey University between 2004 and 2009. I am currently a full-time doctoral student studying corporate philanthropy through narrative theory at the University.

I am working with both Philanthropy New Zealand and Volunteering New Zealand to strengthen Māori communities through the promotion of generosity/giving in New Zealand. I believe that supporting Māori communities is about preserving a culture that all New Zealanders can identify with.

Ana Rolleston

At 29 years old, I currently manage the Ngāi Tahu Fund, whose mission is to strengthen Ngāi Tahu cultural excellence through sustainability, innovation and tenacity.
I have previously worked in the areas of education (total immersion), health and information promotion, web management (including graphic design), along with more recent roles working with Whai Rawa (a long-term savings investment scheme) and the Ngāi Tahu Fund.
My formal education is in Health Promotion; I am also working towards completing my Bachelor of Science and continue to work on my Te Reo Māori.
As a descendent of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāi Tahu, I am also passionate about all stands of Māori culture. This includes the ways in which philanthropy can support and strengthen Māori cultural enhancement and development. My other area of passion is around disparities and inequalities within the health and education sectors.
My strengths and areas of expertise include policy development, business planning, māori cultural development, web management and information technology (expertise in most applications, web development and graphic design software).

Alison Taylor (MSc, PhD)

I am   a Director of the Vodafone Foundation New Zealand, a philanthropic organisation which supports programmes in the youth sector and for young people with high and complex needs.
I've held a number of senior Public Health and Social Sector management and leadership roles in the UK and New Zealand over the last 20 years. My career began in Health Promotion, with specialties in Nutrition, Heart Disease Prevention, HIV and AIDS, Mental Health Promotion, Injury Prevention and Public Health Management in London.
After moving to New Zealand in 1996 to take up a role at North Health as a Public Health Manager, I became CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand in 1998, then the General Manager of the Ministry of Youth Development before setting up Sinclair Taylor Consulting with my partner in 2007, providing advice and support to the health and social sector.
My current areas of expertise and focus include Youth Health Sector and Workforce Development, Not for Profit organisation capacity development, coaching, service review and design, strategy and partnership development.

Paula Thompson BA,LLB.DIPBus/Admin(Management)

My professional background is in law and local government. I have practiced law and worked for 16 years in local government including six and a half years as CEO Tauranga District Council.
 On leaving my former 'life' in local government I established a management consultancy practice and have worked since 2002 on a wide range of projects. My passion is Strategic Planning and assisting organisations with planning and reviews to enable them to make the most of opportunities.
I have also established with my colleague Susan Devoy,a venture called" Wonder Walkers "which is an initiative aimed to support and women to walk because walking has so  many benefits. We believe walking is beneficial to well being, it is good for the environment and it is a way of showing support for many worthy social and community causes.
I am the current Chair of Bay Trust (Bay of Plenty Community Trust) I have been;
Chair and Trustee of Sport BOP
Member BOP District Health Board
Chair BOP Hospital Advisory Committee
And School Trustee, President Tauranga  Zonta, Member Tauranga SPCA, Arts Council, Facilitator Creative Communities, and sporting  and drama associations.
I like to contribute to organisational planning, particularly in the non-profit sector. I enjoy facilitation and open and humorous communication. I believe in the power of 'human kind' and want to work and contribute wherever possible to maximising the power of 'kindness'.I am constantly in awe of those people and organisations who work tirelessly for the benefit of others and want to contribute 'my bit'as best I can. 

Robyn Scott

Robyn joined Philanthropy NZ in 2003 after a varied career including sixteen years as a Primary school teacher and more recently after experience in the Not for profit sector in managing a small NFP organization.  She is actively involved with several not for profit organisations and enjoys the variety of work that running a small organization offers.

Robyn lives in Wellington with her husband and two school-aged children. She finds the world of philanthropy continually stimulating, challenging and thought provoking.

Jolly Fernandes

Jolly Fernandes is Philanthropy New Zealand's office manager. She does administrative/reception work for us and also for the JR McKenzie Trust and the Funding Information Service with whom we share our offices. In the spare time, Jolly spends her time outdoors in the garden and walking.

Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts works part-time for Philanthropy New Zealand managing communication and membership services. She has over 20 years experience in the media and communication field. Rachel is consistently inspired by the regular contact with our philanthropists and grantmaking members. She is married with two young children.