Deputy Presiding Member

I am privileged to be on the WGHS Board and look forward to continuing in my role as Deputy Presiding Member to work with the existing and new members to build upon the great work that the previous board achieved. I have lived on the North Shore ever since my wife and I emigrated from the UK in 2004. I have two daughters at the school.

I have a Master’s degree in International Security and a Bachelor’s degree in Business, majoring in Human Resource Management.

My policing career started in the Metropolitan Police in London, and for the last 15 years, I have worked for the NZ Police where I am the Waitākere Area Commander. This involves working closely with our community, key government stakeholders, non-government organisations and private businesses. I am committed to delivering successful outcomes for our community.

I am a keen golfer, cricketer and footballer and currently play for local teams. I am also a qualified cricket coach and coach my daughter’s U16’s club cricket team.

I bring a diverse set of skills to the Board, and I will utilise my knowledge and experience effectively. As a leader working in a senior managerial position for several years, I have substantial experience in empowering teams to achieve desired goals. I have a pragmatic approach and my experience working in the police allows me to view issues with a broad perspective and find solutions to complex situations. Staff and student wellbeing is a crucial focus area to ensure our school reaches its potential.

Co-opted Member

I am grateful for the privilege of representing parents on the WGHS Board. I was first voted to the position in 2019 and then again in 2022, which means I have been around longer than Covid!  I do my best to help steer the school to meet the needs of ALL students. My daughter Delilah (Y11 in 2024) is currently at Westlake Girls High School, and her sisters Abigail and Frederika are ‘old girls’ now studying at Otago Uni.

I am constantly impressed by the various opportunities available to the young women of Westlake Girls and the way they are encouraged to stand up for themselves and what they believe in, guiding them to develop as strong, independent women. I believe social media distractions and misinformation need to be offset by real-life interactions, building positive relationships, and mindful perspectives to better prepare our daughters for the future.

I have served on Boards at three of the four levels of our local Community of Learning, Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke. I spent six years on Takapuna Primary School and Takapuna Normal Intermediate’s Board of Trustees. That means I have worked with five principals and Boards previously.

Our local area’s skyscape and potential population are rapidly changing, putting pressure on our already stretched resources. I have seen the challenges of attracting and retaining great teaching staff to our school, but I believe we have a great team and will continue to improve.

I currently run Appliance Outlet (the real one) and WhitewAir Servicing in Botany, with approximately 20 staff who sell and service new and refurbished appliances. I have broad experience in operations and managing people.

I am a qualified accountant. I have been on the finance committees of all school boards I have served on (including WGHS) bringing financial expertise to the board table. I also offer a dad’s perspective, much to my daughters’ delight!

Member

Originally from Taupō, I have lived in Birkenhead for the last 14 years, where my daughter Lucy is Year 9 at WLGH. My wife and I also have a son at Northcote Intermediate and five-year-old twin girls at Birkenhead Primary.

I am honoured to serve on the school board and hope to make an impactful contribution to the staff, students, whānau and WLGH community. I hope this role will also offer some helpful insight into parenting teenage girls!

I was a member of the Birkenhead Primary School board for six and a half years, serving a year as Chair.  I am passionate about student achievement and positive school culture.

I completed an LLB/BCA at Victoria University and am a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. After a short time in Tax consultancy, I spent 17 years in the telco industry in various property, procurement, and sales roles.

In my current role as GM for Property and Commercial Partnerships at Genesis Energy, I’m driven by the expansion of sustainable and renewable energy generation.

Outside of work, I enjoy football, playing tennis, sailing, waterskiing, and participating in my kids’ sporting activities.

Student Member

Kia ora, I am a current Year 12 student at Westlake Girls’ High School who is humbled to be the WGHS Board’s Student Representative. My family and I are first-generation immigrants from the Philippines. We have lived on the North Shore for five years, which has been a very pleasant experience. 

I am passionate about healthcare, my faith, and promoting the diverse cultures at our kura. During my time in Westlake Girls’, I have participated in a range of extracurricular activities that have helped me discover these passions. I have participated in debating, Spanish debating, the 2024 Race Unity Speeches, and Kapa Haka, and I am currently a leader of the Inspire Christian Club. Outside of Westlake, I enjoy being active, content-creating, and volunteering at Waitematā Hospital. All of these activities shaped me into an inquisitive and empathic wāhine whose hope is to be a light for those around her. 

As I engaged in different conversations with my peers, I heard concerns and promising ideas that they wished to be addressed. Unfortunately, the problem lay on who we could share these with. 

Initially, I was quite hesitant to run for the role because I could not believe that I could represent over 2,300 brilliant wāhine on the board. However, the support and encouragement of my peers, teachers, and previous Student Representatives ultimately empowered me to step into the role. The first-century scholar Hillel the Elder’s quote “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?” resonated deeply with me. That really pushed me to give it a go. 

After having an exciting campaign with my fellow candidates, I received a phone call informing me that I had officially been elected. I was very surprised yet beyond humbled to have earned the student body’s trust in leading them. 

From this role, I hope to learn more about the various aspects and dedicated teams that allow the Westlake Girls’ community to thrive.