Our People
Allan Williams
Patron
Allan is a highly respected, retired businessman, having spent many years in the trucking industry. He has held numerous directorships and is a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors, and a Past President of the NZ Chamber of Commerce. He was German Consul General for many years and has been a generous benefactor to many organisations. Allan also has a keen interest in sailing.
John Taylor
Trustee & Chair
John has lived in the Sumner/Redcliffs area since 1960 and has had a long association with several community service organisations including being past president of the Ferrymead Rotary Club. After 40 years in the Real estate Industry retirement has now enabled John to spend more time with his family, continue to recreational cycle and to travel.
Barry Geddes
Trustee & Treasurer
Barry is a professional aircraft engineer, aviation consultant and company director, with extensive New Zealand and International business management experience. Barry is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management; and holds a number of Trusteeships.
Jim Keegan
Trustee
Jim is a recently retired solicitor who was a partner in the legal firm of Cavell Leitch for 45 years specialising in Commercial law, corporate guidance and trust matters
Julie Cunningham
Trustee
Julie has been with the Foundation since its inception and is a former chairperson. She has been working in this community for many years as a successful real estate agent owner. During this time, as well as bringing up a family of three, she as been involved with Plunket, School Fundraising, Sumner Theatre, The Community Centre, Sumner Bridge Club and a local Choir. Julie was a long time broadcaster on Radio and TV and served for some time on the Board of the Court Theatre.
John Christensen
Trustee
A Redcliffs resident for all of his life, John was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School and later studied Engineering at Canterbury University. Well known in hockey circles, John played for New Zealand from 1968 (at 20 years of age) to 1979, and was a three time Olympian, capping his career as a Gold Medallist at the 1976 Montreal Games. He coached the Redcliffs Senior team and Canterbury Reps for many years and later became a national selector. John has worked for the Heathcote and Banks Peninsula Councils, as they were, and then for the Selwyn District Council where he was Environmental Services Manager.
Martin Hawes
Trustee
Martin Hawes moved to Sumner from Queenstown in 2020. He has previously lived in the area in the 1990s at which time he lived in Redcliffs. Martin Hawes has been in personal finance for most of his career. He has written 22 books on finance the best-known being Family Trusts and Twenty Good Summers. Martin has been a financial advisor but is now Chair of the Investment Committee for Summer KiwiSaver, a director of Lifetime Income and a board member of the New Zealand Shareholders Association. Martin was President of Save the Children New Zealand, a trustee of the Community Trust of Southland and was Chair of the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. He is a keen swimmer, mountaineer, rock climber, skier, and walker.
Jane Paterson
Trustee
Jane originally trained as a pharmacist and managed Sumner Pharmacy. After post-graduate studies she moved into the corporate world and worked in senior management roles in both NZ and Australia, primarily in the health industry. Jane was a non-executive Director of a large not-for-profit organisation in Australia whilst living there and on her return to NZ. Since returning to NZ, she has volunteered across a number of different sectors and in varying capacities.
Daniel O'Carroll
Secretary
Daniel and his family have lived in Mt Pleasant since 2005. He is a qualified engineer with a business mindset and a passion for sustainability. He works in the resource recovery sector, is more likely to be seen cycling rather than driving to work, and volunteers with RADBikes. Daniel is also treasurer of the Mt Pleasant Community Centre & Residents’ Association.