Meet the Trust Board

John had careers in hospitality and financial services before founding New Zealand Home Loans in 1996. As founder and CEO, he grew the business to be one of the most successful non-bank mortgage providers in NZ, with a franchise network of over 65 offices. Since selling to Kiwibank in 2012, John has been building a diverse business portfolio in the tourism, mining, agriculture, and marine sectors. He works actively in all these businesses and also holds several governance roles as chair.

John is a serial entrepreneur, with an immense ability to cast a vision and then motivate and coach people to achieve the outcome. He has unique skills in developing sales systems and sees every business as a sales business. He is passionate about building things - businesses, people, teams, boats, buildings - but mainly people!

Andrew holds degrees in Architecture and Law, and is a practicing solicitor primarily involved with the property development and construction sectors.

Graeme has extensive experience in sports development, with a passion for the positive nature of holistic education. After attaining bachelors and doctoral degrees from Loughborough and Wollongong Universities, respectively, Graeme has left world-class sports and coaching programmes on three continents. His former role as Director of Sport at Millfield School in England, and his relationship with the Avantidrome, creates a strong affinity with St Peter’s School and aligns with the school’s holistic philosophy. Graeme has been a member since 2016 and is co-chair of the Education Committee. He is also a trustee of the Adastr
a Trust, member of the Waikato Pathway to Podium, and NZ Rugby 7’s innovation advisory groups. He is vice president of the Loughborough Students Rugby Club, and was a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s Rio Planning Group.

Eight years ago Sarah and her husband Phillip negotiated remote working arrangements in order to move to Cambridge, so their boys could undertake their secondary education through St Peter’s. One as a day boy, now left, and another as a boarder, now Year 10. Sarah is a Senior Research Fellow/Clinical Lecturer with the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Wellington; and hence contributes particularly to the Board in relation to education and health and well-being.

Craig is a Partner at Staples Rodway Waikato Chartered Accountants in Hamilton. He works with commercial entities and Māori organisatons and provides strategic and commercial advice on all aspects of their business. He is passionate about innovation and value add to improve economic performance. Craig has a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato, majoring in Accounting and Finance, and is a chartered accountant. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors. Craig also holds a number of trustee and directorships. Craig lives in Hamilton with his wife and has a young family with children attending Southwell. Craig has been a member since 2016 and is Chair of the Finance Committee.

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Aksel is the Councillor for the Tamahere Ward of Waikato District, the immediate northern neighbouring district to St Peter’s, and is a parent of current students at the school. He has a commercial background in both Human Resource Management and equipment sales & service, particularly to the Dairy, Wine and Brewing industries.
He received a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Psychology from Massey University and a M.Soc.Psy. in Industrial & Organisational Psychology from the University of Waikato.
Aksel started his professional career working for Natural Gas Corporation (a Fletcher Challenge company), then Cedenco Foods in Gisborne and was part of the successful management buy-out of NDA Engineering in 1998 -Australasia’s premier fabricator of stainless steel. Here he continued as an owner/manager until the business was sold a decade later, after which Aksel held Board of Trustee roles in primary schools as well as directorships in private sector companies whilst focusing most of his time around family.

David is the Managing Director of Staples Rodway Waikato, a past student and currently has two children attending the school. David joined the board in 2007 and shortly after took responsibility of the chair of the finance committee. In 2012 David stepped into the role of chair after acting as deputy chair. David stood down as chair of the board in 2018 after serving the maximum 6-year term in that position.

David holds a Bachelor of Business Studies with honours from the University of Waikato and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

David holds numerous trustee and director positions, including the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust, the Chartwell Trust group and the John and Glenice Gallagher Foundation.

Mark joined the board in 2016 and is a parent of current St Peter’s students. A graduate of Lincoln University majoring in Farm Management, Valuation, and Commerce he initially worked with PWC and became a Chartered Accountant in 1995. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand as well as the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Mark has worked in agricultural related businesses most of his career. He is the CFO of J Swap Contractors Ltd and previously held positions with multinational DeLaval, and Cambridge based Shoof International. He has a strong interest in the success of Owl Farm, its leadership role in the agricultural industry, and its role in education. He Chairs the St Peter’s Farm Committee and the Owl Farm Governance Board.

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Monique is a Senior Associate at Lewis Lawyers in Cambridge and is independent of St Peter’s, Cambridge. Monique qualified with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Waikato in 2006 and spent the first six years of her legal career in general practice in Cambridge before moving into an in-house role in the agricultural sector.

Monique’s current work at Lewis Lawyers sees her advising rural and commercial clients where she also has an interest in employment relations and elder law. Monique currently chairs the school’s health and safety board committee and has been a trustee at St Peter’s since 2015.