Our Patron
In July 2020, we were delighted that the Foundation’s inaugural Chairman, Joe La Grouw agreed to become our first Patron. You can read more about our Patron here 🠢
Our Trustees
The Trust is made up of a board of trustees from around the Central North Island, who give willingly of their time and expertise to oversee the organisation. All Trustees are appointed and generously volunteer their time.
Each member of our team brings distinctive experience and skills providing diverse and representative leadership to support Geyser’s mission of connecting generous local people with charitable causes through giving that lasts forever. You can read more about our Trustees here 🠢
Our Management Team
Our core team represents fewer than two full-time equivalent staff. Our management team are paid and work over and above their duties to ensure the office runs smoothly, donor’s wishes are carried out as intended and grant applications are processed efficiently. You can read more about our management team here 🠢
Our Committees
Geyser has several dedicated Committees to oversee different aspects of the organisation. These people also generously volunteer their time and expertise.
- Distribution Advisory Committee (these people decide where the money goes)
- Finance Committee (these people closely monitor the finances)
- Investment Committee (these people work with our funding manager)
Our Ambassadors
We are fortunate to have a number of past trustees, community leaders and other generous supporters who have played a huge part in establishing Geyser and getting it to where it is today, as Ambassadors. You can read more about our Ambassadors here 🠢
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Our Patron
Joe La Grouw CNZM | Well known and respected local businessman, Joe La Grouw is the inaugural Patron of the Geyser Community Foundation. A former Westpac Rotorua Business Person of the Year and Chairman of BNZ Partners Centre Central Plateau, he has been a director and member of many significant businesses and associations throughout New Zealand. As Geyser’s Founding Chairman, Joe led the Foundation during a period of immense growth and change from 2007 to 2015. Together with his wife, Jo-Anne, he has always led by example. They established Geyser’s first endowment fund, which will benefit the local community for generations to come, and generously contributed to the Foundation’s operating costs. Joe’s knowledge and dedication to his local community helped introduce the community foundation concept to people right across the Central North Island. As Patron, he is the guardian of the Foundation’s values and brings an independent view from the community to the Board. In 2010, Joe was made a Companion of the Order of Merit for services to business and the community.Read more here 🠢 |
Geyser Community Foundation Trustees (2023-2024):
L to R Back: Trustees Sandie Redpath-Baird, Don Stewart, Alan Wills (Deputy Chair), Michelle Barnett,
Leanne Rankin (Community Engagement Officer)
L to R Front: Ann Nicholas, Jan Bolton, Helene Phillips (Chairman), Ali Painter, Annette Burgess (Executive Officer).
Absent: Paul Laing, Michael Grantham Photo: Ngareta Creative
Our Trustees
Helene Phillips – Chairman
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Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
Helene and her partner, Peter Jarvis moved to Acacia Bay in Taupo to semi-retire in 2008. A Director of Ferner Galleries, one of New Zealand’s leading art dealers founded by Peter in Auckland in 1985, Helene is a former Foundation Trustee of the Auckland Art Fair and Trustee of the Lake Taupo Arts Trust. She has been President of the Tauhara Luncheon and Lecture Club, a member of the Taupo Women’s Club and was secretary of the organising committee for the 69th annual conference of the New Zealand Rhododendron Association held in Taupo in 2013. She served as an Ambassador of the Geyser Community Foundation from 2013 until her appointment as a Trustee in 2018. Helene was elected Chairman in 2021.
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Alan Wills – Deputy Chair |
Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
The rural community of Reporoa has always been important to Alan, who grew up there. His parents purchased land post WW2, one of the 170 pioneering families to settle there in the early 1950s. Educated in Reporoa, Auckland and Canterbury (where he met his wife, Alison), Alan always wanted to be a farmer. After graduating from the School of Agriculture of Canterbury University College (now known as Lincoln University), he took up a 50/50 share-milking position on a family property in Reporoa. He and Alison married in 1976 and after six years sharemilking, they purchased part of the family sheep farm and converted it to dairy. Alan spent 15 years chairing the Board of Trustees of both Reporoa Primary and Reporoa College, and recently completed a six-year term as President of Rotorua/Taupo Federated Farmers. In his spare time, Alan enjoys competition ploughing and led the New Zealand team overseas to compete at the World Ploughing Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Alan and Alison have four adult children and 12 grandchildren.
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Michelle Barnett | Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
After spending five years away attending university in Hamilton and attempting city living in Auckland, she returned home and started work at Strettons, one of the largest Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors on the Central Plateau. A chartered accountant, she has been with Strettons over 20 years and is now a Director with a portfolio of clients that cover a variety of industries within the Taupō region. Chairperson of the Taupo Nui-a-Tia College Board of Trustees, Michelle is also Treasurer of the Taupo Business Chamber. Michelle loves Taupō, and believes it is the perfect place for husband, Andrew and her to raise their two teenage daughters. In the weekends when she’s not supporting the girls with their dance, she enjoys getting outdoors and enjoying the local area. To relax she likes to read and won’t say no to a good glass of wine. |
Jan Bolton | Appointed by the Mayor of Rotorua
Jan Bolton is no stranger to the Community Foundation concept. A long-time supporter of the Kaingaroa Village and Murupara communities, she joined Geyser’s Family of Donors back in 2009 and having been appointed as a Trustee in 2021, looks forward to becoming more involved. A successful local businesswoman, Jan is proud to live and work in Murupara, where she owns and manages Kaingaroa Roading Contractors, which maintains the unsealed road network in Timberlands’ world renowned Kaingaroa Forest Estate spanning some 200,000 ha in the Central North Island. Six years ago, Jan bought the local garage to house the roading equipment and has also kept it as a working garage. She can now be found pumping gas from 8 am to 5 pm, five days each week and loves it. Appointed as a Trustee by the Mayor of Rotorua, Jan has one daughter, a son-in-law – both of whom work for Red Stag Timber, and a granddaughter who attends Murupara Area School. |
Michael Grantham | Appointed by Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch of the New Zealand Law Society
Michael and his wife, Dineen established Grantham Law in Taupo in 2009. The firm now services the wider Taupo and Turangi region and assists with all aspects of family law, trusts, estates, residential and commercial property, as well as immigration and typical general practise legal services. Having lived in Taupo for almost 20 years, Michael enjoys being part of the greater Taupo community. He enjoys exercising and makes use of the excellent community facilities available in Taupo and looks forward to the various art and festival activities offered in the local community. In his spare time, he follows cycling, enjoys catching up with friends and family, reading and pottering in the garden while listening to podcasts. For the past five years, Michael has served as Parent Representative on their youngest son’s Board of Trustees, and now looks forward to contributing to the continued success of the Geyser Community Foundation. |
Paul Laing | Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
Paul Laing is the Commercial Manager at Red Stag Timber. A Chartered Accountant, Paul’s background and experience include tenures with Kaingaroa Timberlands and Fletcher Challenge Forests where he managed the accounting and performance improvements respectively. He also has a high level of understanding of the health sector having held Finance Manager, transition management, analyst and accounting roles for Pacific Health, The Treasury and South Thames Regional Health Authority, and is a former Chair of QE Health. Well-known in the local community, Paul loves the outdoors where you will often find him mountain biking, water skiing and participating in other sporting activities. |
Ann Nicholas | Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees A planning consultant, Ann is a principal of Sigma Consultants, a company she helped establish in Rotorua in 1993. Originally from Christchurch, she completed her planning degree in Auckland before moving to Rotorua 40+ years ago, where she and her husband, Ian, who died in 2013, brought up their three children. The local community has always been important to Ann. She has been involved in a number of voluntary organisations in Rotorua, including being an active member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Rotorua. Outside of work, Ann enjoys walking, biking, gardening and reading, as well as a variety of handcrafts, and spending time with family and friends. |
Ali Painter | Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
Ali and her husband came to Rotorua in 1973. With a background in education and school sport during her tenure at both Rotorua Girls High School and Rotorua Lakes High School (as Deputy Principal), she has been involved in a wide range of local and regional level sports, as well as a number A Trustee of Sport Bay of Plenty for seven years, and member of the Local Body allocation committee for the (then) Hillary Commission, she is a former Chair of St Chads Communication Centre Trust, working for people with disabilities, and Community involvement includes serving on the steering committee and co-management of the Rotorua Teen Parent School, for which Ali received a Multi Serve School Project Award and in 1994, received a Woolf Fisher Award for School Leadership. In 2007, she left the New Zealand education system to take a Lead Advisor position with Cognition Education, a Kiwi company contracted to the Abu Dhabi Education reform project. Six local grandchildren, a large garden and the very enticing Arikikapakapa golf course keep Ali busy when not working in the local community. |
Sandie Redpath-Baird | Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
Both Sandie and her husband Alan were born and raised in the vibrant community of Opotiki. Driven by the vision of nurturing their farming aspirations, they moved to South Rotorua in 1982. With the arrival of three children into various educational and communal spheres, Sandie’s penchant for active participation in community management blossomed. Over the years, she has lent her expertise to a diverse array of endeavours. From steering the helm of Playcenter’s and Mainly Music to leading the School Board of Trustees and the esteemed Waikite/Ngakuru Lions. Sandie has also been involved with Guides, Federated Farmers, Spectrum, and a six-year tenure on the funding arm of COGs as well as 16 years of volunteer service at the Rotorua Citizen Advice Bureau. Drawing from the wealth of experiences and connections forged along the way, Sandie brings a seasoned perspective to Geyser and an eagerness to continue contributing to the betterment of our local community. |
Don Stewart | Appointed by Geyser’s Board of Trustees
Having moved to Rotorua from Auckland in 1980, Don is a well-known and respected Chartered Accountant who has practiced for more than 40 years. A principal of Nairn Fisher for the past 25 years, Don advises a wide range of clients in the areas of taxation, business structures and succession planning. He has been involved with many community organisations over the years, including working with the JR McKenzie Trust, and is a Past President of Rotorua Lakes Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. Don and his wife Clare have three adult children and several grandchildren. They are passionate about Rotorua and the lifestyle it offers; golf, fishing and mountain biking are favourite activities when time permits. |
Our Management Team
Annette Burgess
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Annette is the Executive Officer of the Geyser Community Foundation and is responsible for its day-to-day operations.
A Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, she is a Past Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Community Trust, a former inaugural Trustee of Parksyde Older Persons Community Centre, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Rotorua Lakes and a Paul Harris Fellow. Well-known in the local community, Annette enjoys relaxing with family and friends, a good glass of wine, dining-out, gardening, art, reading and music. You can contact Annette on (07) 349 7496 or email annette@geysercf.org.nz |
Leanne Rankin
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Leanne has joined Geyser in the Team Support role.
Originally from Opotiki, Leanne has lived in Rotorua with her husband and their two children for more than 20 years. She currently volunteers for Swim Rotorua and was the Maori representative on the Board of Trustees for Te Kura o Tihiōtonga / Otonga Primary School from 2019 to 2022. Leanne enjoys being poolside / side-line supporting her tamariki and whanau in their chosen activities. She also enjoys taking time out for herself playing netball / sports, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and whanau. You can contact Leanne on (07) 349 7496 or email GeyserAdmin@geysercf.org.nz |
Our Ambassadors
We are fortunate to have a number of past trustees, community leaders and other generous supporters who have played a huge part in establishing Geyser and getting it to where it is today, as Ambassadors.
These people are very aware of the enormous benefits that will be generated to our local community through their own and others’ endowment gifts for future generations.
Our Awesome Ambassadors
Jan Bolton (Chairman)
Jeanne Bright
Pat Brown
Steve Chadwick
Bill Cleghorn
Mary-Robyn Clement
Pat Cowbourne
Tom Davies
Terry Fergusson
Grahame Hall
Martin Hampson
Kierin Irvine
Judy Keaney
Joe La Grouw
Brett Marvelly
Jenny McDonald
Fraser McKenzie
Helen Nathan
Murray Patchell
Richard Pryce
Paul Sandford
Chris Spargo
Clayton Stent
Margriet Theron