Trust Board

Mr Mark Conelly - Chairman

Mr Conelly joined the Trust Board in 2016, taking on the role of Chair of the Trust Board Finance Audit and Investment Committee and later joining the Project Control Group (PCG). He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2020. He is an Old Collegian and has also served terms of office as both the President of the Old Collegians Association and as Chair of the Boys’ School Parents and Friends. Mr Conelly has over 25 years of governance experience and brings significant commercial and not- for-profit expertise to the Board across a number of sectors. He is currently Chairman of Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand, an Independent Director or Chair of various entities in the Health sector and has recently been appointed a Trustee for the Presbyterian Support Northern. Mark is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a Chartered member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Mitre 10 NZ Limited.

Mr Andrew Morgan

Mr Andrew Morgan is an Old Collegian of the College, along with his two brothers, and held a nine year term as President of the Saint Kentigern Old Collegians Association. During this term, he developed a large personal network within the Old Collegians membership both in NZ and overseas.  The Trust Board noted that Andrew has been a tireless, loyal supporter of Saint Kentigern ever since his graduation.

Andrew attended Lincoln University and has been in the banking and finance industry for over 30 years and now operates his own finance company which specialises in financing larger property development and investment transactions via both New Zealand and Australian funding sources, and spends any spare time down on his farm.

The Reverend Martin Baker

Martin Baker has been a Saint Kentigern parent and is an appointee of the Northern Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Currently the minister of Clevedon Presbyterian Church, which offers an extensive family ministry programme as well as running a pre-school for 80 children, Martin was previously the national executive officer of the Presbyterian Church based in Wellington.   In that role, he provided strategic, management and administrative leadership for the church.  Prior to that, he served the church in parishes in Dunedin, Wellington and St Heliers. 

Martin is a strong supporter of Presbyterian Schools and their connection to the church.

Mrs Kim McGregor 

Kim joins the Trust Board with a boy and a girl currently attending our College, one of whom was a foundation pupil at the age of three. She has also long been actively engaged as a parent at both the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools and brings expertise as a trained teacher and leader in education and business. Kim has held senior sales and management roles in the field of ITC in education and more recently has been appointed a director of a large international property development business. She is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors. Kim and her family are very active in her church. 

Dr Kevin Morris

Kevin joins the Trust Board as an Old Collegian and a parent at the Boys’ School, having also been Head Prefect at the College in 1985 and also as a teacher from 1989 to 1992. After studying at the University of Otago, he began his career in independent schools in England and New Zealand, when he was also on the teaching staff at the College and Bruce House. He has worked for corporations and universities in Boston and New York for many years and completed a doctorate in education from Boston University. He returned to New Zealand and was the Director of Learning and Teaching in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at The University of Auckland from 2013 to 2021. In 2021 he was appointed as the Executive Trustee at Saint Kentigern.

Mr Haydn Wong

Haydn Wong joined the Trust Board in February 2020. He is a Saint Kentigern parent with three children having been, or still currently, at the College, all of whom also attended the Primary Schools. He is Managing Partner of law firm Bell Gully, and among other activities, is currently Chair of Black Grace Trust – the leading Pasifika Dance Company. He was brought up in Hawkes Bay with long family connections to the Presbyterian Church there. Haydn was a prefect and Dux of Hastings High School and played in his school’s First XV, played provincial Rugby, and represented NZ Universities in Rugby.

Dr Catherine Harri

Dr Catherine Harri has a diverse background in science, management consulting, and project management. Earning her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Auckland where she conducted her research within the Centre for Brain Research, Dr Harri has a passion for knowledge and hopes to never stop learning.

Her wide-ranging career spans across management consulting, project management, quality assurance, brand development, and health & safety in a variety of sectors including public health, banking, FMCG and education.

Dr Harri’s family has a long history with Saint Kentigern with several members including her father, Dr Bruce Goodfellow, having attended the school and served on the board.  Her two children attended the preschool and are currently in the Boys’ School and the Girls’ School. 

An active member of her local Presbyterian Church, the NZ Christians in Science and the Parents in Prayer group, Dr Harri has always fostered a desire to be of service.

Mrs Hannah McQueen

Mrs Hannah McQueen is a Financial Advisor and a Chartered Accountant Fellow with a Masters in Taxation from University of Auckland. Starting her career in audit, Hannah went on to set up enable.me in 2007, a company that specialises in providing financial strategy and coaching to thousands of clients. Earlier this year she was appointed a Director of AdviceFirst, one of the largest service providers of high quality financial advice and expertise in New Zealand.

Among the many hats she wears, Mrs McQueen is also an accomplished best-selling personal finance author, media commentator and columnist.

Mrs McQueen sits on different Boards and is excited to bring her financial strategy and planning skills to the Board of Saint Kentigern.  She is passionate about helping young adults build their financial capability from a young age so they can better prepare and successfully navigate the financial headwinds to come. A parent, Mrs McQueen has a child at the College and another at the Girls’ School.      

Ms Sharnika Leleni

Ms Sharnika Leleni was Saint Kentigern College’s 10^th Head Girl in 2013. Upon graduating, she remained actively involved having been on the Old Collegians Executive Committee for the past 10 years.

Ms Leleni graduated with a Bachelor of Law with Honours and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland. During her time at University, she was awarded first in course awards for sociology, dance and music. She was also awarded the Moana Schwalger Law Scholarship in 2018 and was a Faculty of Arts Student of the Year runner up in 2016.  

Ms Leleni is currently a Crown Prosecutor at Kayes Fletcher Walker and is on the Executive Committee of the Pacific Lawyers’ Association. Previously a Senior Solicitor at Russell McVeagh, Ms Leleni was an AMINZ (Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand) scholar in 2021, being identified as a future leader in dispute resolution. She was previously co-lead of Russell McVeagh’s diversity and inclusion (ethnicity) committee and co-lead of Young AMINZ. Ms Leleni has developed a wide network and brings diverse experience from a range of fields. She is passionate about being a voice for young bicultural women.

Founding Trustees

The St Kentigern Trust, a charitable entity with strong links with the Presbyterian Church, was constituted by deed on the 23rd of February 1949.

The founding Trustees were a number of prominent Presbyterians:

William John Fletcher             Gordon Kerr Hamilton                  Neil Lloyd Macky

Ian Watson Fraser                   James Morton                               David Nicol Pryor

William Goodfellow                 Donald Dixon McKenzie               Duncan McFadyen Rae

Sir William Goodfellow

The first Chairman and member of the Board from 1949 to 1950 until his resignation in 1962. His valuable experience, his considerable generosity and his wise advice contributed to the successful development of the College from its outset. The needs of the College were always to his heart.

Mr Neil L Macky

The original pioneer who made the dream of a Presbyterian Boys' College in Auckland become a reality. Mr Macky who became the Chairman in 1951, gave his life and soul to the establishment of the College and its welfare. His ability to source financial contributions along with his time, energy and inspiration spanned ten years of promotion and development in buildings, grounds and the many extras required during the foundation years.

Founder Trustees 1949-2017

Founder Trustees are an important reference group for the Trust Board and are guardians of some elements of the Trust Board’s special character.

The original Trust Deed provided that in the future, the status of 'Founder' could be given to those who ‘are hereinafter requested by the Trustees to sign this Trust Deed in recognition of the help, aid or benefactions given to the Trustees to further the objects of the Trust.’ 

Between 1949 and 2017, the status of Founder was conferred on four people in recognition of their contribution to the Saint Kentigern Trust.

Mr W Douglas Goodfellow - 

OBE, Hon LLD

Mr Goodfellow was appointed to the School Board in 1959 and served as a Trust Board member. He also served as Board Chairman from 1965 to 2000. He was known for his generosity, commitment and wise counsel over a long period of Chairmanship. He had always ensured stability and consolidation of the Board and had been a dedicated contributor to the steady growth of both the School and the College operations. (Founder status conferred 13 March 1972)

Mr J Warwick Macky

OBE FRCS FRACS

Mr Macky was the first and only Chairman of the Saint Kentigern School Board, serving in that capacity from 1959 until the amalgamation of the School Board with the Trust Board in 1996. He also served on the Trust Board from 1960 to 1996. He made an enormous contribution to the establishment of the School and was a very dedicated and effective Chairman throughout his 37 years of service. 
(Founder status conferred 9 March 2003.)

Mr Don Clark

Mr Clark was the first Chairman of the College Board, serving in that capacity from 1988 to 1994, and as a College Board member until 1996. He was also a member of the Trust Board from 1986 to 2000. He made an enormous contribution to the development of the College during his tenure as Chairman and also played a leadership role in the restructuring of the College, School and Trust Boards into a single Trust Board in 1997.
(Founder status conferred 9 March 2003.)

The Reverend Jim Milne

QSM

Rev. Milne joined the Trust Board in 1979 and served until 2000 as the Trustee appointed by Auckland Presbytery. He also served on the College Board from 1988 until 1996, including over two years as Chairman succeeding Don Clark. His contribution to the Trust Board covered many aspects of College life and included the important role of contact with the Chaplain, and leading the strategic planning group charged with the development of the College site. 
(Founder status conferred 9 March 2003.)

Founder Trustees after 2018

In 2018, the Trust Board approved specific Terms of Reference and an operating framework for Founder Trustees, consistent with the Trust Deed.

The status of Founder Trustee was conferred on additional former Trust Board members.

Alan Burton

Alan served as Trust Board member from 2005 to his retirement from the Board in May 2019. He was also a past parent.

Alan bought a most extensive understanding of education to the Trust Board, particularly secondary education in New Zealand.

He was very active in a number of the Trust Board’s sub committees and in particular the Chaplaincy and Special Character committee. He has wide ranging experience in education, both as a teacher and Principal, and was active in establishing new schools in the Auckland area.

Graham McKenzie

Graham served on the Trust Board between 2000 and 2014 as Deputy Chairman. He was instrumental in the merger of Saint Kentigern Trust Board with the Corran Trust Board and subsequent management of the Girls’ School.

He remains a frequent attendee at performing arts events and other occasions and provides advice from time to time to current board members.

David Boyd

David was on the Trust Board between 1996 and 2000. He is a loyal Saint Kentigern Old Collegian and former parent. He has significant commercial experience and, through his various businesses, has supported the schools in many ways. He maintains strong connections with the Saint Kentigern community and appreciates engaging old Collegians in relevant activities. He is a member of the selection panel for the inaugural Saint Kentigern Distinguished Alumni Awards.

David McCulloch

David served as a Trust Board member from 1999 to 2018. He is a great enthusiast for Saint Kentigern and independent schools. For many years he was the Trust Board representative on various Independent Schools boards. He was also the main Trust Board contact with the Saint Kentigern Old Collegians while on the Board.

The Very Reverend Graham Redding

Graham served on the Trust Board between 1993 and 2000 and was also a parent for most of that time. Graham was very active in promoting the special Presbyterian character for the organisation but also contributed substantially to the overview of all aspects of Trust Board activities.

He has continued to contribute his wisdom and maintains many contacts with Trust Board members and staff alike. Graham continues to support Saint Kentigern in a number of ways. He currently lectures in Chaplaincy Studies at the University of Otago.

Dr Bruce Goodfellow

Dr Bruce Goodfellow is a third-generation member of the Goodfellow family who has contributed extensively and generously to Saint Kentigern. Bruce started his education at Saint Kentigern School in the schools’ foundation year, continuing through to Saint Kentigern College, and had remained involved with the school for the rest of his life as a board member, chair of the board, parent, and grandparent.

Bruce's commitment to education and the Presbyterian Church has been the driving force behind his passionate involvement in all aspects of Saint Kentigern. He joined the Board in 1983, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Bruce served on all Boards, including the Trust, College, and School. Upon his father's retirement in 2000, Bruce was elected Chairman of the Trust Board, a position he held until 2017. He served on the board for 36 years until his passing in 2020.

Under Bruce’s leadership, Saint Kentigern achieved significant milestones, and remarkable growth and development. During his time as Chairman, the schools more than doubled in size, accommodating over 400 staff members and nurturing the educational journeys of more than 3000 students, solidifying Saint Kentigern’s position as one of the largest independent school groups in Australasia.

Bruce's dedication to the school extends beyond his official duties and has been marked by extensive involvement, visionary leadership, and a genuine passion for education.

Dr John Kernohan

John joined the Trust Board in 2000, became Deputy Chair in 2012 and Board Chair in 2017. He was a member of the Finance Audit and Investment Committee, Project Control Group and Chaplaincy Committee. Among the many projects undertaken, he had a key role in the development of the Master Plan, the sale of the Remuera Campus and approving the largest capital works project in Saint Kentigern’s history. As a past parent, John has had a long association with Saint Kentigern and an active member of a number of church related organisations. He continues to be a strong advocate for ensuring that we ‘keep the faith’.

Rosemary Harris

Rosemary is one of the longest-serving Trust Board members, joining the Board in 1996 before taking on the role as Deputy Chair in 2017. In her capacity as Deputy Trust Board Chair, Rosemary was instrumental in helping shape the Trust Board’s strategy and governance. A key area of Rosemary’s focus was the development of a world-class educational facility at Saint Kentigern, especially for the Shore Road campus. She took special interest in the master planning process and worked diligently with the Principals to bring the Boards’ vision to life. Rosemary was a member of the Project Control Group, Disciplinary and Uniform Committees, and the Board representative on the Boys’ School Roselle Foundation since its inception.