Meet our team
Our small team works tirelessly to identify the root cause of community and social issues and develop partnerships that can create lasting solutions to them. BAF is involved in a wide array of fantastic initiatives around the region, and nationally, across its three core action areas of research, collaboration and service, but the organisation’s humility might mean you might not know we are here!
Our team
Simon Cayley
Simon has extensive governance experience. He is currently Deputy-Chair of Wild For Taranaki, is a trustee of the Access to Justice & Wellbeing Trust and is a Director of Catalyst Housing Ltd. At a national level, Simon was Co-Chair of Hui E! Community Aotearoa and Chair of the NZ Navigator Charitable Trust from their inception through to 2020.
Simon is also an accredited mentor with The Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand. He has an MPhil through AUT which focused on governance in the community sector and also holds Post-Graduate Diplomas in Development Studies and Public Health.
Alex McNab
Alex returned to New Plymouth after graduating from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Health in Health Promotion. She is delivering a collaborative planter box initiative with Kainga Ora as part of our food equity focus. Alex also coordinates our board development programme, Get on Board, provides administrative support to The Wheelhouse and provides interim management to New Plymouth Injury Safe. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, making the most of the Taranaki outdoors and has recently taken up sewing as a hobby.
Angela Kehely
Angela delivers the Seasons for Growth programme in the South Taranaki region. Having grown up in Hawera as a child, and with her family still living in South Taranaki Angela is delighted to be back working in the region. Angela has experience working as an office manager for a local school, teacher aide and as a registered nurse. Family is very important to Angela and she gets joy out of watching her children navigate life’s adventures and spending time with her extended family.
Andrew Brock
Andrew has experience in senior management and governance roles within the health, sport and community sectors, and additional experience in education. He has extensive knowledge of community development and sustainability with a particular focus on the wider determinants of wellbeing. Andrew has Diplomas in Strategic Leadership and Teaching, a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation. He is Chair of the Mentoring Foundation of NZ and New Plymouth Injury Safe Trust and a board member of Mahia Mai a Whai Tara, and the Taranaki Curious Minds allocations committee. He is also a Mentor with the Mentoring Foundation of NZ.
“It’s not about BAF. We don’t push our profile, but focus on what’s needed in the community.”
– Andrew Brock – Projects and Innovation Manager
Jo Weise
Jo is a seasoned coach and facilitator who is passionate about helping people in leadership roles to strengthen and develop their skills. She has worked across sectors in coaching and facilitation for many years, alongside her role as director of a small company in the construction industry.
Jo has a science degree, a graduate diploma in teaching, is an accredited coach, and has studied at masters level in conflict resolution: restorative practice. She is also continuing her journey in Te Ara Reo Māori which began several years ago at Te Wānanga O Aotearoa here in Taranaki.
Judy Wood
Judy has been a Seasons and Seasons for Growth coordinator since April 2008 and the Taranaki SfG Trainer since 2016. Judy’s other experience includes high school teaching, governance church and community work. More recently she has acquired four grandchildren and loves to be with them. She is actively involved at West Baptist Church, sings with Taranaki Harmony Chorus and Living Harmony Choir and loves running, cycling, swimming, gardening, walking, writing and reading.
Ngaire Potter
Ngaire has extensive experience in accounts processing having previously held roles with Wells Instrument & Electrical and Tainui Resthome & Village. As well as providing an accounting service for The Bishop’s Action Foundation, Ngaire also manages the accounts for over thirty Anglican Parishes within the Diocese of Waikato & Taranaki Parish Accounting Service.
Trudy Smith
Before joining the ICT Gateway in 2019, Trudy completed her Bachelor of Information Technology at Waikato Polytechnic and worked for the Waipa District Council as an Informix Database Administrator. Moving to Australia for 20 years, she worked for the Nurses Board of Western Australia as their Computer Supervisor and started a family before returning to New Zealand to be closer to extended family.
Heather Ternouth
Heather arrived in New Zealand with her husband & three small children from Zimbabwe in 2001 having been previously involved in non for profit & charity work. Heather spent nearly ten years at Hospice Taranaki/Te Kahu Pairuri ki Taranaki as a volunteer for three & half years & then became the Day Programme Co-Ordinator for the Palliative Patient Group for six & half years. Heather is passionate about making a difference to the day to day lives of the Taranaki community. Heather enjoys time with her grown up family, walking, reading, culture & art together with travel.
Our team
Simon Cayley
Simon has extensive governance experience. He is currently Deputy-Chair of Wild For Taranaki, is a trustee of the Access to Justice & Wellbeing Trust and is a Director of Catalyst Housing Ltd. At a national level, Simon was Co-Chair of Hui E! Community Aotearoa and Chair of the NZ Navigator Charitable Trust from their inception through to 2020.
Simon is also an accredited mentor with The Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand. He has an MPhil through AUT which focused on governance in the community sector and also holds Post-Graduate Diplomas in Development Studies and Public Health.
Andrew Brock
Andrew has experience in senior management and governance roles within the health, sport and community sectors, and additional experience in education. He has extensive knowledge of community development and sustainability with a particular focus on the wider determinants of wellbeing. Andrew has Diplomas in Strategic Leadership and Teaching, a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation. He is Chair of the Mentoring Foundation of NZ and New Plymouth Injury Safe Trust and a board member of Mahia Mai a Whai Tara, and the Taranaki Curious Minds allocations committee. He is also a Mentor with the Mentoring Foundation of NZ.
“It’s not about BAF. We don’t push our profile, but focus on what’s needed in the community.”
– Andrew Brock – Projects and Innovation Manager
Ngaire Potter
Ngaire has extensive experience in accounts processing having previously held roles with Wells Instrument & Electrical and Tainui Resthome & Village. As well as providing an accounting service for The Bishop’s Action Foundation, Ngaire also manages the accounts for over thirty Anglican Parishes within the Diocese of Waikato & Taranaki Parish Accounting Service.
Alex McNab
Our Community Connector role supports the welfare needs of individuals and whānau to keep safe while isolating at home / in the community. Community Connectors navigate and connect individuals and whānau to various services available during and transition from self-isolation. This role is funded through the Ministry of Social Development. Referrals can be made by MSD or individuals can approach Community Connectors through other agencies and community organisations. The ‘contact us’ page on our website can be used to register a request with us for support.
Jo Weise
Jo is a seasoned coach and facilitator who is passionate about helping people in leadership roles to strengthen and develop their skills. She has worked across sectors in coaching and facilitation for many years, alongside her role as director of a small company in the construction industry.
Jo has a science degree, a graduate diploma in teaching, is an accredited coach, and has studied at masters level in conflict resolution: restorative practice. She is also continuing her journey in Te Ara Reo Māori which began several years ago at Te Wānanga O Aotearoa here in Taranaki.
Trudy Smith
Before joining the ICT Gateway in 2019, Trudy completed her Bachelor of Information Technology at Waikato Polytechnic and worked for the Waipa District Council as an Informix Database Administrator. Moving to Australia for 20 years, she worked for the Nurses Board of Western Australia as their Computer Supervisor and started a family before returning to New Zealand to be closer to extended family.
Angela Kehely
Angela delivers the Seasons for Growth programme in the South Taranaki region. Having grown up in Hawera as a child, and with her family still living in South Taranaki Angela is delighted to be back working in the region. Angela has experience working as an office manager for a local school, teacher aide and as a registered nurse. Family is very important to Angela and she gets joy out of watching her children navigate life’s adventures and spending time with her extended family.
Judy Wood
Judy has been a Seasons and Seasons for Growth coordinator since April 2008 and the Taranaki SfG Trainer since 2016. Judy’s other experience includes high school teaching, governance church and community work. More recently she has acquired four grandchildren and loves to be with them. She is actively involved at West Baptist Church, sings with Taranaki Harmony Chorus and Living Harmony Choir and loves running, cycling, swimming, gardening, walking, writing and reading.
Heather Ternouth
Heather arrived in New Zealand with her husband & three small children from Zimbabwe in 2001 having been previously involved in non for profit & charity work. Heather spent nearly ten years at Hospice Taranaki/Te Kahu Pairuri ki Taranaki as a volunteer for three & half years & then became the Day Programme Co-Ordinator for the Palliative Patient Group for six & half years. Heather is passionate about making a difference to the day to day lives of the Taranaki community. Heather enjoys time with her grown up family, walking, reading, culture & art together with travel.
Our trustees
Mary Bourke
A former long-serving mayor of the South Taranaki district, Mary is an experienced governor having held national roles in Local Government and latterly across the education, health and philanthropy sectors. She is a self-employed facilitator, mediator and coach, and continues to be committed to sustainable and sensible initiatives that contribute towards the vitality of rural communities.
Archbishop Philip Richardson
Philip is the former Archbishop of the Anglican Dioceses in New Zealand and also Bishop of Waikato & Taranaki. Prior to that he was involved in education at the University of Otago, parish ministry in Auckland, Northland and Otago and community development work in Auckland City. Nationally he carries responsibilities across many organisations within and beyond the Church. Uniquely he shares leadership of the Anglican Church with Archbishop Don Tamihere and Archbishop Fereimi Cama in the three Tikanga structure of the Anglican Church in these islands.
Craig Hattle
Craig is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors NZ, Chairs the Taranaki IoD Branch committee, is Chair of the Audit & Risk committee and also serves on the IoD National Council. He enjoys helping to build Environmental, Social and Governance capabilities and is passionate about the impact that BAF makes to local communities. Craig holds a number of Independent Director roles and he is currently Chair of Carefirst Limited, Edison Consulting Engineers and is a non-executive Director of the FBT/Osflo Group, Egmont Seafoods and OurCloud. Craig lives in Oakura in Taranaki and was on the Okato Cooperating Parish Church Council for five years looking after the property portfolio.
Bernadine (Bernie) Walsh
Bernie is a community strategist, specialising in communications, engagement, housing, transport and regional development. She has held various management and leadership roles in journalism, the dairy industry, local and central government and industry associations. Taranaki born and bred, Bernie grew up rural, living close to the mountain and amongst strong communities. Her family and personal connections to the province are deep and strong – and these energise her commitment to BAF’s mission to create and sustain flourishing communities. She supports projects and organisations around the country to turn strategy into action.
Dean Pratt
Dean is a Chartered Accountant and has been a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants for 20+ years. He has been a past Chairman of the Taranaki Branch of NZICA. Dean is a Director of Harris Taylor Limited, a Hawera based accountancy practice. He provides a wide range of advice to the farming and commercial sectors including restructurings and amalgamations, whilst maximising equity growth. Dean has clients throughout NZ and around the world. In a past life he was a Senior Investigating Accountant with the Inland Revenue Department and the Tax Manager of Kiwi Co-operative Dairies Limited.
Te Aroha Hohaia
Te Aroha has a portfolio of interests firmly grounded in local governance and community development work. She has governance roles with high public expectations and accountabilities that range from the operational emphasis of a marae committee to the strategic oversight of Taranaki’s wellbeing required for a district health board. The net asset holdings are as small as $63,000 for a social services provider operating in the family violence sector to the diversified asset base of a post-settlement governance entity. Having completed a PhD in 2018, Te Aroha has returned to being more hands-on in community development work supporting for-purpose entities with strategic planning, capability building and project management. Te Aroha is of Taranaki, Te Atiawa, and Ngāruahine descent. Her spare time is spent with her mokopuna or developing her interest in photography. She and her husband, Greg van Paassen, live in Te Hāwera.
Chris Clarke
Chris Clarke is the CEO of Wilberforce Foundation. Previously he was CEO World Vision New Zealand and CEO Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. He has also worked for World Health Organisation (Europe), NHS (Wales) and in a number of health sector roles in New Zealand.
Chris holds law and commerce degrees and since 2009 has been the inaugural Praxis Visiting Scholar at Green Templeton College, Oxford University.
Chris is Chairperson of Te Whakaora Tangata – a faith based trust working with disadvantaged families in South Auckland and Kaitaia and Arrow Leadership New Zealand.
Our trustees
Mary Bourke
A former long-serving mayor of the South Taranaki district, Mary is an experienced governor having held national roles in Local Government and latterly across the education, health and philanthropy sectors. She is a self-employed facilitator, mediator and coach, and continues to be committed to sustainable and sensible initiatives that contribute towards the vitality of rural communities.
Archbishop Philip Richardson
Philip is the former Archbishop of the Anglican Dioceses in New Zealand and also Bishop of Waikato & Taranaki. Prior to that he was involved in education at the University of Otago, parish ministry in Auckland, Northland and Otago and community development work in Auckland City. Nationally he carries responsibilities across many organisations within and beyond the Church. Uniquely he shares leadership of the Anglican Church with Archbishop Don Tamihere and Archbishop Fereimi Cama in the three Tikanga structure of the Anglican Church in these islands.
Craig Hattle
Craig is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors NZ, Chairs the Taranaki IoD Branch committee, is Chair of the Audit & Risk committee and also serves on the IoD National Council. He enjoys helping to build Environmental, Social and Governance capabilities and is passionate about the impact that BAF makes to local communities. Craig holds a number of Independent Director roles and he is currently Chair of Carefirst Limited, Edison Consulting Engineers and is a non-executive Director of the FBT/Osflo Group, Egmont Seafoods and OurCloud. Craig lives in Oakura in Taranaki and was on the Okato Cooperating Parish Church Council for five years looking after the property portfolio.
Bernadine (Bernie) Walsh
Bernie is a community strategist, specialising in communications, engagement, housing, transport and regional development. She has held various management and leadership roles in journalism, the dairy industry, local and central government and industry associations. Taranaki born and bred, Bernie grew up rural, living close to the mountain and amongst strong communities. Her family and personal connections to the province are deep and strong – and these energise her commitment to BAF’s mission to create and sustain flourishing communities. She supports projects and organisations around the country to turn strategy into action.
Dean Pratt
Dean is a Chartered Accountant and has been a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants for 20+ years. He has been a past Chairman of the Taranaki Branch of NZICA. Dean is a Director of Harris Taylor Limited, a Hawera based accountancy practice. He provides a wide range of advice to the farming and commercial sectors including restructurings and amalgamations, whilst maximising equity growth. Dean has clients throughout NZ and around the world. In a past life he was a Senior Investigating Accountant with the Inland Revenue Department and the Tax Manager of Kiwi Co-operative Dairies Limited.
Te Aroha Hohaia
Te Aroha has a portfolio of interests firmly grounded in local governance and community development work. She has governance roles with high public expectations and accountabilities that range from the operational emphasis of a marae committee to the strategic oversight of Taranaki’s wellbeing required for a district health board. The net asset holdings are as small as $63,000 for a social services provider operating in the family violence sector to the diversified asset base of a post-settlement governance entity. Having completed a PhD in 2018, Te Aroha has returned to being more hands-on in community development work supporting for-purpose entities with strategic planning, capability building and project management. Te Aroha is of Taranaki, Te Atiawa, and Ngāruahine descent. Her spare time is spent with her mokopuna or developing her interest in photography. She and her husband, Greg van Paassen, live in Te Hāwera.
Chris Clarke
Chris Clarke is the CEO of Wilberforce Foundation. Previously he was CEO World Vision New Zealand and CEO Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. He has also worked for World Health Organisation (Europe), NHS (Wales) and in a number of health sector roles in New Zealand.
Chris holds law and commerce degrees and since 2009 has been the inaugural Praxis Visiting Scholar at Green Templeton College, Oxford University.
Chris is Chairperson of Te Whakaora Tangata – a faith based trust working with disadvantaged families in South Auckland and Kaitaia and Arrow Leadership New Zealand.
Help us bring communities together
Do you have valuable experience to offer or funding capability to help us enable our changemakers to create thriving Taranaki communities?