Board and staff

Kate Frykberg - Chairperson

I am Executive Director of the Todd Foundation (www.toddfoundation.org.nz), a family foundation established in 1972 which focuses on funding for children, young people, their families and their communities.    I am also active in philanthropy in my personal life, establishing the Thinktank Charitable Trust in 2003 after the sale of the Internet development company my husband and I co-founded.  Our trust focuses mostly on funding that supports young children and their families, reflecting my personal passion that every child should grow up in a family that is at least "good enough" and non-damaging.

My background includes a degree in English Literature and 20 years in the IT industry and business management.  I won the 2000 ASB Business Woman of the Year award and received a royal honour, the NZ Order of Merit for services to business and the community, in the same year.  I have been a volunteer all my adult life and I am married with three sons.

Helena Francis - Deputy Chair

I am chair of my Family Trust, the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust. I also Chair a sub trust called Lifepaths which is committed to promoting emotional resilience and reducing anxiety in young people.  I was born, raised, and educated in the Christchurch area, where I still live with my husband and two children.  After leaving school I worked in the family business, Nevele R Stud as equine veterinary assistant,  I am presently the Stud’s Director.  I experienced life on campus at Canterbury briefly until injury and temporary disability put that to a stop, my majority of work experience is in sales and is related to human resources.

The priority of the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust and area of personal interest is issues around young people, particularly strengthening personal resources of young people to assist with transition into adulthood, and improving resilience.  I most enjoy working alongside our youth advisory group and especially enjoy our youth leadership scholarship project because  I  get to spend some time with young people, our future leaders. Always fun and inspiring.

John Prendergast

I have been Chief Executive of the Community Trust of Southland, since 1998.  We are a community owned philanthropic organisation that distributes $9-10m each year in grants for projects which will benefit the Southland community.
I went to primary school in Oamaru, boarding school in Auckland for intermediate, and spent all my secondary school years in Invercargill.
Some people have a "gap year" immediately after leaving school - I had 4 of them! - spending that time working in various roles. I then graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce.
I've worked for Coopers & Lybrand as a chartered accountant in Invercargill and overseas. I left public practice accountancy to work in industry, around the south Island, before returning to Invercargill in to take up my present role. I am still a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
The skills and interests I think I bring are a mixture of strong corporate

Outside of work my other current hats are:
-    Board member, Philanthropy New Zealand
-    Governor Elect, Rotary District
-    Chair, Verdon College Board of Trustees
-    Justice of the Peace
-    Trustee, Otago/Southland Catholic Diocese Board of Management
-    Panel member, Otago/Southland Community Response

Stuart Burns

I am Chief Executive of the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust. I first became involved with the Trust in 1994 as a Trustee. I stepped down as deputy chairman in 1995 to take up my current role.
After completing my secondary schooling in Rotorua I attended the University of Waikato and completed a Management Studies Degree. I am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
My Accountancy career enabled me to work in the Pacific Islands before returning to Rotorua in 1984. I have spent most of my life in Rotorua, and am passionate about the future wellbeing of the Rotorua District.
My skills are in the area of Trust management, administration and Investment where I am involved with the ongoing management of the Rotorua Trust investment portfolio.
I have a strong business focus and am on the Board of NZX listed Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Limited as well as The Boards of Hubbard Foods Limited and the Te Arawa Fisheries Group 
I have also been involved with a large number of sporting and community organisations and nationally have previously served as  a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants  Council , secretary of Philanthropy New Zealand and national treasurer of the Ulysses Club of New Zealand.
In my spare time I ride and restore classic motorcycles, like to travel both in New Zealand and overseas and spend time with my wife Andrea and our family.

Jennifer Casey (BA LLB Dip Tchg)

I am a trustee of The Tindall Foundation which was set up by Margaret and Stephen Tindall in 1994. Its programme areas include families and social services (which are the main focus), the environment, enterprise and employment, and support for the third sector. I helped establish, and spent time on the Board of, the The Hikurangi Foundation, a collaborative undertaking between The Tindall Foundation and The Todd Foundation to address risks posed by climate change, at the same time working to protect and improve our environment for the long term benefit of New Zealanders.
As a qualified lawyer, I have worked mostly in the legal environment. I was the National Information & Research Manager for a large law firm when I decided in 2005 on a change of focus. I continue to carry out legal research for a barrister.
My priority is to keep up to date with legal issues and identify those that may be of relevance to the Tindall Foundation and the charitable sector in general.
I have a background in education as a teacher and in governance. I was a Board of Trustee member when "Tomorrow's Schools" was implemented, finishing as Chairperson.  In four decades of work, church and children's school and sports activities, I have developed a network of friends and contacts from all walks of life.
I am married with four adult children and two grandchildren, and have always been in the fortunate position of being able to put my family first when considering career options.
I have a particular desire to improve the future for New Zealand children through the social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing of families.  My interests in law and government provide insight as to how change can be brought about.

Jennifer Gill

My career in philanthropy began in 1985 when Sir Roy McKenzie appointed me as the executive officer of his personal foundation, the Roy McKenzie Foundation.  While working with Sir Roy McKenzie I was also appointed as a trustee of the J R McKenzie Trust, acting as Chair in 2003.
During this period in my working life I was a founding member of the board of the Wellington Regional Community Foundation which I chaired for five years, and worked with Sir Roy McKenzie on the establishment of the Funding Information Service and of Philanthropy New Zealand. The establishment of these two organisations was regarded by Sir Roy as some of the greatest achievements of his lifetime.I have been CEO of the ASB Community Trust since October 2004. Prior to working in the philanthropic sector I had a career in the voluntary sector that included working for CORSO, Presbyterian Support and the YWCA.Be fore I joined the staff of ASB Community Trust. I was CEO of Fulbright New Zealand for ten years. During this time we significantly expanded the reach and range of the organisation, widening the funding base while developing and expanding the number of participants in the Fulbright and Ian Axford fellowship programmes.I have served on numerous non-profit, philanthropic and educational committees and boards at a community, national and international level in my personal and professional life including currently the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium and two small grant making philanthropic trusts. I am in my second term as a member of the Philanthropy New Zealand Board having completed a five year term as the Chair. I see value in promoting giving and have spoken and written widely about the role of philanthropy in society.

Jonny Gritt

Having survived an Honours degree in Business and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I served as an Army Officer for a decade with the British Armoured Corps before transitioning to civilian life.  In the Private Sector I performed sales and marketing roles that helped build a diverse range of businesses before moving into the Community Sector.  Success here was achieved through projects with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Department for Communities and Local Government and other Charities.  I have been involved in community endeavours linked to community cohesion, racial equality, youth development and national citizenship programmes now delivered across the UK. 

Arriving in New Zealand in 2009, I sought the challenge of continued service to the community of NZ through direct engagement with the Charitable Gaming Sector.  As General Manager for Grants and Marketing I have first hand experience of the many great projects The Lion Foundation supports.  The diverse nature of my experience, an interest in sustainable development and the fact I am effectively a “poacher turned gamekeeper” quite literally from both sides of the charitable space, supporting organisations on governance, operations and sustainability, means that I offer a unique perspective to Philanthropy New Zaland as it builds a pivotal role for the future.

Mary Dillon  QSM

I am the current Chair of BayTrust and have been a Trustee since 2008.

In 2007 I completed 21years as an elected member of the Tauranga City Council. I have held many chairing roles in the policy development and planning areas and was the Deputy Mayor for six years.

In 1999 I became a founding Trustee of the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust which built the Tauranga Art Gallery and is now responsible for its successful operation. I has recently resigned as Trustee after 12 years of service.

I also currently chair the Tauranga Environment Centre and the Welcome Bay Community Centre and am a founding and active member of the Welcome Bay Catchment Care Group.

I have six adult children and twelve grandchildren.

Rongo Kirkwood

Ko Taupiri te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Potatau te tangata
Ko Waikato / Maniapoto te iwi
Ko Ngāti Mahuta te hapū
Ko Tūrangawaewae te marae
Nō Ngāruawahia ahau

Rongo is of Waikato/Maniapoto descent and draws strength from her whānau. She has worked extensively in the community, in particular in the marae, health, education, and community development sectors. In her current role as Pouhere Pūtea (Donation Advisor) with Trust Waikato, she focuses on advancing the holistic well being of all whānau, hapū and iwi. Rongo provides a range of services including specialist funding advice, and is a trained sustainable funding facilitator. Being well connected in the community enables Rongo to broker effective relationships and support iwi with their aspirations.

A fan of life-long learning, Rongo has just completed a Bachelor of Applied Social Science of Te Reo and Māori Development.  Undertaking tertiary study has enabled Rongo to strengthen her knowledge and skill base, all the while complementing her role as Pouhere Pūtea. Currently residing in Hamilton with her partner Harry, Rongo says people are her passion. This reflects not only in her work, but also in her community service and at home on the marae.

Ana Rolleston

As a descendent of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāi Tahu, I am passionate about Te Ao Māori, in particular cultural development and the Māori world view of the environment. I also have a real enthusiasm for tackling inequities which are sometimes confused with inequalities; inequalities being defined as the differences between groups, and inequities being the differences between groups that are avoidable, unfair or unjustified.  Not all inequalities are unfair or unjustified.
At present I work as a Reducing Inequalities Manager, tackling health inequity issues predominantly in the area of cancer for the South Island Shared Services Agency.  Prior to that I managed the Ngāi Tahu Fund, whose mission is to strengthen Ngāi Tahu cultural excellence through sustainability, innovation and tenacity. I have also worked for Whai Rawa (a long-term savings investment scheme), also in education for a Kura Kaupapa Māori (a total immersion Māori school) and in health, promoting access to health information. My strengths and areas of expertise include; policy development, project and business planning, Māori cultural development, information technology and inequities.

Alison Taylor (MSc, PhD)

I am a Director of the Vodafone Foundation New Zealand, a philanthropic organisation which supports programmes in the youth sector and for young people with high and complex needs. 
I've held a number of senior Public Health and Social Sector management and leadership roles in the UK and New Zealand over the last 20 years. My career began in Health Promotion, with specialties in Nutrition, Heart Disease Prevention, HIV and AIDS, Mental Health Promotion, Injury Prevention and Public Health Management in London. 
After moving to New Zealand in 1996 to take up a role at North Health as a Public Health Manager, I became CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand in 1998, then the General Manager of the Ministry of Youth Development before setting up Sinclair Taylor Consulting with my partner in 2007, providing advice and support to the health, youth and social sectors. 
My current areas of expertise and focus include supporting community organisations with capacity and capability development, learning and evaluation, mentoring and coaching, service review and design, strategy and partnership development. I work collaboratively with a network of colleagues to provide a team approach.

Kim McWilliams

With 20 years of experience in the fields of Public Relations, Marketing/Sponsorship, Philanthropy, and having owned my own businesses, I have a very broad outlook on life and varied life experience. 

Though I started out in Public Relations, I moved into the NFP sector for a few years after having children, and was then headhunted into the corporate world. My experience is now largely commercial having managed the Westpac Sponsorship Team and Portfolio for three years, and the AMP Group Sponsorship Team and Foundation for five years. I am now working in my dream role, Executive Director for the Auckland Medical Research Foundation - a noble and historic funder of medical research, and the largest independent funder in this area outside the government.

I am passionate about the role and work of Philanthropy NZ, giving, generosity, and corporate responsibility. A particular area of interest is social entrepreneurs and the potential they hold to grow our economy alongside our giving. At the end of the day I really enjoy having experience on both sides of the fence in the philanthropic world, and keeping up with my network of commercial, community, and government contacts.

Robyn Scott

Robyn joined Philanthropy NZ in 2003 after a varied career including sixteen years as a Primary school teacher and more recently after experience in the Not for profit sector in managing a small NFP organization.  She is actively involved with several not for profit organisations and enjoys the variety of work that running a small organization offers.

Robyn lives in Wellington with her husband and two school-aged children. She finds the world of philanthropy continually stimulating, challenging and thought provoking.

Jolly Fernandes

Jolly Fernandes is Philanthropy New Zealand's office manager. She does administrative/reception work for us and also for the JR McKenzie Trust and the Funding Information Service with whom we share our offices. In the spare time, Jolly spends her time outdoors in the garden and walking.

Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts works part-time for Philanthropy New Zealand managing communication and membership services. She has over 20 years experience in the media and communication field. Rachel is consistently inspired by the regular contact with our philanthropists and grantmaking members. She is married with two young children.