Our Trustees - Ngā Kaitarahiti
Our trustees, who form the Board that governs Community Trust South, are appointed by the Minister of Finance for four-year terms. Trustees are from throughout our area and include a mix of community, investment, legal and financial expertise to assist us in achieving high governance standards and to ensure effective stewardship of the significant community resource they are responsible for.
The Board has a code of conduct that reflects good governance standards and all trustees commit to declaring generosity, acting ethically and professionally, and to properly manage conflicts of interest.
The role of our Board is to set our strategy and policies, and to make decisions on all funding requests.
To give effect to the Treaty principle of partnership the Trust is committed to recommending a Mana Whenua endorsed presence on the Board. Along with the usual roles of a Trustee, the role of a Mana Whenua Endorsed Trustee includes connecting the Trust with Iwi, providing a Māori perspective into Trust decision making; encouraging consideration of issues surrounding Manawhenua and Iwi Māori; facilitating advice and guidance to the Trust in undertaking its operations in a manner that values and respects kawa (protocols) and tikanga (customs).
There are four sub committees of the Board:
- Investment
- Audit, Finance and Risk Management
- General Manager Assessment
- Te Whai Hua
The day to day running of our organisation is delegated to our Chief Executive Officer who, along with staff, is responsible for delivering on our strategy.
Margot Hishon
Heamana/Chair
Previously chair of Community Trust South between 2016 – 2019, Margot has extensive governance experience and knowledge of the community the Trust serves. Based in Winton, Margot holds several governance roles across the central Southland community, including Central Southland Community Support Workers and Able Charitable Trust.
Stephen Canny
Heamana Tuarua - Deputy Chair
Stephen (MNZM, MIOD) is a Business and Strategic Projects Group Manager. He has managed the successful completion of large projects such as Southland’s Regional Energy Strategy, Whole Community Broadband Network as well as major civil and mechanical engineering projects including satellite and space ground stations and terrestrial television.
Stephen has been Chairman of the National Broadband Forum, Chairman of Junior Worlds 2012 Limited and President of Cycling New Zealand Road and Track. He has presented at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events and at numerous international conferences.
Sam Grant
Trustee
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Kōtirana te whakapaparanga mai
engari
Ko Balfour te whenua tupu
Ko Murihiku te kāinga
Kei Waihopai au e noho ana
Ko Sam Grant taku ingoa
Tēnā tātou katoa
With a strong background in finance, including working at NZX Ltd – New Zealand’s only registered securities exchange – Sam brings significant financial and portfolio management experience to the Trust. Currently an Investment Adviser for Craigs Investment Partners, based at their Gore Office, Sam is looking forward to supporting the Trust with its strategic investment planning and informed decision-making. Sam is also enthusiastic about contributing to the Murihiku/Wakatipu community by supporting the Trust's ongoing good work, aiming to enhance its positive impact and support local initiatives.
Bharat Guha
Trustee
Tēna tatou e te whānau
Ko Bukit Timah te Maunga
Ko Sungai Kallang te Awa
Nō Singapura Ahau
Ko Bharat tōku Ingoa
No rēira, tēna koutou katou
Bharat Guha began his chartered accounting training at KPMG Ward Wilson Invercargill in 1987 after earning his degree from the University of Otago. As Deputy CE / CFO of SIT, he was the financial architect of the Zero Fees Scheme in 2001. He was also responsible for attracting domestic and international students to Invercargill, assisting in reversing the population decline. Now serving as CFO for the ILT, Bharat is honoured to hold this position to continue contributing towards the growth and well-being of the Invercargill and Southland communities.
Leon Hartnett
Trustee
Ko Maungawhau te māunga
Ko Liffey te awa
No Dublin ahau
Ko Airihi, ōku iwi
Ko Waihopai toku kainga noho
Ko Leon Hartnett tōku ingoa
Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. Leon has professional qualifications in accountancy and tax law and worked as an accountant for 20 years. Leon was the Charter President of the Rotary club of Invercargill NRG, founding director of Greenlight Innovations and director of Helping Hands Southland. He also works for IHC New Zealand.
Leon, his wife and three children have lived in Invercargill since 2011 and are heavily invested in the community. Leon is committed to the wellbeing of the community especially as regards those who are disadvantaged.
Melanie Montgomery
Trustee
Ko Takitimu te māunga
Ko Te Anau to awa
Nō Murihiku ahau
Ko Dickson toku whanau
Ko Montgomery toku whanau inaianei
Ko Mel Montgomery toku ingoa
Mel lives in Central Southland and is the financial controller at ILT Stadium Southland. Mel is also the manager of the Southland Indoor Leisure Centre Charitable Trust, owns a rural contracting business alongside her husband, is the chair of a local rural primary school, and was a director of Invercargill City Forest for four years. Mel has a strong connection to the rural community and has been involved in a number of community organisations in varying capacities over her career.
Maria Pera
Trustee
Maria was appointed as the Community Trust South mana whenua endorsed trustee in December 2024. Maria has held several leadership roles supporting Māori development, including being Senior Advisor the Minister of Māori development from 2018 – 2022. As the Operations Manager for Mataura Marae Development, and with significant governance experience - including being director of the Southland Regional Development Agency and Murihiku Regeneration Maria is strongly connected to the Murihiku community. Maria’s role on the Board is endorsed by Murihiku’s four Papatipu Rūnanga and she looks forward to supporting the Trust in achieving its strategic aspiration.
Leanne Samuel
Trustee
Ko Maungatua toku maunga
Ko Taieri toku awa
Ko Pakeha, Kuki Airani toku iwi
Ko Murihiku tohu papa kainga
Ko Leanne Samuel toku ingoa
Leanne is the Southland area manager for IHC/IDEA services and has held executive clinical leadership/management roles in District Health boards and more recently in the intellectual disability sector. Qualifications include Nursing, Midwifery and a Masters degree in Health Service Management. Leanne is also qualified in Civil Defence Emergency management. Born and raised in Otago and Southland, Leanne was as a previous member of the Trusts’ Murihiku health scholarship committee. Leanne’s whanau is a mix of NZ European and Cook Island Maori descent and Leanne serves as a board member on a rural health services provider trust and with local Maori and Pacific organisation.
Warren Skerrett
Trustee
Having previously served on the Board for three years, Warren has a proven track record of dedication to the Whakatipu/Murihiku community. Based in Queenstown, Warren brings significant financial planning and governance experience to the role of Trustee, including involvement in Whakatipu Wildlife Trust. Warren’s skillset in navigating complex financial landscapes, will be instrumental in supporting the Trust’s development. Warrens focus is to help strengthen the asset base of the Trust, so that future generations will continue to benefit, from the Trusts Philanthropic objectives.
Bridgette Smith
Trustee
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko English/Chinese te whakapaparanga mai
engari Ko Southland te whenua tupu
Ko Waikaka te kāinga
Nō Waikaka au
Kei I Waikaka au e noho ana
Ko Bridgette Smith ahau
Tēnā tātou katoa
An experienced business owner, Bridgette simultaneously manages MGM Auto in Gore, and her family dairy farm in Waikaka. Born and raised in Gore, Bridgette is passionate about community engagement and believes in the transformative power of strategic investments and grant funding for community projects. Bridgette holds several positions on regional boards and has significant experience in developing business strategies and marketing initiatives.
Emma Philpott
Board Internship
Emma was appointed as an intern to the Community Trust South Board in December 2024. An associate at McCulloch & Partners, Emma has many touchpoints to the wider Southland community, including rural and commercial sectors, and local sporting organisations. Emma will contribute to the development of the Community Trust South Board in the role of Board Intern for two years.
Becoming a Trustee
Trustees of Community Trust South are responsible for an investment fund of $243 million (as at 31 March 2023) and distributing income generated, to benefit the communities of Southland, Wakatipu Basin and parts of West Otago.
The Minister of Finance has responsibility for appointing Trustees and invites Community Trust South to put forward nominations of suitable people to be considered for appointment as a Trustee. As well as seeking nominations from the Trust, the Minister can also receive nominations directly from any other interested people. To assist the Minister to identify suitable people for consideration, expressions of interest on a confidential basis are welcomed from people in the Community Trust South rohe (area).
The Minister takes into consideration several factors when making appointments including the skills and attributes required. Collectively Trustees must have the skills to manage the Trust, in particular:
- Sufficient diversity among Trustees (for example, in relation to background, skillset, ethnicity, demographics, and gender) in order to ensure that the communities in the Community Trust South area and their needs are properly represented;
- Sufficient Trustees who whakapapa Māori;
- Sufficient Trustees who have the skills required to manage the Trust Fund's investments (including compliance with financial and legal requirements);
- Trustees who collectively have skills in governance, community experience and the social sector; and
- Sufficient institutional knowledge of the Trust's affairs retained amongst the Trustees to enable smooth operation of the Trust.
External Committee Members - Ngā Mema Poari Mōwaho
In line with best practice and the need for continuity, the Trust can appoint External Committee Members (ECM) to a Trust committee to support the Board in discharging its responsibilities.
The term of an ECM’s appointment will be decided by the Board taking into account the requirements of the committee, upcoming Trustee appointment rounds, the expected duration of the committee and the need for continuity on the committee. A person cannot be an ECM on more than one committee at one time.
Kathryn Ball
Audit, Finance & Risk Committee
Kathryn, a chartered accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in public practice, is currently a self-employed consultant, principally to McIntyre Dick. Kathryn was a partner/principal in McIntyre Dick and Partners for many years, and prior to that a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers and Coopers and Lybrand.
A director of SBS Bank since 2006, and deputy chair since 2016, Kathryn chairs the bank’s Audit & Risk Committee. She is a director of Invercargill Central Ltd, and was previously a director of Stadium Southland Ltd and a councillor of Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), chairing the Audit & Finance Committee and serving a period as deputy chair.
Kathryn is the Chair of our Audit, Finance and Risk Committee, is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Andrew Johnson
Investment Committee
Andrew is an investment professional currently focussing on governance roles. He has more than 25 years’ investment experience, including nearly 9 years as a consultant advising institutional clients.
Andrew is an investment committee member for two other organisations (including a Community Trust) and a board member of three restricted workplace savings schemes. He also provides ongoing advisory services to a retail managed fund provider, and undertakes ad hoc advisory projects from time to time.
Staff - Kaimahi
Jackie Flutey
Chief Executive Officer
Ko Tititea te māunga
Ko Wanaka te roto
Nō Otautahi ahau
Ko Liz rāua ko Ron Carson ōku mātua
No Wanaka rāua
Ko Ray Flutey toku hoa tane
Nō Akaroa ia
Ko Kai Tahu tana iwi
Ko Abby tāku tamahine
Ko Joseph tāku tama
Ko Waihopai toku kainga noho
Ko Jackie Flutey toku ingoa
Bringing a range of management experience in the grantmaking and tertiary education sectors, Jackie joined the Trust in early 2018. Jackie’s commitment to fostering relationships and partnerships with other funders and the community ensures the Trust is well positioned and continues to build on its solid foundations established over the past 30 years. Her pragmatic and level-headed approach enables her to empower staff and effectively support the trustees to carry out their mandate.
Dianne Williams
Grants Manager
Ko Takitimu toku māunga
Ko Aparima toku awa
Ko Nightcaps te whenua, e hono nei ki
taku whanau
Ko Kotirani, ko Airihi tōku iwi
Ko Waihopai toku kainga noho
Ko Dianne Williams tōku ingoa
With nearly 20 years working alongside the people of the South, Dianne brings an empathic and sound understanding of all things community. Her knowledge of working with your organisation is a vital link in sharing your passion and advocating for your services and projects with trustees. Dianne’s strength is getting to the heart of a project and working alongside groups to achieve their goals.
Jess Domigan
Strategy, Policy & Insights Manager
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Te Whara tōku maunga
Ko Mātāpouri tōku moana
I tipu ake ahau i Whangarei
Ēngari e noho ana ahau i Waihopai
Ko Bartley tōku whānau
Ko Jason tōku hoa tāne
Ko James rāua ko Harry āku tama
Ko Jess Domigan tōku ingoa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Jess has a wealth of experience across the Health, Education and Sport sectors. Her expertise is in bringing strategic priorities to action, policy development and relationship building which lends itself well to her role as Strategy, Insights and Policy Manager. Jess is committed to fostering collaboration for collective impact to ensure Murihiku whānau reach their aspirations.
Ngaire Hamilton
Office Manager
Ko Takitimu te māunga
Ko Waimatuku te awa
Ko Napaeleon Toru te waka
Ko Drummond te whenua, e hono nei, ki
taku whanau
Ko Kotirani toku iwi
Nō Otatara ahau
Ko Ngaire Hamilton toku ingoa
Ngaire’s down-to-earth approach, combined with a diverse range of skills and responsibilities, ensures she's the glue that holds our office together. With over ten years’ experience at the Trust, Ngaire knows the organisation inside and out and is your first point of contact.
Jennifer Hay
Accountant
Ko Takitimu te māunga
Ko Waiau te awa
Ko Wakatipu te roto
Ko Kotirani, Ko Airihi, Ko Werehi oku iwi
Ko Jennifer Hay toku ingoa
With over 20 years’ experience as a chartered accountant in the private and community sectors, Jen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. When it comes to numbers, Jen thrives on detail and can bring numbers to life, ensuring our investments and operations are managed based on best practice.
Michelle Baron
Funding Advisor
Ko Motupohue te māuka
Ko Te Ara a Kiwa te moana
Ko Takitimu te waka
Nō Te Moutere a Ruapuke ahau
Ko Te Rau Aroha tōku marae
Ko Tuhawaiki Te Rangitira
Ko Kai Tahu, ko Katirani oku iwi
Ko Kati Mamoe, ko Waitaha ōku hapu
Ko Waihopai toku kainga noho
Ko Michelle Baron toku ingoa
With a wealth of experience in financial services, administrative systems and support, Michelle brings a positive and friendly approach to supporting community groups and individuals ensuring your grant or scholarship application is in very safe hands. Her part-time role supports our Grants Manager in the day-to-day administration of funding activities.
Greg Houkamau
Pouārahi Māori
Te taha o tōku matua
Nō te uri o Ngāti Porou
Hikurangi te maunga
Waiapu te awa
Horouta te waka
Tuwhakairiora te tīpuna
Wharekahika te turangawaewae
I te taha o tōku whaea
Nō Ingarangi me Aerana ia
Ko Debbie tōku wahine
Ko Reihana te mātāmua, ko Nikora, ko Nathan te pōtiki
Ko Jack tōku tama whakaangi
I tipu ake ahau i Waihopai, e noho ana ahau kei reira
Ko te Pouārahi Māori kei Te Pou Arataki Pounamu o Murihiku e mahi ana me te Taiohi Poumahi kei Te Takaro ora o Murihiku
Ko Greg Houkamau tōku ingoa
Bridget Napier
Marketing & Comms Advisor
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko ingarangi, ko Kōtirana te whakapaparanga mai
Engari ko waihopai te whenua tupu
Ko waihopai te kāinga
He tangata tiriti ahau
Ko Reginald Dalzell toku tupuna
Ko Napier toku whanau
Ko Nathan toku Tane
Ko rua tamahine – ko Addison, Ko Ella
Ko Bridget Napier toky ingoa
No reira
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
With an extensive marketing and communications skillset and significant experience in local communications roles, Bridget brings a friendly and enthusiastic approach to championing the Trust across Murihiku Southland. Whether it's overseeing Trust communications, or sharing successful grant recipient stories, Bridget is proud to support a thriving south.
Staff Vacancies
There are no current vacancies.