St. Peter's foundation

Aksel is a parent of current students at the school, a former St Peter's Trust Board member and past Chair of Owl Farm. Aksel also represented Tamahere, the immediate northern neighbouring district to St Peter's, for six years as their Councillor and served three of those years as the Deputy Mayor of Waikato District Council.

He has a commercial background in both Human Resource Management and equipment sales & service, particularly to the Dairy, Wine and Brewing industries. Aksel has a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Psychology, and a Masters in Industrial Pyschology. Aksel started his professional career working for Natural Gas Corporation, and was part of the successful management buy-out of NDA Engineering in 1998.

He continued as an owner/manager until the business was sold a decade later, after which Aksel held Board of Trustee roles in primary schools as well as directorships in private sector companies whilst focusing most of his time around family.

Fiona is the St Peter's Parents Association Representative trustee. Her three children attend St Peter’s. Fiona has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Canterbury. Her professional experience includes in-house legal roles in London and private practice in New Zealand. She is currently employed as a lawyer in the corporate and commercial team at Norris Ward McKinnon, a Hamilton based law firm.

Fiona also has experience in the not-for-profit sector both in paid and voluntary roles. Fiona is very committed to using her skill set to support the Foundation and the wider community.

Leigh joined the Foundation in 2017. She attended St Peter's between 1992 and 1995 and was Deputy Head Girl in her final year. Leigh has been a teacher for 19 years, the last six as Head of Faculty Health and Physical Education at Otahuhu College. Her further education includes a Master of Educational Leadership (Hons First Class) from Auckland University of Technology, and Postgraduate Certificate in Digital and Collaborative learning from Unitec.

Leigh is chairperson of the New Zealand Health Education Association (NZHEA). In her Kaikōtuitui Arataki Oranga role for the association, she supports health education teachers through resource and professional learning and development facilitation, as well as networking, representing and advocating for NZHEA nationwide.

Tim joined the Foundation as a representative from the St Peter's Parents Association in 2011. From there, Tim became a full member of the Foundation in 2012. Tim is also a committee member of the St Peters Alumni and was a member of the Parents' Association for five years. Tim is an old boy of St Peter's (1972-1978). He is married and his three children all attended the school between 2001 and 2011. He was eager to become involved with St Peters through the various committees because of the value, tradition and excellence which St Peter's School pride themselves on.

John is the Chair of the St Peter's Trust Board. He has worked in both the public and the private health sector in senior leadership roles. He has delivered a range of digital and service innovations that have changed how you and your family experience health care. John is currently working in New Zealand, Australia, UK and the Middle East with start-ups, NGOs, private and public sector organisations in advisory and governance roles.

John holds a BLS and MBA from the University of Waikato, and advanced leadership and system design qualifications from Harvard University and Henley Business School. John is married with three children - two current St Peter’s students and one recently graduated. John is passionate about seeing St Peter’s continuing to develop as an independent school, producing critical thinking leaders of tomorrow, equipped to make a difference.

Fellow Chartered Accountant, BMS, Chief Financial Officer, Braemar Hospital Limited. Marc is a senior finance professional and Follow Chartered Accountant, with experience across the health, education, research and electricity sectors. His areas of responsibility at Braemar are finance and information technology. As Braemar Hospital embarks on a journey to deliver on its digital strategy, supporting and leading this strategy is a key focus. Marc’s previous role was with the University of Waikato, as Director of Finance and prior to that was Business Manager for St Peter’s School, Cambridge.

He has a passion for improving the quality and depth of reporting to management and governors to improve decision making and support growth. With significant experience in campus and business development, one of the highlights for Marc has been working to fund and build the national velodrome in Cambridge. Marc has governance experience across education, health and high performance sport sectors. Marc grew up in Waikato (Te Kauwhata and Hamilton) and lives with his wife Sue on a lifestyle block in Tamahere, their three children having now “flown the coop”. Marc enjoys family and beach time, and is active in cycling, orienteering and adventure racing.

Marlene is a qualified secondary school teacher who resigned to raise four children, all of whom attended St Peter’s School. Her governance journey began during these years, and she was involved on many education-related boards. These included 11 years as Board Chair of a full primary school, and chairing a schooling improvement initiative for a cluster of schools. Marlene is Chair of the Perry Outdoor Education Trust – an organisation aimed at supporting low decile secondary schools in the delivery of quality outdoor experiences. She is also on the board of the Brian Perry Charitable Trust, Perrinpark Retirement Village and Bridge Housing Trust.

Grant is an experienced leader in marketing, sales, sports and event management, sponsorship, fundraising and project management.  His involvement with St. Peter’s has been as a parent, staff member since the late 2000, and for the last 12 years a trustee of the Foundation. Grant and his family have provided expertise and practical assistance across many aspects of the Waikato community and what makes it tick.

He is a Trustee on Toro Mai Reach Out, helps raise money for not-for-profit organisations that provide opportunities for youth in sport and to improve the life chances of people affected by life threatening illness that require support not funded by Pharmac. He spends his spare time supporting his children and keeping fit so he can keep up with his wife.

Matt has extensive experience in all aspects of corporate and commercial law and specialises in advising clients on business sales and acquisitions, contract negotiation, joint ventures, structuring, shareholder arrangements, limited partnerships and financing.  Matt has a particular expertise and interest in private and family owned business and the opportunities and challenges which are unique to these businesses.