Northland Community Foundation is made up of a board of volunteers from around Northland who give willingly of their time and talent to encourage giving to charitable and community causes.
The board are supported by volunteer committees – including a Grants Panel and an Investment Advisory Panel. These committees work to make sure that funds are found, invested wisely and then distributed through grants to the most appropriate organisations and causes across Northland.
Behind the scenes, a team of five part-time staff members keeps Northland Community Foundation running smoothly.
Sophie joined the Foundation in 2017.
In May 2022 she took on the role as Chief Executive having previously had responsibility for the operations of the Foundation, including finances, IT, and processes.
She enjoys working hard for a better future for the Northland community she now calls home. She uses her experience in project management, team leadership and financial management, as well as her technical and analytical skills, to guide the Foundation’s growth and to provide a better experience for our donors and grant recipients.
Sophie’s background is in mechanical engineering, product design and management. She dabbled in the non-profit world as a volunteer while taking a break from work to raise a family, before joining the Foundation.
In her spare time, Sophie enjoys cooking and singing, enjoying Northland's wonderful scenery on tramping trips, and she is (slowly!) learning how to sew.
Jane joined Northland Community Foundation in May 2024.
After, moving to Northland from the Waikato, Jane worked in community engagement for Hato Hone St John. Jane is a strong advocate for building healthier and more resilient communities and achieving equity in opportunities across Te Tai Tokerau. Jane supports the Foundation’s work in stewarding long-term financial projects to enhance lives across Northland for years to come.
Mandy joined the team in July 2022.
She has worked in various Legal and Accountancy administrative roles and is now working remotely on a part-time basis for the team. She is very happy to be part of a foundation that is working for the beautiful Northland Community where she has plans to settle in her retirement.
Mandy has three adult children and four grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, gardening and spending time when she can with her grandchildren.
Jessie joined the team in April 2024.
She moved to from Canada to Whangārei in 2015 and after 10 years in Northland she relocated to Christchurch where she continues to support the Foundation in a remote role.
She is deeply passionate about fostering stronger, more resilient communities, and loves contributing to the impactful work that the foundation carries out.
If you have any questions about grants or funding, Jessie is the person to talk to.
Mae joined the team in April 2024.
She is originally from the North Hokianga but spent time living and working in Chile and Colombia before returning to Northland in 2021. Mae helps the Foundation share stories about the great work that takes place across Northland communities including sharing stories about community organisations that receive grants and donor stories from generous local donors.
Mae believes that strong communities are healthy communities and she enjoys living in and supporting the community that she grew up in.
Our Ambassadors are the heart of Northland Community Foundation, bringing their wealth of experience, local insight, and dedication to their roles. Their passion for Te Tai Tokerau and commitment to fostering generosity inspire our work.
Having stepped down from his Trustee role in March 2025, after 9 years on the Board, we are very pleased to continue to benefit from Richard's support for the Foundation through his role as an ambassador.
Richard is a farmer who has spent the best part of the last fifty years representing and advocating on behalf of rural communities. Richard says that over that time it has become obvious that rural communities are on the back foot, due to a lack of votes. Richard says, “we have to find ways of looking after ourselves, because nobody else is going to do it for us”. This led to his strong support for the Northland Community Foundation, and particularly the Northern Wairoa Fund. He says that his support “provides a way to fight back, and support our own area and people into the foreseeable future”.
Richie became involved with Northland Community Foundation to support the development of the Waipu Endowment Fund which he believes will become one of Waipu’s treasures. He says “I only wish we had had the foresight to establish this 30 years ago. Had we done so, funding recent projects like The Barn would have been much easier. If Waipu has been good to you, you can be good to Waipu and leave some of your estate to the community.”
Jane joined Northland Community Foundation as Community Engagement Manager in 2022, after 10 years as part of the leadership team at Hospice where she worked in community engagement and fundraising. Jane’s passion for Northland, and for building stronger communities led her to become an ambassador for the Foundation, after stepping down from her role in June 2024 to spend more time with her family.
Gareth has been an ambassador for Northland Community Foundation since 2024. It was a conversation with his lawyer about charitable giving that inspired Gareth to establish a gift in his will to Northland Community Foundation. Gareth is passionate about giving back to the community that he has lived in his whole life, and continues to do so in his new role as ambassador for the Foundation.
Brent is a long term supporter of Northland Community Foundation, serving as a trustee from 2012 to 2024. Brent has a wealth of experience in governance and spent 24 years as Chief Executive at Sport Northland. His achievements led to him receiving the CK Doig Leadership Award at Sport NZ’s 2016 NZ Sport and Recreation Awards. He continues to make regular contributions to the ‘Brent Eastwood Sports Fund’ through payroll giving, to which he has also pledged a $25,000 gift in his will. Brent’s commitment to the Foundation’s mission led him to become an ambassador for the Foundation.
Our Board of Trustees is made up of between 5-9 independent members, each bringing a wealth of expertise in areas like business, financial management, law, and community development.
One trustee is appointed by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, while the remaining trustees are selected by the Board. Together, they volunteer their time to guide the Foundation, overseeing operations, building strong donor relationships, and shaping our granting priorities to benefit Northland.
(Te Kapotai, Ngati Hine, Ngapuhi)
Season-Mary was born and raised in Northland and is a Director of Tukau Law. Season-Mary has extensive experience advising and representing whānau, hapū, and iwi clients in Māori legal matters and Treaty of Waitangi claims processes. Season-Mary is an active member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Law Society). Season-Mary has completed a PhD with the University of Waikato, with her thesis being “Nga taumata o te moana: Reconciling the governance and ownership of the takutai moana (foreshore and seabed)”. Season-Mary is dedicated to working with whānau, hapū and iwi clients to achieve their long term aspirations.
Megan Wills is a Director of Wills Westenra, a boutique law firm in Whangārei.
Megan’s areas of expertise are commercial work, conveyancing and establishing family and charitable trusts. Megan is also focused on helping her clients with relationship property issues together with estate planning including wills and estate administration.
Megan has a genuine interest in her clients wellbeing and works towards ensuring they receive the best outcome available.
Having lived in Auckland and Wellington, Megan was a foundation student at the University of Waikato graduating with an LLB in 1994. Megan has worked in a number of law firms in both Auckland and Whangārei gaining a broad knowledge of law. Once established in Whangārei Megan completed a Bachelor of Arts in history. Megan joined the firm at the beginning of 2014 becoming a Director in the same year.
Megan enjoys supporting her three children in their academic and sports activities. Megan also enjoys putting on her gumboots and helping her husband in their family farm in her spare time as well as relaxing with friends and family at the beach.
Nicola Hartwell has a background in law and is currently employed by Northland Regional Council. She is an active member of the Whangārei Heads community and has a passion for te taiao, volunteering her time as chair of the Bream Head Conservation Trust and getting stuck in with community predator control and restoration activities. Nicola enjoys spending time with her two boys, running, surfing and hiking in the bush.
Pip Zammit is our Northland DHB representative on the Board. Pip is the Director of Allied Health, Science and Technology for the Northland DHB. Pip is the Service Manager of Oral Health and is also the Chair of the Northland Regional Clinical Governance Forum.
JP joined the Board in March 2024. Originally from South Africa, JP is Chief Executive Officer of CDL Group. JP is a seasoned businessman with a background in accounting and a profound love for Northland. His commitment to Northland’s potential is evident in his efforts towards its growth and development, where he is focused on the betterment of Northland and its people. Beyond being a successful businessman, JP contributes to various trusts and organizations as a major sponsor. JP believes in making a positive impact in the community, both in business and society.
Moe joined the Board in March 2024. Moe grew up in Matawaia, Northland surrounded by a large whānau and the stories of Kawiti (Rangatira o Ngāti Hine). Moe belongs to Ngāti Hine, Te Tai Tokerau. She trained as a psychiatric nurse in the mid-1970s and then practised in Scotland. After returning to New Zealand she trained as a teacher, and later returned to the health sector. In 2017, she became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori and health. Moe has worked in management and on various trusts, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her.
Carrolle joined the Board in 2024. She has built a career in sales and marketing, working with businesses of all sizes in New Zealand, national organisations, and local government. With extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and strategic growth, Carrolle brings a strong understanding of how business and community priorities connect. She is passionate about supporting Northland’s development and is committed to contributing her skills to initiatives that strengthen the region’s future.
Hal is a dairy farmer who lives with his wife Penny at Aoroa, just out of Dargaville. Together Hal and Penny have 3 children, with two of their children living on the farm with their partners and the grandchildren, while their youngest son lives in London. Hal says that as the farm is a family farm, they have a long term vision, which is what he admires about Northland Community Foundation. Having been involved with NGOs for a while, Hal said it was a "no brainer" to create some financial resilience for the Northland community, and that the Foundation is the right vehicle for that resilience.
Northland Community Foundation is proud to support our community through our grants. Our grants committee allocates funding from several of our endowment funds, alongside the funding we distribute as a Local Distribution Manager for the Tindall Foundation.
Each year, these grants provide vital support to organisations across the region, addressing the needs and opportunities within our community. The grants panel is made up of six dedicated volunteers, including one Trustee from our Board, who meet annually to ensure this funding is thoughtfully allocated.
Debbie is passionate about seeing Northland's rural communities thrive.
Debbie’s experience features in Local Government and Health. She served four terms as a Director on the Northland District Health Board (Ministerial and elected appointments), is a Chartered member of the Institute of Directors, a Resolution Institute Accredited Mediator and ICF Accredited Coach. She is currently CEO of the Kaipara Community Health Trust, entrusted with 46% ownership of the Dargaville Hospital.
(Te Roroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua & Ngāti Whakaue) is Project Manager at Reconnecting Northland. Thalea has a finance background, social work certification (SWRB), qualifications in Bi-cultural Supervision, and is currently studying for a Master of Indigenous Studies at AUT. Thalea divides her time between Hokianga and Whangārei. Thalea is a member of Permaculture Institute of New Zealand, co-tutors specialised workshops, and endeavours to weave in permaculture and the practices of her ancestors into her ‘home and work life’. Thalea is also very involved in strategic development work on her papakāinga and is currently involved in a National Māori Leadership Programme (Mana Kainga).
Terri owns an organic dairy farm in Maungaturoto. Over the years Terri has been involved in the arts, sports and in the community. Most recently she was a judge at the Kaipara Wearable Arts Awards, she has been a coach and manager of the Otamatea High School Girls Rugby Team and is Chairperson of the Maungaturoto Residents and Ratepayers Association.
(Te Kapotai, Ngati Hine, Ngapuhi)
Season-Mary was born and raised in Northland and is a Director of Tukau Law. Season-Mary has extensive experience advising and representing whānau, hapū, and iwi clients in Maori legal matters and Treaty of Waitangi claims processes. Season-Mary is an active member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Law Society).
(Ngāpuhi,Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Whātua) a respected colleague within the Te Tai Tokerau/Northern Region health sector for 20 years serving as the Takawaenga/Māori Health Liaison Officer at Te Poutokomanawa – Maori Health Directorate. Beyond his healthcare role, Camron also holds the position of Chairperson at the Bronchiectasis Foundation NZ, where he advocates tirelessly for respiratory health awareness and support. Camron is a Justice of the Peace, supports local community garden projects and serves in his ministry in the St Francis Xavier parish.
