We are a close-knit team of volunteers united by the same focus – making sure South Canterbury continues to be a place that we proudly call home.
Stephen McFarlane - Chairperson
Stephen McFarlane is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Financial Planner and Authorised Financial Adviser.
His community involvement includes Chairing the South Canterbury Rugby Union, Tennis South Canterbury and the Fraser Park Community Trust. He is on the YMCA Mid and South Canterbury Board and has also served on the Board of the Crusaders.
Stephen is a passionate advocate for South Canterbury and the significant difference the Aoraki Foundation can make in the community.
John Coles
The Coles family have a long history with farming in the Waimate region that goes back well over 100 years.
John has significant involvement with the St Andrews, Otaio and Waimate community, including time as the Waimate District Council Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillor, as well as assisting on various committees and trust boards.
His work for the Waimate and district communities was acknowledged with an ONZM on the 2014 New Years honours list as well being awarded a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
Nick Noone
Nick Noone is the appointed accountant to the trust and one of the founding trustees. He is a director of Noone Plus Ltd Chartered Accountants, based in Timaru.
Nick has spent the last thirty years in the region and is heavily involved in the local community through business, sporting and educational interests.
He is a strong believer in the philanthropic focus of the Aoraki Foundation and the ongoing benefits it brings to charitable organisations operating in this region.
Lesley Roy
Following 24 years in tourism marketing and business management largely in Wellington, Los Angeles and Taiwan, Lesley understands first hand what an asset South Canterbury is.
She has been involved in governance roles with Trusts and Boards for many years, including the Cruise New Zealand Executive, Australia and New Zealand Business Association, South Canterbury Free Kindergarten Association, Central South Island Tourism, Mackenzie Tourism Trust and the Fairlie Community Vehicle Trust.
Murray Roberts
Murray has been a long term resident of South Canterbury. Now semi retired from his long term corporate role as NZ Business Manager for the worldwide Inspection, Audit and Certification company SGS, he has now taken a role as Managing Director of Trust Aoraki Ltd, is a Board Member of the South Canterbury District Health Board and a Director of the South Canterbury Eye Clinic.
Murray has held a long time interest in various sports in SC and is currently President of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union.
He is passionate about South Canterbury and what it has to offer to our various communities and
tourists alike.
Ian O'Loughlin
Ian has been a member of the South Canterbury community since 1977.
He is an Oral Surgeon at Timaru Hospital and has had wide involvement with the health sector locally and nationally for over 34 years.
Ian is dedicated to South Canterbury and has a strong focus on seeing South Canterbury, and the families that live there, flourish.
Robyn Hewson
Robyn works in the Rangitata electorate office where she has worked alongside the local MP since 2005. Previous to that she worked as an Industrial Chaplin for 8 years.
Robyn learnt the role of governance by serving on the Boards of Trustees for 9 years for 2 local schools.
She is an active supporter of philanthropic causes, working overseas for short periods in aid work and supporting her local community. Her most recent local project was for the St Andrews District Children's Centre – raising funds and purchasing a building to enable local women and children to meet for educational and social purposes. She now chairs the Community Board overseeing this organisation.
Robyn also established a Rent to Own business to finance folk into their own homes as well as leading a budget advisory group to enable local people to become financially literate.
David Forman
David is a solicitor and partner in RSM Law Ltd, Timaru. He is experienced in litigation and commercial law, a trustee of the Mid and South Canterbury Community Trust and is honorary solicitor for South Canterbury R.S.A. He is married with two children, lives in Timaru and enjoys football, mountain biking, and snowboarding in his spare time.
We would also like to acknowledge the work of previous Trustees and Executive Members who have helped to make The Aoraki Foundation what it is today:
Sid MacAuley
Jim Anderson
Ken McKenzie
John Bishop
Ron Luxton
Nigel Davenport
Peter McIlraith
Jan Hide
Damon Odey
Alice Caird
Leon O'Sullivan
Gavin McKenzie
Stacey Scott
Gail Thompson