Patron
Sir Noel Robinson KNZM
Sir Noel Robinson KNZM is the Founding Chairman of Waka Pacific Trust and stepped down from the Board of Trustees in June 2020 to enjoy his retirement. Sir Noel’s vision to provide South Auckland with a place of learning, challenge and success has been well achieved through the establishment of the Due Drop Events Centre, the Wero Whitewater Park and the Momentum Hub.
He relentlessly pursued national and local government approvals, consents and partnerships. His strong relationship with iwi coupled with corporate sponsorships has resulted in a world class facility that continues to grow in commercial excellence and to invest in programmes that benefit youth and community.
Sir Noel’s past involvements in the business and enterprise sectors were Founder of Robinson Industries, Founding Director of South Auckland Health and Deputy Chairman when Middlemore Hospital became a Crown Health Enterprise, Chairman of Sir Woolf Fisher Educational Trust and Chairman of a business group that worked with the Manukau City Council to develop their economic strategy for the city. He was also involved in property developments projects at Highbrook Industrial Estate in Auckland and Paraparaumu Airport in Wellington.
He is the Patron of the Manukau Symphony Orchestra.
Sir Noel was appointed as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in 2006 for services to the community and business.
Trustees
John Bongard ONZM CRSNZ
Chairman
John Bongard is the Chairman of the Waka Pacific Trust. He is passionate about the South Auckland community where he was raised and is also Chairman of The Rising Foundation, a programme created to assist youth in Otara, Manurewa, Papakura and Pukekohe.
John served almost 36 years with Fisher & Paykel Appliances, most recently as CEO and Managing Director, prior to his retirement in 2009.
Since retirement, John has continued his involvement in the business and enterprise sectors as Chairman of Netball New Zealand, Chairman of BNZ Partners Highbrook, Deputy Chairman of The Totara Foundation, Chairman of Sky City Auckland Community Trust, Chairman of Science for Technological Innovation and Chairman of PSCTH Thailand, HJ Asmuss & Co Limited, NARTA Australia and WilliamsWarn NZ Limited.
John Bongard was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2010 for services to business.
Sky Cai
Director, Kvest Investment Partners Group Ltd
Sky is the director of Kvest Investment Partners Group Ltd. He is an experienced development professional with proven success in subdivisions, apartment developments, residential and commercial construction, and assets and equity management.
Sky has an affable personality which enables him to build an excellent rapport with stakeholders. He very much enjoys networking which he undertakes with great skill and he is passionate about charity work.
Martin Cooper
Trustee, Manurewa Marae
Martin is a leadership support specialist and Kaumatua for Alfriston College. He is a Board of Trustee of the Manurewa Marae Trust, Kaumatua and Trustee of The Polyfest Trust, Convener of Te Kooti Rangatahi (Marae Youth Courts) and former Chair of Te Hao Tapu Trust.
Martin joined Second Waka Pacific Trust as Trustee in August 2017.
Matt Lory
Engineer, Director RCP
Matt has been a consultant for the Trust for over ten years with hands-on involvement in the delivery of Wero Whitewater Park as Lead Project Manager and Engineer's Representative. Latterly he has been the lead consultant in Wero Climb's delivery, construction and commissioning.
In addition to his project delivery experience, Matt brings strong governance capability through his role as a Director on RCP's Board. He contributes to strategic planning, risk management and mentoring across national operations. He is skilled at bringing people together, navigating complex challenges and keeping the big picture in view while ensuring the details are right.
Matt is a leader with professionalism, humility and a collaborative spirit.
Chelsea Herbert
Director, Herbert Debt Advisory
Chelsea has 20 years’ experience in the banking industry with ANZ and BNZ, largely with property development, investment and cash flow lending.
She has a Business Degree with a double major in Finance and Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato and briefly worked at the university as an associate finance lecturer. She currently specialises in land development, structured investment debt solutions, cashflow lending and portfolio restructuring.
Chelsea lives in South Auckland with her two kids and spends her spare time taking her kids to swimming events. She has a passion for the south Auckland community.
Jatin Patel CA
Director JP and Associates Limited, Chartered Accountants
An accountant by trade, Jatin has used his skills to support many worthy causes including trusteeships for Totara Hospice, the Kidney Society and Middlemore Foundation.
In joining Waka Pacific, Jatin's experience in corporate governance, risk management and financial management will bring very desirable skills to the Board table.
Jatin's efforts in fund raising for the various charities he has been associated with over the years has been outstanding and having completed 11 separate cycling events (including riding from London to Paris for the Cancer Society), he is not a man to sit still!
Jatin brings enormous skills and knowledge to the Trust coupled with an intense and genuine interest in community service. His expertise and community connection will be very welcome.
Mark Robinson
Director, Private Investor and Consultant
Mark is the founder of Avery Robinson Ltd, the exclusive distributor for Dyson in NZ, a business which he managed for 21 years until it ceased operation in 2018.
Mark is the chairman of The Woolf Fisher Trust and has been a trustee over the past 10 years. He is actively involved with local sporting clubs and works as a private investor and consultant. He lives in Auckland with his wife and two children.
Jon Ramage
Managing Partner, PR Partners
Jon has over 35 years' experience business strategy, marketing and communications. He started out client side as PR Manager at Auckland Council and PR Manager at Telecom NZ, before switching to agency land working for Ogilvy, Colenso BBDO they won NBR and Campaign Brief Agency of the Year three years in a row. As CEO at Y&R, before joining Lily & Louis PR, then starting PR Partners.
Jon has a very integrated view of creative communications having worked in public relations, direct marketing and for a large part of his career, advertising.
While GM at Colenso BBDO they won NBR and Campaign Brief Agency of the Year three years in a row. As CEO at Y&R Group he was responsible for Y&R, IdeaWorks Retail, VML Digital, Wunderman and Mediaedge:cia with offices in Auckland and Wellington. While there he was a finalist for CAANZ CEO of the Year in 2008 and won Agency of the Year in 2009.
His experience covers most categories. Including work on major brands including AMP, Spark, BNZ, MINI, Tip Top Ice Cream, Pepsi, Tourism Australia, Burger King, Arnott's, Microsoft, Avis Budget, Vector and Netball NZ.
Jon also has extensive experience in retail strategy having led Noel Leeming, Liquorland, Animates and Beds R Us.
He is former Vice-President of CAANZ (Communications Agencies Association of NZ), Chair of UNICEF NZ, Board Member of Stonyridge Vineyard and The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show.
He is the proud father of two daughters, loves skiing and running completing six Marathons (Including New York Marathon in 2009) and eight Half Marathons.
Dr Jacoba Matapo
Associate Professor, Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific, Auckland University of Technology
Jacoba Matapo draws inspiration from her Pacific heritage, blending her Samoan/Dutch roots while striving to uplift Pacific communities she serves. As a first-generation doctorate recipient from Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Jacoba is AUT's first Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific. Additionally, she plays a role as the pioneer Associate Professor in Pacific early childhood education, endeavouring to amplify the voices of young tamaiti (children) and ensure the representation of Pacific communities in early learning,
Outside academia, Jacoba participates in Pacific early childhood education development across the nation. Her diligent efforts have enriched the culturally attuned teaching methods in New Zealand schools. With a collaborative spirit, she offers guidance to MoE (Pacific) and Tw Whatu Ora (Pacific) and co-leads the North Harbour Pacific Hauora Collective, emphasising Pacific youth sports and wellbing,
Every $1.00 invested in Waka Pacific Trust results in $3.30 returned to New Zealand.
Social Return on Investment
$1:$3.30