Three new trustees have been appointed to the Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) Board. The Current Trust Chair, Georgina Morrison has also been appointed for a further four-year term. Community Trust board appointments are made by the Minister of Finance, under the Community Trusts Act 1999. Trustees are selected for their professional or community-based experience and must live within the Trust’s region.
ECCT welcomed John Bunny of Masterton and Corey Kennett of Levin in November 2022, and Hawke’s Bay based Mark Cleary in January 2023.
John Bunny – After 44 years of working in the insurance and financial services sectors John Bunny sold his agencies and retired from business. He continued to work and volunteer in Masterton and the wider Wairarapa community, serving on various Government Departments, Boards, Trusts & other organisations. John commented “I am delighted to have been appointed as an ECCT Trustee as I know it will further enhance the ability of this Trust, by working with others, to better the lives of those who live in our communities”.
Corey Kennett – Raised in Levin, Corey attended Taitoko Primary School, Levin Intermediate and then Waiopehu College. He trained and worked as a butcher for several years before moving overseas for 13 years playing semi-professional and professional rugby. Since his return to New Zealand, Corey has been the Chief Executive Officer for the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Football Union, for the past 14 years. His involvement in the not-for-profit sector started overseas with a particular focus on working with underprivileged groups and this involvement continues to this day. A lifelong learner, Corey is currently working towards an Executive Masters in Business Administration.
“I’m thrilled to join the board of ECCT; I’m excited to be able to assist in the amazing outcomes that ECCT helps to provide for so many communities. I have seen first-hand the work accomplished by ECCT, and this aligns closely with my own personal beliefs in helping communities”.
Mark Cleary – Born in Fairlie, educated in Auckland, Mark moved to Hawke’s Bay in 1979 as a trained English and history teacher. Mark spent the next 30 years teaching and leading in several local schools and during the 1990’s gained expertise in dealing with bullying behaviour, working closely with the police and schools to develop effective approaches to reducing this. In 2004 he led the voluntary merger of Colenso High and Wycliffe Intermediate schools to form William Colenso College.
Between 2008 and 2018 Mark worked internationally providing management consultancy services with a particular focus on Change, Project, Enterprise, and Strategic Management in a range of educational and government settings. Mark commented “I’m excited to be involved with the Eastern and Central Community Trust as my heart has always been in supporting the growth of our local communities”.
David Clapperton, ECCT Chief Executive welcomed these new appointments and looks forward to the blend of skills and knowledge the new trustees bring to the Trust.
Media contact: Nadia Hardie
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