Board of Trustees

Commitment to Good Governance
The Trust benefits from long standing Board membership as well as the enthusiasm, expertise and fresh insight of newer members. The Board meets monthly and is committed to enhancing its governance performance. In February 2007, the Board approved a newly developed governance policy manual to help ensure good governance practice.

Board Members
The Chairperson of the Trust is Mary Foy rsm. Mary Foy rsm was one of the Founders of Monte Cecilia House in October 1982. Mary served as the Administrator of the House until she took up the role of Congregational Leader for the Sisters of Mercy Auckland in 1995. Mary is currently working with youth in at-risk situations and their whanau for Te Ukaipo Mercy Initiatives for Rangatahi Ltd in Waitakere City and is also a Trustee of the ASB Community Trust.

Philip Jeffares ofm is the Trust Secretary. Brother Philip is a Franciscan Friar and has served as a Board member since October 1995. He is currently the Director of the St Francis Retreat Centre in Hillsborough.

Shirley Day has tribal affiliations to Ngato Kahu, Ngati Kuri and Te Rarawa. Shirley is the Trust Treasurer and another long standing Trustee. She has been involved in housing services for many years and is currently the Manager of Te Manawanui Trust.

Carol Thomas has been a Board member since 1989, when the Trust Board was first established. Carol works for the Waitemata District Health Board in a management role and offers 20 years experience as a Public Health Nurse and Manager in the wider Auckland area. Carol is involved with a number of other Trusts.

Harding Clarke (morunga)
Taku matua ko tame te pio
Taku whaea ko ripeka
Taku iwi o Ngaphui
Taku hapu o Ngati Manawa
Taku awa o Whakarapa
Taku moana o Hokianga
Taku Maunga o Panguru po Karakia
Harding is a long standing Kaumatua for the Wesley Community in Mt Roskill. Harding has been associated with the Trust since March 2005, offering Maori cultural advice. He currently owns and operates a successful tourism business.

Louise Elia has tribal affiliations to Te Orewai, Nga Puhi, Ngati Hine, Ngati Whatua and Ngati Whanaunga. Louise joined the Board in March 2005 and is a Whaea for Waitemata Health. Louise has a long and distinguished association with Monte Cecilia. She worked as a Whanau Social Worker for Te Hononga and is a member of Te Whare Roopu o Aotearoa.

Jim Weir is a new recruit to the Board and has been a member since December 2006. Jim offers many years experience in property development.

Dennis Horton has been a board member since 2006. He currently works for the Sisters of Mercy as a mission facilitator in their Auckland-based company, Mercy Ministries Ltd, with particular interest in aged care and community development. Past experience includes a 10-year stint as editor of Auckland’s diocesan newspaper Zealandia and three years with Baptist Mental Health, providing supported accommodation for people with psychiatric illness.