11 minute read
Meet our Trust Board
Message from our Trust Board Chair, Leigh Melville
It is a privilege to be writing my first Evergreen Ties foreward as Chair of the Trust Board.
The past few months have been a busy period as I have been out and about meeting members of our community in my new role, and with the launch of our 2022–2032 strategic vision and core principles.
The launch of our 10-year strategy has been a key milestone for the College, and, as we plan for the future, I believe it is important to respect our wonderful heritage and traditions while also progressing with momentum to ensure we continue to deliver a world class education to our students.
St Cuthbert’s is 107 years old, with a powerful legacy of excellence in all areas of girls’ education. Our alumnae are confident, resilient and compassionate leaders, and, as we look to build on that legacy, our vision is to Make Girls Amazing. Launched in August 2019, Making Girls Amazing captures our focus on delivering the very best, well-rounded education, to grow the next generation of women leaders and change makers. Our vision is underpinned by five core principles: teaching for the future; socially responsible leaders; her mind, body and spirit; outstanding staff; and leading facilities. I encourage you to read more about our strategic direction on our website: stcuthberts.school.nz or by scanning the QR code. Our senior team, led by Principal Justine Mahon, are developing key initiatives to support our strategic direction, reflecting our approach to ensuring every student is supported to fulfil their potential.
In other news, I have really enjoyed attending some key events at the College, after the cancellations and restrictions of the past two years due to the pandemic. Recently I joined the Year 6 families, who were celebrating their graduation from the Junior School, with a Secret Garden evening. It was so special to see the girls in pretty dresses, celebrating with family. A real highlight has been the morning teas we held to thank our wonderful donors who so generously gave to the College, supporting the purchase of a new organ, and also three new row boats as we look to further develop our rowing programme at St Cuthbert’s. We are deeply appreciative for your gifts, and the difference they will make for our students.
I also attended the Old Girls’ Making Their Mark assembly in October and was impressed by the diversity of experience and accomplishments of the recipients. However, what really stood out to me was how they are all linked by a common thread - their absolute commitment to service throughout their lives. Our College motto ‘By Love Serve’ has been instilled in generations of St Cuthbert’s girls, and we cannot underestimate the importance of continuing with this legacy. During each of the speeches from the award recipients, it was evident that their lives, and the lives of others, have been enriched by leadership through service to others. Our girls are so
fortunate to have the gift of a St Cuthbert’s education, and it is important that we continue to foster that spirit of giving back, and ensure our students now and in the future, understand that a successful community only exists with the support of those within, and that service takes many different forms. Events such as Making Their Mark play a key role in instilling these values in our girls.
Continuing to build a strong and connected community which we all feel a part of is really important to me, in my role as Trust Board Chair. The College recently held our first Dad’s only gathering since the pandemic; led by Trust Board member, Hamish Firth, this event was a huge success, and well attended across the different year groups. Over 100 Dads gathered at the Northern Club for an evening together, and they heard from sporting legend, and St Cuthbert’s Dad, Scott Styris.
Going forward, I am keen to ensure we arrange plenty of opportunities for us all to gather together. I have been supported throughout my life by the friends I have made at St Cuthbert’s, as a student, Old Girl, and parent. In addition to supporting our wonderful Old Girls’ Association which is dedicated to our Old Girl community, I am keen to also grow our ‘Alumni’ to include our wonderful past and current parents, and staff, fostering a strong sense of inclusivity and togetherness.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Justine Mahon and her incredible team for all they do to support our students to achieve their absolute best. I would also like to acknowledge my fellow Trust Board members for their support of the College. At the end of this year, we farewell Guy Williams from the Trust Board; I have worked closely with Guy since he joined the Board in 2019 and have appreciated his wisdom and sound advice. On behalf of our community, I would like to thank him for his service.
As we plan for the future, including the development of our campus master planning, we have appointed some new members of the Trust Board: Old Girl, and Chief Executive of Viaduct Harbour Holdings, Angela Bull; director of commercial property company, Murchison Group, Donald Reid; company director, and former corporate finance lawyer, Scott Weenink, and director of property finance specialists, ASAP Finance, Adarsh Patel. These new members bring considerable commercial, legal, finance, and property skills to our Board.
Finally, to our wonderful Year 13 students who will become our newest Old Girls (of which my own daughter Frances is one), I wish you all the very best for your futures; I know many of you very well, and you are all exceptional young women. I know you will go on to achieve wonderful things in whatever field you choose. You leave our green gates with all our heartfelt love and best wishes, and with the confidence and character you have developed throughout your time at St Cuthbert’s.
As the year draws to a close, I know how much we are all looking forward to a muchdeserved break over summer. Thank you for everything you do to support our students, and the College. I look forward to catching up with many of you in the New Year.
With warmest regards
Leigh Melville St Cuthbert’s College Trust Board Chair
Our five stategic principles
Teaching for the future
DELIVER a holistic curriculum which is intellectually rigorous and challenging
Socially Responsible Leaders
DEVELOP young women to be inclusive, compassionate, and engaged Global Citizens.
Her Mind, Body and Spirit
GROW young women who are resilient, and who approach new challenges and experiences with optimism and determination.
Outstanding Staff
FOSTER a dynamic, supportive, and inclusive culture to attract and retain the very best staff.
Leading Facilities
CREATE future focussed facilities which are responsive to our students’ changing needs.
Scan the QR code to find out more about our vision and strategy
MEET YOUR TRUST BOARD: Fraser Whineray
Adding to an illustrious CV, Fraser Whineray is a passionate St Cuthbert’s Board member and proud dad to two of our girls. With one of New Zealand’s biggest and busiest corporate roles, we’re pleased to have some time for a chat about what makes him tick.
Fraser’s enthusiasm for St Cuthbert’s is palpable the moment he is asked about his girls. When we sat down with him, he was thrilled to have penned heartfelt letters and cards, “the old fashioned way,” to send to his daughter, Pippa. Along with other Year 10s, she was attending the month-long Kahunui programme, “I can’t wait to be at that gate to pick her up and hear what she has been up to!”
Fraser believes our unique outdoor learning programme is just another example of what makes the St Cuth’s experience so special. “It shows the St Cuth’s difference in preparing girls for their futures.”
An exemplary career
Fraser is currently Chief Operating Officer of the world’s largest dairy exporter, Fonterra, and his trajectory to this point is impressive.
Unsurprisingly, a strong academic grounding has supported his journey, including an MBA from the University of Cambridge, a Post Graduate Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology from Massey University and a Bachelor of Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Canterbury.
Work-wise, he’s held senior positions at Credit Suisse, Puhoi Valley Cheese and Carter Holt Harvey, and was chair of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council. More recently he served as Chief Executive of Mercury Energy, and was awarded the Deloitte Top 200 Chief Executive of the year, in 2019.
Fraser joined the team at Fonterra just as Covid hit, “It was a stressful time, but considering some people faced serious sickness and even lost their lives in this pandemic, I consider myself fortunate. It’s all about perspective.”
Greener pastures
On paper, Fraser is responsible for Fonterra’s New Zealand manufacturing sites and global supply chain operations, sustainability, IT and safety, quality and regulatory teams. But in less corporate terms, he explains, “it’s essentially all about supporting the nutrition of millions of people in New Zealand and around the world.”
Day-to-day he supports a team of 10,000 people in their management of complex processes to safely deliver more than 20% of New Zealand’s export income. It’s a significant responsibility that he doesn’t take lightly, “Being part of Fonterra means being part of a unique 150-year-old legacy.”
Fraser is quick to address the topic of environmental challenges that face the dairy industry and Agri sector. “We work with free-range, grass-fed cows, which of course means producing biogenic methane.” He goes on to explain how such sustainability challenges are being addressed and emphasises how nimble the sector needs to be to adapt to major considerations including climate change, nutritional demands, and changing world economies.
Fonterra has recently announced R&D investments in alternative proteins, which will be an interesting journey for New Zealanders to follow. “But we must also remember that both grass and cows are designed by Mother Nature, and she’s incredible! Synthetics need to be an improvement on that,” he adds.
Risky business
We ask Fraser what skills he brings to our Board, which seems like a rather lofty question for someone with his experience, but Fraser talks about some distinct skills.
“I’m now more of a generalist, so I’m just trying to see the diverse connections between things and make sure they come together in ways that are optimal over time. It’s never perfect. I aim to help people find resilient, and sustainable solutions on material opportunities and challenges.”
He also has a raft of experience in risk mitigation. “I have an eye for anticipating and mitigating material shocks that can really affect an organization. Whether it’s a reputational risk or financial issue, substantial errors can hugely undermine the great work of many and impact customers.”
He references some of the topics that a school board looks at, such as asset management and environmental sustainability, “It’s how all these different things come together to maintain the kaupapa (purpose), to survive and prosper.”
Words from the wise
When asked what advice he would you give his 15-year-old self, Fraser is quick off the mark, “Workplaces don’t write you thank you letters after you have left, but your family and close friends will always appreciate you being there for them, and in turn, they’ll be
He goes on to joke about reminding his girls, “the most memorable, quiet times might just be sitting with their Dad on the couch!” With his engaging style and philosophical outlook, we think he has a good point.
there for you.” In fact, work-life balance and finding time for peace and quiet, is a key message from this senior exec.
“There’s just so much noise these days – it’s deafening. And by ‘noise’, I don’t just mean sound – but being bombarded with messages and global media, that is often skewed towards imminent dystopia because that sells. And all of that noise must produce unnecessary anxiety for children. I firmly believe their futures will be great. You need to learn to switch off, pause, and quietly unpack your own thoughts.”
When we ask how he manages to do this, with such a weighty corporate role, he talks about his meditative rowing and cycling sessions and how turning off his phone and exercising with friends helps him to clear the mind. That also helps with being genuinely present, particularly with his whānau.
Fraser adds that switching off digitally is another great aspect of the Kahanui programme. Like many parents, he’s concerned about the negative effects that social media might be having on today’s youth, “We’re looking through this fake, digital lens at the lives of other people… FOMO is real, even for adults. Having an environment like St Cuthbert’s that nurtures resilience and builds confidence is so important, so they can deal with all of that.”
