Meet the St Andrew’s Board of Governors

Meet the St Andrew’s

Board of Governors

Members of the St Andrew’s College Board bring a wide range of skills and expertise to their voluntary roles and make a significant contribution to the governance of the College, while supporting management and staff throughout the year.

In addition to governance of all aspects of the College, the Board has a special focus on capital development works, which have been significant and ongoing since the earthquakes. The Board is currently overseeing the exciting Ben Gough Family Theatre development, with construction by Armitage Williams Construction now well underway. Health and Safety is also a strong focus and has been high on the agenda at every Board meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Felicity Odlin – Board Chair Felicity Odlin says it was an ‘absolute honour’ to become the new Board Chair in 2021. “The role is about serving and giving my time and skills in the best way possible to this amazing community we are all part of.” Felicity is the current Finance Manager for Global Culture retail stores throughout New Zealand and joined the Board of Governors in 2016. Her experience working with multidisciplinary teams in small and medium size businesses, and background in accounting and financial roles have been a great asset to the Board, particularly the Finance and Audit Committee, and the Student Disciplinary Committee. She has deep roots at St Andrew’s. Her brother and grandfather both attended, and she and husband Mark’s two sons attended the College. Lachlan is currently in Year 12, and Oliver was College Dux in 2021, and is now in his first year studying Engineering at the University of Canterbury.

Nick Letham – Staff Nominee and Deputy Chair Nick Letham (OC 2001) says his time as a student at St Andrew’s helped to build foundations for life beyond the school gate, in terms of skills, work ethic, values and the desire to make a difference. He has served on the St Andrew’s Board since 2019, and is its current Deputy Chair. He has also been a member of the Old Collegians Association Executive since 2007 (including a stint as President from 2014 –2016) and is a former trustee of the College Foundation. “As the Staff Nominee on the Board, I feel an added sense of responsibility to understand the staff’s experience at the College, and to continue to improve and enrich their time at St Andrew’s.” Nick is a corporate/commercial law partner at Chapman Tripp. He has strong family ties to St Andrew’s, with his brothers Andrew (OC 2004) and Cameron (OC 2008), father Guy (OC 1974) and uncle Donald (OC 1970) among the many family members who have also attended.

Christine Leighton – Rector As Rector, Christine Leighton has been a full member of the Board of Governors since October 2007. She and her Executive team are responsible for the operations of the College, managing the business, education, and student matters. Originally a teacher of English in secondary schools in New Zealand and England, Christine moved into management as Head of English at Tauranga Boys’ College, Assistant Principal at Nelson College for Girls, and Principal at St Hilda’s College (Dunedin) before taking up the position at St Andrew’s College. The role of Rector requires Christine to connect across all facets of school life – students, parents, staff, Old Collegians, Board, and parent groups, and professional colleagues across New Zealand. Christine says working with a skilled, supportive Board, who wants the very best for the St Andrew’s College community is a highlight of her role. “It is very satisfying what we can achieve working together”.

Rob Hall – Board Nominee Rob Hall is a chartered surveyor and Fellow of the RICS. He is the current Manager National Asset Management at Kainga Ora – Home and Communities and is the former Chief Executive Officer of Development Christchurch Limited. He previously served as a Co-Deputy Chair of the St Andrew’s Board. “I bring a perspective to the Board table focused on honouring our history, while striving for improvement in our ever-changing world,” he says. Although Rob did not attend St Andrew’s College himself, his children, Chanel (Year 12) and William (OC 2019), have. He also had a great aunty who worked at the College in the 1960s. Rob is also a Director of the New Zealand Registered Architects Board, a Trustee of the Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust, a warfare officer in the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve, and is a former Board member of SPCA Canterbury and the Christchurch Arts Centre.

Richard Holyoake – Board Nominee As a Chartered Professional Engineer with over 30 years’ experience in infrastructure delivery, Richard Holyoake’s professional skills have been valuable throughout the College’s extensive post-earthquake development programme, providing input to capital programme developments, and providing 'challenge and ideas' in the area of Health and Safety across the College. Richard is the current Market Segment Lead, for Beca, working with a team of skilled professionals in the fields of landside, terminals and airside infrastructure, and advisory services. He joined the St Andrew’s Board in November 2014, when his children James (OC 2020) and Rachel (Year 13) started in the Preparatory School. “I never cease to be amazed by the opportunities afforded to those who attend St Andrew’s, and the passion with which staff at the College provide these opportunities.”

Malcolm Johns – Parent Nominee Parent Nominee, Malcolm Johns, has brought a wide range of commercial and governance skills to the Board for the past six years, which has included a stint as the Board’s Co-Deputy Chair. Since January 2014, he has been the Chief Executive of Christchurch International Airport, guiding it through significant challenges, including earthquake recovery, the terror event, and the global pandemic. All three of Malcolm’s children have attended St Andrew’s, with Lachlan in Year 13, Eilish in Year 11, and Charlotte (OC 2020).

The St Andrew’s College Board (back) Malcolm Johns, Rob Hall, Richard Holyoake, Peter Nelson, Stephanie Bain, (front) Rob Woodgate, Board Chair Felicity Odlin, Rector Christine Leighton, Deputy Chair Nick Letham. Absent Jamie-Lee Tuuta

“I’m incredibly excited at the digital journey St Andrew’s has been on and the way data has been developed and used to create and optimise individual learning pathways for our students,” he says. Malcolm also serves as one of New Zealand’s three delegates on the 21 country APEC Business Council, and chaired the Climate Change work programme focused on mitigation, adaptation, and fair transition frameworks as they relate to regional trade policy. He has served on various other commercial, not for profit, and government Boards across his commercial career.

Rob Woodgate – Parent Nominee Rob Woodgate has served on the Board for just over six years, and personally gets a lot out of it. “I’m constantly amazed at what I learn around the St Andrew’s College Board table and how it applies to my day job. It’s definitely a two-way process of learning and governance for me.” Rob is a chartered accountant and has extensive experience, holding a range of finance positions in New Zealand and the United Kingdom throughout his career. He has worked for some large South Island businesses including Silver Fern Farms, PGG Wrightson, and Fulton Hogan, for whom he is the current Group Chief Financial Officer. Rob’s strong financial acumen is valuable to the Board and he is the current Chair of the College’s Finance and Audit Committee. Although he didn’t attend St Andrew’s himself, Rob’s children Oliver (Year 11) and Emily (Year 9) have both attended since Year 1 and Pre-school respectively. Stephanie Bain (OC 1992) – Old Collegian Nominee Old Collegian Nominee on the Board, Stephanie Bain, brings a unique perspective to the Board table, as she was one of the first girls to join St Andrew’s when it became co-educational in 1992. Stephanie’s father is also a proud Old Collegian, and her great-uncle was one of the College’s early students back in the 1920s. “I was privileged to be one of the first female students at the College, and we learnt so much about having to earn our place in a male dominated world. Having my sons, Alexander (Year 3) and Sebastian (Year 1), at St Andrew’s has given me another perspective again.” Stephanie is a Director and Principal People and Culture Consultant at Sunstone Talent, a company she runs with her husband, Paul Swettenham. “I’m excited to help ensure the Board continues to build on the legacy and live to the values and traditions which are already here, and also take things forward as we continue into the future.”

Peter Nelson (OC 1974) – Christchurch Presbytery Nominee Peter Nelson joined the Board in 2021 as the Christchurch Presbytery Nominee and did all his schooling at St Andrew’s from 1961 to 1973. “It is a privilege to have some input to help the College continue to evolve and grow, developing young men and women with values to face an ever changing and evolving world, and maintaining the leadership position it has aspired to and holds today.” After 26 years of senior management roles in the corporate sector of the wine and spirit industry, both in Christchurch and Auckland, Peter founded Sculpture Hospitality and has expanded this business throughout Australasia. “The skills I am able to bring to the Board come from my background and experience in sales and marketing, and strategic development,” he says. Outside of business and St Andrew’s, Peter chairs the Alpine Mission Board, and is a coach and mentor of Canterbury rugby referees.

Jamie-Lee Tuuta (OC 2005) –Board Intern Jamie-Lee Tuuta (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) says joining the Board as a Board Intern in 2021, has given her the opportunity to give back to the College, which provided her with ‘so much’ academically and culturally. She brings wide-ranging skills to the Board, as a barrister, mediator, and collaborative practitioner. She is also a Trustee of Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust and was named in the inaugural Top Diverse Board-Ready Directors List for 2021. Jamie-Lee is appreciative of the progress St Andrew’s has made in weaving in the respect and acknowledgement of Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi around its Scottish heritage. “We need to continue to weave that relationship together and realise its positive potential. I enjoy and have experience walking in both worlds and can assist in bringing everyone together on that journey.”