Appointed by the Diocese of Wellington for five year terms, the Wellesley College Board of Trustees meets once a month during term time, ensuring that the appropriate lines of governance are in place to support both staff and students.
Within the group are specific responsibilities for areas such as Finance, Education Liaison, Health and Safety, Funding and Development, and Marketing.
Introducing our Board members (as at June 2008):
- Charlotte Gendall, a trustee since 2004, took on the chairmanship in 2006.
- Mark McGuinness, who heads the Wellington investment firm Willis Bond & Co, leads the Finance Committee.
- Mani Maniparathy, a director with business management consultant Bakker Maniparathy Claridge Ltd, oversees the areas of Finance and Organisational Performance Improvement.
- John Shackleton has two boys currently at Wellesley and is a senior partner with Simpson Grierson, where he heads up the Wellington commercial litigation team.
- Arch Deacon Damon Plimmer is the Bishop’s representative on the Board of Trustees, as well as being Chaplain to the school and the Vicar of St Alban’s Anglican Church in Eastbourne. Damon is also a Wellesley parent.
- Sarah Ottrey brings experience in corporate marketing and describes the opportunities at Wellesley as second to none.
- Rochelle Style, who has two sons at Wellesley, is a legal consultant and former litigation partner at Bell Gully’s Wellington office.
- Ian Miller (Parents Association) arrived with his family from the UK in 2005, bringing skills in organisational, managerial and financial control. Ian has also done much to foster relationships between the Parents Association and the Board during his tenure as Chairman of the Parents Association.
- Margie Beattie is another who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Parents Association, and brings to the Board the same high level of enthusiasm. A qualified lawyer, Margie has also spent time in the UK running her own business and she places particular emphasis on personnel and communication skills.
Other valued participants at Board meetings are:
- Warren Owen (Principal), who is effectively Wellesley’s chief executive. Warren says: “Although as principal I am not a voting member of the board, I know from past experience that my views and ideas are totally supported. Wellesley is lucky to have motivated trustees with expertise in their fields of responsibility.” Warren is also a past parent, both his sons having attended the school during the 1990s.
- John Sladden (Bursar) has a wealth of procedural experience, which ensures decisions are well planned and principled.
- Yvonne Odinot is the teacher of Year 0–1 in Wellesley’s Junior School and represents staff at the monthly meetings.
- The Parents Association also has separate representation at all Board meetings, which helps ensure an accurate and timely flow of information from the Board of Trustees to the wider school community.
