Council Elected Trustees
Renee Rooney
Chair : Elected - Grey District
Renee was elected to DWC in 2016 for the Grey District. Renee is a West Coaster by birth, a mum to three young adults, and a dairy farm business owner with her husband.
Through a variety of roles at local, regional and national levels, Renee's governance and leadership experience spans education, community, economic development, and the primary sector. Currently she is a board member of Muka Tangata People Food & Fibre Workforce Development Council; Vice President of Federated Farmers West Coast; and committee member for Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group.
Renee was a long serving trustee and immediate past Chair of Lake Brunner School Board of Trustees, served on the Federated Farmers National Dairy Industry Executive from 2017-2019, and was a director on the Tai Poutini Polytechnic Ltd | Te Pūkenga transitional board from 2020-2022.
Renee is a graduate of the 2014/15 DWC Leadership and Governance Programme.
Daniel Reynolds
Elected - Buller District
Daniel joins DWC with a wealth of expertise acquired over 13 years in the banking industry and a diverse professional background.
His extensive business acumen positions him strongly to contribute to the growth and success of both businesses and community-driven organisations. With a remarkable ability to identify opportunities, Daniel excels in establishing meaningful connections.
Having grown up in Westport, he returned to his hometown in 2013, accompanied by his young family after spending 15 years in Blenheim and Christchurch.
As a respected local figure, Daniel has made significant contributions, notably as a Trustee for the Love Kawatiri Trust, a member of the Board of Trustees for Buller High School, and as Chair of Buller Volleyball.
Rebecca Pearson
Elected - Westland District
Rebecca was born and raised in Hokitika and is a third generation West Coast retailer. She is married to Bruce with three young adult daughters. Returning from their OE to London in the 1990's and relocating to the Kapiti Coast, Rebecca and Bruce returned to Hokitika in 2002.
Rebecca has a tourism and retail background, having trained as a travel consultant before working for House of Travel in New Zealand and Flightbookers in London.
Owner of Red Streetwear, Hokitika since 2008, Rebecca has been a member of Destination Hokitika since 2011 and co-founded Love Hokitika in 2013.
Rebecca is a graduate of the 2022 DWC Governance Programme. She is extremely passionate about the West Coast and its people and is involved in many aspects of the Hokitika Community.
Council Appointed Trustee
Sam MacDonald
Council Appointed Trustee
Sam was appointed to the Trust in 2022 and grew up in Greymouth. He went through Greymouth High School. A Chartered Accountant, Sam has worked for over a decade in both public and private practice – he has a keen interest in infrastructure assets.
Sam is currently a Christchurch City Councillor and Chair’s their Finance Committee, along with this sits on the Board of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd, which owns the Christchurch International Airport, Lyttlelton Port, Orion and Enable Fibre.
Sam is passionate about the west coast with a focus on helping open doors for investment into the West Coast. His focus while serving as a Trustee is ensuring DWC delivers tangible outcomes for the West Coast Community.
Independent Trustees
Brent Ford
Finance, Audit and Risk
Brent Ford was appointed as the Finance, Audit and Risk Trustee in January 2021. Brent is Managing Director at Ford CFO and Advisory Services Ltd. Brent has extensive finance and senior management experience, including as Chief Financial Officer at Hellers Ltd and Venues Otautahi Ltd.
Brent is a director or advisory board member of a variety of different companies, mentors a number of commercial CFO’s, and also carries out consulting engagements. Brent is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors (IOD) as well as Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). He is also a Chartered Company Secretary (Governance NZ).
Graham McKenzie
NZ Law Society Appointed Trustee
Graham was appointed as a Trustee by the NZ Law Society in July 2021. Graham has practiced law in New Zealand for many years and is a member of the New Zealand Law Society as well as being a current member of the New Zealand Law Society Disciplinary Tribunal.
Graham has served on many boards including Airwork (NZ) Limited and Helicopters (NZ) Limited. He is currently on the Board of CMO Energy NZ and Millennium and Copthorne Hotels NZ Ltd.
Graham has been closely involved in four America's Cups including the most recent event in NZ. He is a member of World Sailing and is the current Chair of the Ethics Commission.
Tangata Whenua Appointed Trustees
Lisa Tumahai
Tangata Whenua Appointed Trustee - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae
Lisa is a proud coaster of Poutini Ngāi Tahu and English Scottish decent. She is the Ngāti Waewae tangata whenua appointee.
Lisa has extensive governance experience that expands 23 years at local, regional, and national levels. Her governance and management experience spans health, education, community, environment, and economic development.
She is the CEO for Pokeka Poutini Ngāi Tahu Ltd tasked with advancing the commercial, environmental, social, and welling being aspirations of Poutini Ngāi Tahu, based on Te Tai o Poutini.
Lisa is the Deputy Chair for He Pou a Rangi the NZ Climate Change Commission which provides independent and expert advice to Government to help meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate change goals.
She has a variety of board roles including Arahura Holdings Ltd, Te Ara Pounamu, Mānuka Honey Trust, and West Coast PHO.
Lisa has recently joined the University of Canterbury Council and the National Waitangi Trust representing the people of the South Island.
For her services to Māori development, Lisa was made Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2023.
Helen Rasmussen
Tangata Whenua Appointed Trustee - Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio
Helen, Kati Mahaki Tangata Whenua Appointee, was born and raised at Hunts Beach, South Westland where she attended primary school with her late husband Ian Rasmussen at Jacobs River. In 1976 Helen joined Ian in Haast running a commercial crayfishing venture which she later skippered for, and a commercial helicopter venison recovery business.
Helen has been chair, secretary, member and appointee to a number of community boards and committees, both local and regional, and has been a volunteer for emergency services. Helen was instrumental in the formation of Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio in 1988.
Helen is extremely passionate about the sustainable economic viability of the West Coast region, having owned and operated a number of resource-based, retail and tourism related businesses with Ian in Haast, Hokitika and Greymouth. She has also invested significant time and resource endeavouring to establish new industry on the Coast.
BOARD COMPOSITION
The Board of eight Trustees is comprised of:
Three Elected Trustees
One from each of the Buller, Grey and Westland Districts. Elections are held every three years and any person who is eligible to vote at an election or poll under the Local Elections and Polls Act 1976, irrespectively of the place of residence of the person in New Zealand, may be a candidate for election as an Elected Trustee.
Independent Trustee
Appointed by the New Zealand Law Society.
Independent Finance, Audit and Risk Trustee
Appointed by an independent appointment panel.
One Appointed Trustee
Appointed jointly by the three West Coast District Councils and West Coast Regional Council.
Two Tangata Whenua Trustees
Appointed by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.
SUB-COMMITTEES
DWC operates with a sub-committee structure to assist with some of the specific functions of the organisation.
Two standing committees are the Finance and Audit Committee and the Investment Committee. Additional sub-committee/project committees are established from time to time on an as required basis to deal with specific matters.
Investment Committee
Membership of the Investment Committee comprises all Trustees and assists DWC in the implementation of the Statement of Investment Policy & Objectives and Treasury Policy. The committee meets on a monthly basis.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee comprises Trustees B Ford (Chair), S MacDonald, D Reynolds and R Rooney. The key function of the committee is to assist DWC in discharging its responsibilities in relation to financial reporting and regulatory conformance. The committee generally meets 4 to 5 times per year.
History of Trustees
| Trustee | Period Served | Position |
|---|---|---|
| AUCHINVOLE, Mr C J | 2001 – 2005 | Elected – Grey District |
| BAMFIELD, Mr L A | 2001 – 2005 | Elected – Buller District |
| BOUSTRIDGE, Mr I C | 2001 – 2005 | Elected – Grey District |
| BROWN, Mr K R | 2001 – 2004 | Council Appointee - Grey |
| BUCHANAN, Mr R E | 2009 – 2016 | Independent – Law Society |
| CARRUTHERS, Mr D L | 2005 – 2007 | Elected – Grey District |
| CHRISTIE, Dame J, DNZM | 2017 – 2022 | Council Appointee |
| CLAYTON, Mr J H | 2006 – 2010 | Elected – Grey District |
| COLL, Mrs J C | 2001 – 2007 | Council Appointee – Buller |
| COPELAND, Mr M | 2001 – 2006 | Council Appointee – Regional Council |
| DOOLEY, Mr F T | 2001 – 2016 | Elected – Buller District |
| DRYLIE, Mr J F | 2001 – 2004 | Council Appointee – Westland |
| DUNCAN, Mr M W | 2001 – 2005 | Tangata Whenua Appointee |
| FRASER, Mrs S J | 2004 – 2006 | Council Appointee – Westland |
| FORD, Mr B A | 2021 – present | Finance, Audit and Risk |
| JONES, Mr E | 2010 – 2013 | Elected – Westland District |
| KOKSHOORN, Mr A F | 2004 – 2007 | Council Appointee - Grey |
| LITTLE, Mr H | 2013 – 2019 | Elected – Westland District |
| LOCKINGTON, Mr M W | 2005 – 2019 | Independent – New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants |
| MACDONALD, Mr S T | 2022 – present | Council Appointee |
| MCKENZIE, Mr G A | 2021 – present | Independent – New Zealand Law Society |
| MULLIGAN, Mr P | 2016 – 2021 | Independent – New Zealand Law Society |
| OLDHAM, Mr B | 2016 – 2022 | Elected - Buller District |
| PEARSON, Ms R | 2022 – present | Elected – Westland District |
| PEGLEY, Mr A J | 2001 – 2005 | Elected – Westland District |
| RASMUSSEN, Mrs H | 2010 – 2013, 2023 – present | Tangata Whenua Appointee |
| REA, Mr C J | 2019 – 2022 | Elected – Westland District |
| REYNOLDS, Mr D G | 2022 – present | Elected - Buller District |
| ROCHE, Mr B | 2008 – 2009 | Crown Appointee |
| ROONEY, Mrs R | 2016 – present | Elected – Grey District |
| ROUTHAN, Mr D C | 2001 – 2004 | Elected – Westland District |
| SAWYERS, Mr W H M | 2001 – 2005 | Independent – Law Society & Accountants |
| SHAHADAT, Mr M | 2005 – 2007 | Elected – Westland District |
| SMITH, Mr B | 2007 – 2010 | Elected – Westland District |
| SMITH, Mr C | 2010 – 2016 | Elected – Grey District |
| STURGEON, Mr J, ONZM, MBE | 2010 – 2017 | Council Appointee |
| TUMAHAI, Mr F | 2013 – 2023 | Tangata Whenua |
| TUMAHAI, Mrs L | 2024 – present | Tangata Whenua Appointee |
| WHITE, Mrs C P | 2005 – 2007 | Elected – Buller District |
| WILKINSON, Mr B T | 2005 – 2007 | Elected – Westland District |
| WILLIAMS, Mr A G | 2007 – 2010 | Council Appointee (Joint) |
| WILLIAMS, Mrs G A | 2005 – 2007 | Elected – Grey District |
| WILSON, Mr B A | 2004 – 2010, 2020 – 2023 | Tangata Whenua Appointee |
Chairs and Deputy Chairs/Office Holders
| Trustee | Period Served | Position |
|---|---|---|
| ROONEY, Mrs R | 2017 – present | Chair |
| STURGEON, Mr J | 2010 – 2017 | Chair |
| WILLIAMS, Mr A G | 2009 – 2010 | Chair |
| ROCHE, Mr B | 2008 | Chair |
| DOOLEY, Mr F T | 2001 – 2008 | Chair |
| Ford, Mr B A | 2022 – present | Deputy Chair |
| CHRISTIE, Dame J, DNZM | 2021 – 2022 | Deputy Chair |
| MULLIGAN, Mr P | 2016 – 2021 | Deputy Chair |
| SMITH, Mr C | 2012 – 2016 | Deputy Chair |
| BUCHANAN, Mr R E | 2009 – 2012 | Deputy Chair |
Chief Executive Officers
| Trustee | Period Served | Position |
|---|---|---|
| MILNE, Mr H | 2020 – present | None |
| MACKENZIE, Mr C | 2016 – 2019 | None |
| THOMAS, Mr J | 2014 – 2015 | None |
| CHANG, Dr J | 2009 – 2013 | None |
| TROUSSELOT, Mr M C | 2001 – 2008 | None |