Our board

Vivien Sutherland Bridgwater, Chair

Vivien first joined Save the Children New Zealand’s Board in September 2009 and was appointed Board Chair in June 2011. Vivien is General Manager of University Relations and Advancement at the Auckland University of Technology. Vivien is of Ngati Whatua descent and has a strong commitment to Maori education and youth.

Dr Allan Freeth  

Allan is CEO of TelstraClear, has worked on the Board since March 2008 and was formerly Board Chair of Save the Children New Zealand.  Allan has extensive and diverse experience in both management and board governance roles including Trust Bank, Wrightson, Genesis Research and Development Corporation, and GNS Science. He has also been a Member of the Advisory Board for Treasury and is currently a Trustee of Crimestoppers New Zealand.

Arthur Davis, President  

Arthur was elected President in November 2009. A qualified accountant, he has been involved with Save the Children for 45 years.

Tom Hardy, Treasurer  

Tom was appointed to our Board in February 2007 and also sits on the Board of Save the Children Australia. Tom was previously a partner of an international accounting firm.  He currently works as an accountant and consultant to the government and private sectors.

Peter Kane 

Peter was a partner at KPMG for ten years. He has also held a range of roles including CEO and Director at Unimarket Holdings Ltd, CEO at Systec, GM Customer operations at TelstraClear and CFO at Wrightsons. He currently is an investor and director of two privately owned companies.

Merrilyn O’Sullivan

Merrilyn has focused on health policies and programmes both nationally and internationally. She has worked with the World Bank, Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian Public Service Commission.  Merrilyn’s experience with childhood health and related education initiatives are extremely valuable to Save the Children.

Leah Carr

Leah is a Management Consultant and has worked both domestically and internationally in the areas of Organisational Transformation and Change, Strategic Marketing and Cultural Alignment.  She is currently a member of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authorities Community Forum and a Company Director.  

Joan Baker     

Joan is a company director and a consultant to business and not-for-profit organisations. She has previously held board membership with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and has been Managing Director of Scholastic NZ Ltd, Marketing Development Manager of DB Breweries and President of the NZ Institute of Management.

Ian Auld (Observer)

Ian is currently employed as a solicitor and junior Crown Counsel at Meredith Connell in Auckland. Previously Ian was an officer in the New Zealand Army and aide-de-camp to the Governor-General. Ian stands on the Board as a non-voting observer.

Veronica Tea-Monica Ng Lam (Observer)

Veronica is president of the AUT student association and is currently undertaking post-graduate studies in Health Science. She is the first female and first Pasifika president to be elected by the student body at AUT and is the first in her family to graduate in tertiary education. She sits on various Boards, Committees, Councils and Forums across the education sector, including AUT Council’s Pacific Education Working Group. Her passion is empowering youth to speak up. Veronica also leads Save the Children New Zealand’s Child & Youth Council, established in 2010.