Northland Community Foundation’s Board consists of 5-9 independent Trustees, each serving a 3-year term, with eligibility for reappointment for two further 3-year terms. One of these Trustees is appointed by Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, while the remaining Trustees are appointed by the board. The regular scheduled retirement of Trustees means we will require new Trustees to replace them.
The Foundation’s Trustees bring together a wide range of expertise including business and financial management, law and community development. Board members volunteer their time to oversee the functions of the Foundation and provide representation from around Northland.
The upcoming scheduled retirement of trustees means we will require new trustees to replace them.
Northland Community Foundation seeks community-minded people with strong local networks and governance capability to join their dedicated voluntary Board of trustees. This is a rewarding and crucial role joining an existing team of governance locals who are managing donor relationships, building a new endowment asset for the region and making crucial granting decisions for funding priorities, based on community needs and opportunities.
To find out more, click here.
Meet the Trustees
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Richard Alspach
Richard is a farmer who has spent the best part of the last fifty years representing and advocating on behalf of rural communities. Richard says that over that time it has become obvious that rural communities are on the back foot, due to a lack of votes. Richard says “we have to find ways of looking after ourselves, because nobody else is going to do it for us”. This lead to his strong support for the Northland Community Foundation, and particularly the Northern Wairoa Fund. He says that his support “provides a way to fight back, and support our own area and people into the foreseeable future”.
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Season Downs
Season-Mary Downs (Te Kapotai, Ngati Hine, Ngapuhi)
Season-Mary was born and raised in Northland and is a Director of Tukau Law. Season-Mary has extensive experience advising and representing whanau, hapu, and iwi clients in Maori legal matters and Treaty of Waitangi claims processes. Season-Mary is an active member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Law Society). Season-Mary has completed a PhD with the University of Waikato, on her thesis being “Nga taumata o te moana: Reconciling the governance and ownership of the takutai moana (foreshore and seabed)”. Season-Mary is dedicated to working with whanau, hapu and iwi clients to achieve their long term aspirations.
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Megan Wills
Megan Wills is a Director of Wills Westenra a boutique law firm in Whangārei.
Megan’s areas of expertise are commercial work, conveyancing and establishing family and charitable trusts. Megan is also focused on helping her clients with relationship property issues together with estate planning including wills and estate administration.
Megan has a genuine interest in her clients wellbeing and works towards ensuring they receive the best outcome available.
Having lived in Auckland and Wellington, Megan was a foundation student at the University of Waikato graduating with an LLB in 1994. Megan has worked in a number of law firms in both Auckland and Whangārei gaining a broad knowledge of law. Once established in Whangārei Megan completed a Bachelor of Arts in history. Megan joined the firm at the beginning of 2014 becoming a Director in the same year.
Megan enjoys supporting her three children in their academic and sports activities. Megan also enjoys putting on her gumboots and helping her husband in their family farm in her spare time as well as relaxing with friends and family at the beach.
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Nicola Hartwell
Nicola Hartwell is a lawyer employed by Northland Regional Council and an active member of the Whangārei Heads community, volunteering her time as: deputy chair of the Bream Head Conservation Trust; trapper in the Bream Head Reserve; and coach of the nippers at Whangārei Heads Junior Surf Lifesaving Club.
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Pip Zammit
Pip Zammit is our new Northland DHB representative on the Foundation Board. Pip is the Director of Allied Health, Science and Technology for the Northland DHB. Pip is the Service Manager of Oral Health and is also the Chair of the Northland Regional Clinical Governance Forum.
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JP Dignon
JP joined the board in March 2024. Originally from South Africa, JP is Chief Executive Officer of the CDL Group. JP is a seasoned businessman with a background in accounting and a profound love for Northland. His commitment to Northland’s potential is evident in his efforts towards its growth and development, where he is focused on the betterment of Northland and its people. Beyond being a successful businessman, JP contributes to various trusts and organizations as a major sponsor. JP believes in making a positive impact in the community, both in business and society.
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Moe Milne
Moe joined the board in March 2024. Moe grew up in Matawaia, Northland surrounded by a large whānau and the stories of Kawiti (Rangatira o Ngāti Hine). Moe belongs to Ngāti Hine, Te Tai Tokerau. She trained as a psychiatric nurse in the mid-1970s and then practiced in Scotland. After returning to New Zealand she trained as a teacher, and later returned to the health sector. In 2017, she became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori and health. Moe has worked in management and on various trusts, and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience.
