Wellington Regional Board

Andrew Brown, CMInstD

Chair

Andrew is a passionate member of the Te Whanganui-a-Tara community. He has a wonderful whanau and extended whanau and loves using his skills and experience in the outdoors to help his teenage daughters and their friends achieve The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award which aims to equip our rangatahi for promising futures through self-development and community engagement. Andrew is an experienced senior leader in the New Zealand Defence Force and has deployed operationally seven times, including three times to Afghanistan. As Chair of the Hohepa Wellington Regional Board Andrew also sits on the Hohepa Homes Trust Board. He is a parent member on the Wellington Girls’ College Board of Trustees and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Outside of work he is a member of the New Zealand Alpine Club, loves reading, spending time in the outdoors with family and friends, doing DIY, learning to play golf, and keeping fit.

Dianne Bardsley

Member

Dr Dianne Bardsley has been associated with Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay as mother of Timothy Bardsley since 1984, having earlier had experience in governance in several organisations, including the National Board of IHC NZ. Along with her husband and family, she is a keen advocate for persons of all disabilities and their families. Dianne joined the Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay Regional Board in September 2016. In July 2023 she joined the Wellington Regional Board.

Souella Cumming

Member

Souella, ONZM, is a partner with KPMG New Zealand, responsible for providing advisory and assurance services to private, public and not-for-profit sectors. She is a Fellow Chartered Accountant. During her 35+ years with KPMG Souella has developed extensive governance, risk management, assurance/audit, independent quality assurance, programme/ project, privacy and health and safety experience.

In recent years Souella has been involved in a governance capacity with a number of not-for-profit organisations, contributing to their strategic and financial direction, and growth and development.  These organisations include Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation, St John New Zealand and Zonta International.

Souella has a 28-year-old son, Timothy, with intellectual and physical disabilities and, together with her husband Brian, has lived the realities of supporting, advocating, and contributing to the disability sector to improve outcomes for all.

Souella is committed to building a strong regional organisation, able to serve the wider Wellington community, to support children, young people and adults with an intellectual disability, to achieve their full potential and deliver on Hōhepa’s vision of ‘every life fully lived’.

Shane Gaskin

Member

I am the father of Tessa Gaskin who has been a resident of the Hohepa Community since 2010, and who was one of the founding residents of the newly established facility in Otaihanga in 2014. Through her, I have come to know, understand and value the anthroposophical principles by which Hohepa lives, and I am keen to see these embedded into Hohepa Wellington as it grows.

As a retired ICT professional, I have experience managing and leading people, building relationships, as well as operational and financial management. In my most recent role as CIO for NZQA, I led a team of people creating and supporting NZQA’s IT Strategy and technology services.

I am married to Pamela and live in sunny Karori Wellington. Between us, along with Tessa, we have four more grown-up tamariki, and four mokopuna.

Prior to my appointment to the Board, I was the founding co-Chair of the Hohepa Family and Friends Association and a member of the Hohepa Wellington Transition Governance Group (TGG). I am committed to the success of Wellington Hohepa and contributing to enabling better lives for those we support.

Amanda Hill

Member

I live in Te Awa Kairangi / Lower Hutt and I have worked as a lawyer since 2005. Most of my work has been helping vulnerable people and working to improve how we care for and support people. I have also worked in a range of governance roles, especially for the Rainbow community, so I know the importance of living a full life and celebrating our differences as well as the things we have in common. I am excited to have a role with Hōhepa Wellington as we expand our community.

Nikki Fisher

Member

Nikki has been a commercial lawyer for over 22 years. As tangata whenua, she is particularly passionate about working more in governance roles for kaupapa Māori based organisations (like Hohepa) that acknowledge and align with Maori values and frameworks such as Te Whare Tapa Whā. She joined the Hohepa Wellington Regional Board in July 2023 and Chairs the Risk Committee. Nikki is also a director at The Kindness Institute. She lives in Wellington with her tamaki and loves to be either on her yoga mat, travelling or enjoying the outdoors.