Simon Heath - Chairman

Of Ngāi Tahu descent Simon has been an educator for 35 years, the last 24 years as a school principal in Marlborough. Simon is currently appointed to the Board of the Education Council Aotearoa NZ, a member of the Ministerial National and Regional Cross Sector Forum and Co Lead Principal of Piritahi Kahui Ako -  Blenheim Community of 21 Schools and 6 Kindergartens.

Simon has been Lead Principal for the Marlborough e-Learning Project and Eco Schools and also president of the Marlborough Principals Association as well as an establishment member of the Ministry of Education's Principals Reference Group. In 2012, Simon was one of four school principals awarded a Woolf Fisher Principals Fellowship to complete a course of study at Harvard University School of Educational Leadership. Simon is the foundation and immediate past Chair of Mistletoe Bay Trust overseeing the establishment of the Mistletoe Bay Eco Village and Camp Ground in the Marlborough Sounds over the past 12 years. This project of Environmental Education and Sustainability has been and remains a passion. In June 2013 Simon was sworn in as a New Zealand Justice of the Peace.

Brian Moore

Brian is the immediate past Chairman of the Electorate of Kaikoura for the NZ National Party He served two terms - from 2003 to 2005 and then 2007 to 2012. 

Brian helped form the St Marks Foundation, a charitable trust to assist with funding for the St Marks Society. The Society is the only residential rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol addiction in the South Island. Upon receiving charitable trust status he was elected Chairman.

As a Trustee of the Canterbury Community Trust from 2010 to 2015, Brian enjoyed optimising the Trust’s investments to provide funds for significant donations and understanding the differing needs of the applicants as well as helping to determine opportunities in the investment portfolio. From 2002 – 2007 Brian was a Board member and deputy chairman of Destination Marlborough, the Regional Tourism Organisation. When first appointed, the organisation was in a dire financial position, but after two years of managing the financial portfolio, he had reversed the Trust’s position to one of budget surpluses and a positive cash flow. Between 2005 and 2008 Brian was a committee member of the proposed Ward Water Scheme development looking at the possibilities of bringing irrigation to the Flaxbourne Area and submitting a proposal to the Marlborough District Council. 

Other community positions held by Brian include: Chairman of the Vineyard Contractors/Employment Group during 2005 and 2006, which initiated the RSE Scheme currently operating in Marlborough, Member Marlborough Regional Land Transport Committee, Member of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce (President of the Chamber from 1996 – 1998).  1979 – 1990 Member of Greymouth Lions Club and then the Picton Lions Club including President of Picton Lions Club in 1985. 

Cathie Bell

Cathie is a communicator and storyteller working in journalism and the public sector. She brings strengths in relationship-building and crisis management, and has held governance roles for more than 20 years.An energetic highly-professional communicator who offers proven analysis and advice, strong leadership and strategic vision for team and organisational success, Cathie has had an extensive career to date in journalism, media and PR management within government sectors both local and national. Adept in establishing trust and credibility with stakeholders, Cathie has the ability to identify key priorities, translate and communicate concepts to senior management, groups and individuals in order to assist in achieving organisational goals.

Cathie has exemplary relationship management skills and is an articulate written and verbal communicator, experienced at facilitating meetings, networking and public speaking.  She has extensive experience developing close working relationships with people from a broad cross-section of society. She also excels as an effective project manager with the ability to analyse, design, implement and co-ordinate policies, procedures, resources, systems and events.

Kate Gaines

Kate’s professional background is in compliance and risk management, with a recent focus on health and safety. She has been involved in the governance of several Marlborough not-for-profit organisations, helping keep the focus on strategic goals and outcomes. Kate has a young family, and is enthusiastic about the Foundation’s goal of enabling all children to benefit from the Mistletoe Bay Eco Village experience.