Meet our people

John enjoys utilising his financial and commercial experience in community-centred businesses such as Trust House. “The key thing for me is achieving balance between our commercial imperatives, and enhancing the community we exist to serve.”

John is now a permanent resident in Masterton, and looking forward to immersing himself in the local community.

Lucy Griffiths has been on the Trust for four terms and is currently Chair of the Masterton Community Trust Net Proceeds Committee and is Deputy Chair of Trust House.

Her passions in the community include The Songbirds, Westside Playcentre, Hōkai Tahi - Crisis Pregnancy and Baby loss, Lighthouse Church, Shepherd’s Rural Agri group, and Master’s swimming. She loves the outdoors and can often be found biking to meetings or running in the Tararua’s. Her consultancy Business, Innov8 Aotearoa assists food and beverage companies throughout NZ to sell and market their products with a focus on Export.

Aside from her Masterton interests,  Lucy Chair’s The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund IAP, is a Director of Great South (Regional Development agency) and Chair’s Brackenridge Country Retreat & Spa in Martinborough.

Lucy and her husband Simon live on a Lifestyle block with their two young boys and they enjoy the fabulous climate, people and opportunities that the Wairarapa has to offer.

Leanne is a partner in the Wairarapa accountancy firm Southey Sayer Ltd and was honoured with a fellowship to the Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ in 2018.

Outside of Southey Sayer, Leanne is a board member of Wellington Free Ambulance and Wellington Water Ltd.

Previous governance roles includes Chair of Masterton Trust Lands Trust, Deputy Chair of UCOL and Deputy Chair of Wairarapa DHB.

Married with two grown children , she is also active in a variety of community organisations including Trade Aid and Wairarapa Community Health Trust.

Stuart was appointed as an independent Director in 2019 and is Chair of the Audit and Risk committee.

Stuart is a Chartered Accountant, a farmer, a Manawatu District Councillor and Trustee/Director of several other wellbeing focused entities.

He has career experience in hospitality, social housing and philanthropy.

Stuart is married to Lyn and lives on his family farm at Taonui, near Feilding. He has two adult children.

Matt is Deputy Chair of Barnardos New Zealand and Chairs the Boards of Youth Inspire Trust and well as Te Awakairangi Access Trust. He was previously Chair of Silverstream Primary School, Healthy Families Lower Hutt and served as a trustee on the Neonatal Trust.

Matt is a Chartered Accountant with broad leadership experience across Central and Local Government, Iwi, Community Housing, Sports, Arts, Visitor Experiences, Social Services, Education and Charities. He proudly works by his philosophy and attitude of ‘Mahia Atu’ (just do it). He is passionate and committed to supporting and creating meaningful opportunities for young New Zealanders and their whanau who need it the most

Matt lives in Upper Hutt where he has 3 children. He loves his sport, getting out on his bike, and very unsuccessfully trying to catch the odd fish..

Corrie has a decade of experience in business management. He is trustee for Wairarapa Sports Education Trust and a committee member of Homebush Working Party. He is an active member of Business Leaders Network. Corrie brings his operations management, business planning and team leadership skills to the table. At present he is Store Manager / Shareholder at Tumu Masterton..