Meet the Team

David is an immediate past president of Y North and a long-standing member of the Board and its subcommittees. His professional role is a lawyer working incommercial, corporate and capital markets and has extensive experience in both advising on corporate governance mixed with governance roles. David was the Chair of the Government’s regulatory body, the Takeovers Panel for a substantial period of time and has been involved at Government level also with law reform of commercial legislation. He is known also for his involvement in sports law in many different sporting fields, acting for athletes and sporting bodies. David is of both European and Māori descent (Ngāti Mahanga Hourua o Tainui). He is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contribution to business and the economy.

David is an immediate past president of Y North and a long-standing member of the Board and its subcommittees. His professional role is a lawyer working incommercial, corporate and capital markets and has extensive experience in both advising on corporate governance mixed with governance roles. David was the Chair of the Government’s regulatory body, the Takeovers Panel for a substantial period of time and has been involved at Government level also with law reform of commercial legislation. He is known also for his involvement in sports law in many different sporting fields, acting for athletes and sporting bodies. David is of both European and Māori descent (Ngāti Mahanga Hourua o Tainui). He is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contribution to business and the economy.

David is an immediate past president of Y North and a long-standing member of the Board and its subcommittees. His professional role is a lawyer working in commercial, corporate and capital markets and has extensive experience in both advising on corporate governance mixed with governance roles. David was the Chair of the Government’s regulatory body, the Takeovers Panel for a substantial period of time and has been involved at Government level also with law reform of commercial legislation. He is known also for his involvement in sports law in many different sporting fields, acting for athletes and sporting bodies. David is of both European and Māori descent (Ngāti Mahanga Hourua o Tainui). He is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contribution to business and the economy.

David is an immediate past president of Y North and a long-standing member of the Board and its subcommittees. His professional role is a lawyer working in commercial, corporate and capital markets and has extensive experience in both advising on corporate governance mixed with governance roles. David was the Chair of the Government’s regulatory body, the Takeovers Panel for a substantial period of time and has been involved at Government level also with law reform of commercial legislation. He is known also for his involvement in sports law in many different sporting fields, acting for athletes and sporting bodies. David is of both European and Māori descent (Ngāti Mahanga Hourua o Tainui). He is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contribution to business and the economy.

Bridget-Mary is an experienced Senior Manager, Chair, Trustee and Director with experience in Health & Disability, Recreation, Education & Youth Development. She is a result driven strategic thinker with a comprehensive governance and operational management background complemented by academic qualifications and experience. Bridget-Mary believes successful organisations require a clear strategy built on innovative aspirations, supported by people working within a culture that is empowering and where all involved own and enable the values of the organisation - team culture is aligned to the organisation’s values. Bridget-Mary was awarded a life membership in 2019 for her significant service to the YMCA in Southland.

Bridget-Mary is an experienced Senior Manager, Chair, Trustee and Director with experience in Health & Disability, Recreation, Education & Youth Development. She is a result driven strategic thinker with a comprehensive governance and operational management background complemented by academic qualifications and experience. Bridget-Mary believes successful organisations require a clear strategy built on innovative aspirations, supported by people working within a culture that is empowering and where all involved own and enable the values of the organisation - team culture is aligned to the organisation’s values. Bridget-Mary was awarded a life membership in 2019 for her significant service to the YMCA in Southland.

Shona is a past Y staff member starting in Wellington as Recreation Manager, Centre Manager in Auckland, then developing Raise Up and then as National Youth Development Manager. Her passion for real-world impact led her to further her expertise, earning a Master of Arts in Youth Development, and serving as a tutor and assessor for Youth Work qualifications. Shona has supported youth-serving organisations in Melbourne and New Zealand in various roles, but she became passionate about knowing whether the interventions were making a difference. Now the founder of a company that supports for-purpose organisations to define their intended outcomes and to measure their impact, to continue to enhance social change. Shona believes in the Y's impact by providing various opportunities to empower young people and communities.

Shona is a past Y staff member starting in Wellington as Recreation Manager, Centre Manager in Auckland, then developing Raise Up and then as National Youth Development Manager. Her passion for real-world impact led her to further her expertise, earning a Master of Arts in Youth Development, and serving as a tutor and assessor for Youth Work qualifications. Shona has supported youth-serving organisations in Melbourne and New Zealand in various roles, but she became passionate about knowing whether the interventions were making a difference. Now the founder of a company that supports for-purpose organisations to define their intended outcomes and to measure their impact, to continue to enhance social change. Shona believes in the Y's impact by providing various opportunities to empower young people and communities.

Shona is a past Y staff member starting in Wellington as Recreation Manager, Centre Manager in Auckland, then developing Raise Up and then as National Youth Development Manager. Her passion for real-world impact led her to further her expertise, earning a Master of Arts in Youth Development, and serving as a tutor and assessor for Youth Work qualifications. Shona has supported youth-serving organisations in Melbourne and New Zealand in various roles, but she became passionate about knowing whether the interventions were making a difference. Now the founder of a company that supports for-purpose organisations to define their intended outcomes and to measure their impact, to continue to enhance social change. Shona believes in the Y's impact by providing various opportunities to empower young people and communities.

Shona is a past Y staff member starting in Wellington as Recreation Manager, Centre Manager in Auckland, then developing Raise Up and then as National Youth Development Manager. Her passion for real-world impact led her to further her expertise, earning a Master of Arts in Youth Development, and serving as a tutor and assessor for Youth Work qualifications. Shona has supported youth-serving organisations in Melbourne and New Zealand in various roles, but she became passionate about knowing whether the interventions were making a difference. Now the founder of a company that supports for-purpose organisations to define their intended outcomes and to measure their impact, to continue to enhance social change. Shona believes in the Y's impact by providing various opportunities to empower young people and communities.

Kari joined the YMCA Southland board in July 2021 and also holds multiple director positions in the Southland area including the Chair positon for Youthline Southland. She is extremely passionate about her local community and young people. She has a background in policy and strategy and has worked for local and national governments here and abroad for over 20 years. For her the YMCA is one of the only organisations that offers unique and all-inclusive opportunities for our communities.

Kari joined the YMCA Southland board in July 2021 and also holds multiple director positions in the Southland area including the Chair positon for Youthline Southland. She is extremely passionate about her local community and young people. She has a background in policy and strategy and has worked for local and national governments here and abroad for over 20 years. For her the YMCA is one of the only organisations that offers unique and all-inclusive opportunities for our communities.

Byron is a Chartered Accountant and seasoned senior leader with extensive experience in developing and implementing business strategy and leading financial and commercial functions. Byron has lived and worked in a number of countries around the world, giving him a unique global perspective. Byron is Vice President of the YMCA Taranaki and a member of their Finance Committee and joined the National board in early 2024. Byron is the General Manager of Pipes NZ and prior to that was with Methanex for 13 years in various senior leadership roles in New Zealand and overseas. Earlier in his career, Byron worked for various large organisations, including PwC, Fonterra, Shell, and Tyco. Byron has also owned several small businesses, including consultancy, property investment and hospitality companies.

Byron is a Chartered Accountant and seasoned senior leader with extensive experience in developing and implementing business strategy and leading financial and commercial functions. Byron has lived and worked in a number of countries around the world, giving him a unique global perspective. Byron is Vice President of the YMCA Taranaki and a member of their Finance Committee and joined the National board in early 2024. Byron is the General Manager of Pipes NZ and prior to that was with Methanex for 13 years in various senior leadership roles in New Zealand and overseas. Earlier in his career, Byron worked for various large organisations, including PwC, Fonterra, Shell, and Tyco. Byron has also owned several small businesses, including consultancy, property investment and hospitality companies.

Byron is a Chartered Accountant and seasoned senior leader with extensive experience in developing and implementing business strategy and leading financial and commercial functions. Byron has lived and worked in a number of countries around the world, giving him a unique global perspective. Byron is Vice President of the YMCA Taranaki and a member of their Finance Committee and joined the National board in early 2024. Byron is the General Manager of Pipes NZ and prior to that was with Methanex for 13 years in various senior leadership roles in New Zealand and overseas. Earlier in his career, Byron worked for various large organisations, including PwC, Fonterra, Shell, and Tyco. Byron has also owned several small businesses, including consultancy, property investment and hospitality companies.

Byron is a Chartered Accountant and seasoned senior leader with extensive experience in developing and implementing business strategy and leading financial and commercial functions. Byron has lived and worked in a number of countries around the world, giving him a unique global perspective. Byron is Vice President of the YMCA Taranaki and a member of their Finance Committee and joined the National board in early 2024. Byron is the General Manager of Pipes NZ and prior to that was with Methanex for 13 years in various senior leadership roles in New Zealand and overseas. Earlier in his career, Byron worked for various large organisations, including PwC, Fonterra, Shell, and Tyco. Byron has also owned several small businesses, including consultancy, property investment and hospitality companies.

As a Retired Chartered Accountant, Paul’s business background has been in the commercial environment, encompassing the financial aspects of these businesses as well as their commercial operations and as a Board of Director’s advisor (legal compliance and financial governance being significant parts of all these appointments). He is a current director of YMCA North and was previously a committee member for St John Auckland, director Asthma New Zealand. Paul returns as a Director on the National Board of the National Council of YMCAs for a second term having been involved with the setting up of its governance policies and practices.

As a Retired Chartered Accountant, Paul’s business background has been in the commercial environment, encompassing the financial aspects of these businesses as well as their commercial operations and as a Board of Director’s advisor (legal compliance and financial governance being significant parts of all these appointments). He is a current director of YMCA North and was previously a committee member for St John Auckland, director Asthma New Zealand. Paul returns as a Director on the National Board of the National Council of YMCAs for a second term having been involved with the setting up of its governance policies and practices.