Bridget-Mary is an experienced senior leader with a strong background in governance, organisational transformation, and community development. She has held senior management roles across health, education, energy, and social services, bringing extensive expertise in strategy, change management, and business excellence. With over 20 years of governance experience, she is passionate about building resilient organisations that positively impact communities. Bridget-Mary was elected to the YMCA New Zealand Board in 2023 and appointed National Board President in 2025. Bridget-Mary was awarded a life membership in 2019 for her significant service to the YMCA in Southland.

Bridget-Mary is an experienced senior leader with a strong background in governance, organisational transformation, and community development. She has held senior management roles across health, education, energy, and social services, bringing extensive expertise in strategy, change management, and business excellence. With over 20 years of governance experience, she is passionate about building resilient organisations that positively impact communities. Bridget-Mary was elected to the YMCA New Zealand Board in 2023 and appointed National Board President in 2025. Bridget-Mary was awarded a life membership in 2019 for her significant service to the YMCA in Southland.

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.

Steve comes to the National Board as an independent director and has previously been a member of, and chaired, both the Christchurch and National YMCA Boards of Trustees. He has been a prior chair of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Trust Board, and he is involved in the sport of fencing as a coach, administrator, former NZ representative, International Referee (having officiated at Olympic and World Cup events), and manager of NZ teams at international events. He was also a member of the World Youth Games Board, the entity that advocated for, and led to the establishment of the Youth Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and previously an adviser to the Eliot Sinclair Managing Director and Board. Eliot Sinclair is a surveying and engineering firm delivering services for urban planning and land development.

Steve comes to the National Board as an independent director and has previously been a member of, and chaired, both the Christchurch and National YMCA Boards of Trustees. He has been a prior chair of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Trust Board, and he is involved in the sport of fencing as a coach, administrator, former NZ representative, International Referee (having officiated at Olympic and World Cup events), and manager of NZ teams at international events. He was also a member of the World Youth Games Board, the entity that advocated for, and led to the establishment of the Youth Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and previously an adviser to the Eliot Sinclair Managing Director and Board. Eliot Sinclair is a surveying and engineering firm delivering services for urban planning and land development.

Peter is drawn to values driven organisations that ‘make a difference’ and are committed to leading their sector…so his long involvement with The Y (including 8 years as CEO for YMCA North) is, perhaps, not overly surprising. Family plays a large part in his life - as does his strong drive to serve and support the wider community. As a result, he has undertaken a wide range of Governance roles – and that experience, combined with a total of 29 years as a CEO, has given him a deep, and varied, knowledge base to draw upon. His commercial background is founded primarily in Franchising – within Franchised organisations and then as National CEO for the Franchise Association of New Zealand – through that he has had a unique insight and involvement with a range of successful businesses, proven business models, robust replicable systems, processes and infrastructures. Like many ‘kiwi’s’ – sport and recreation has played an integral part of his life. He has been fortunate to have been able to take that passion from the playing field and into the professional arena via the leadership of two sports (Northland Rugby and New Zealand Squash). In addition, the Cancer, Health and Disability sectors remain a long-term, and very personal, passion–driven by challenges faced by family members. That close involvement with, and understanding of, some of our most vulnerable people (and families) has had a profound impact on his views, how he operates as a leader, and the contribution he endeavours to make.

Peter is drawn to values driven organisations that ‘make a difference’ and are committed to leading their sector…so his long involvement with The Y (including 8 years as CEO for YMCA North) is, perhaps, not overly surprising. Family plays a large part in his life - as does his strong drive to serve and support the wider community. As a result, he has undertaken a wide range of Governance roles – and that experience, combined with a total of 29 years as a CEO, has given him a deep, and varied, knowledge base to draw upon. His commercial background is founded primarily in Franchising – within Franchised organisations and then as National CEO for the Franchise Association of New Zealand – through that he has had a unique insight and involvement with a range of successful businesses, proven business models, robust replicable systems, processes and infrastructures. Like many ‘kiwi’s’ – sport and recreation has played an integral part of his life. He has been fortunate to have been able to take that passion from the playing field and into the professional arena via the leadership of two sports (Northland Rugby and New Zealand Squash). In addition, the Cancer, Health and Disability sectors remain a long-term, and very personal, passion–driven by challenges faced by family members. That close involvement with, and understanding of, some of our most vulnerable people (and families) has had a profound impact on his views, how he operates as a leader, and the contribution he endeavours to make.

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.

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 third 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 third term having been involved with the setting up of its governance policies and practices.