Born in Christchurch, Chris Clarke graduated from Canterbury University in 1986 with Bachelor degrees in Commerce and Law. He has had an impressive and varied career in the New Zealand health sector, plus experience working in Europe with the World Health Organisation. From 2003 to February 2009 he was CEO of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Clarke said: "I am delighted and humbled by this opportunity. World Vision is a household name and I am struck by the great affection and respect New Zealanders have for World Vision and its development work internationally.
"We are on the cusp of a unique period in history. For the first time the world community has the technology, know how and capacity to eradicate extreme poverty. The question is: do we have the moral and political will? I am looking forward to working with the World Vision team and the other NZ based development agencies to make that difference. It's a great honour and responsibility to help lead World Vision at this exciting and challenging time."
World Vision of New Zealand is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees who meet 6 times a year. The principal roles of the WVNZ Board with regard to the overall World Vision mission are:
The current members are:
Peter has been a Board member since 2004. Peter is currently Managing Director Fonterra Brands NZ Limited, and was formerly Chief Executive of New Zealand Dairy Foods Limited, a position he has held through various ownerships, since 1995.
Prior to that he was Managing Director of Lion Breweries Limited for three years, following a thirteen year stint at SC Johnson and Sons Limited where he became Managing Director, New Zealand in 1989. Peter's original training was in accountancy and he is a Chartered Accountant, although he has worked in marketing, sales and general management the past 20 years, both in New Zealand and overseas.
Jon has worked in a variety of commercial leadership roles in several public and private organisations in both developed and developing countries including the UK, Sudan, Zambia, Australia and New Zealand. He now splits his time between his family, volunteering and a few commercial clients.
Jon has a passionate interest on the issues of injustice and oppression. He has been involved with World Vision microfinance since 2003 and has volunteered in Cambodia, Burma, Philippines, Indonesia and the USA/UK. He also sits on the boards of VisionFund Cambodia and VisionFund International.
Sandy is a Director of the marketing strategy firm The Providence Report, an honorary research associate at the University of Auckland and a research associate at Victoria University.
Sandy has previously worked for TVNZ, Saatchi and Saatchi in New York, Unilever in London, and was Managing Director of Colmar Brunton in Wellington. She holds a PhD in History from the University of Auckland, and has studied women and leadership at the Harvard Business School. Her book The Face of War: New Zealand’s Great War Photography was published by Auckland University Press in May 2008.
Liz Smythe is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at Auckland University of Technology. She has a practice background in nursing and midwifery. In recent times she has developed a strong qualitative research portfolio, with a keen interest in the nature of 'thinking'.
A study on the thinking of leadership is especially relevant to her role on the Board. She has recently conducted research on the experience of being a Vision Fund donor with World Vision. She has been a member of the WVNZ Trust Board since September 1997, and is the Board's current representative on the World Vision International Board.
Bob Robinson is a senior lecturer at Laidlaw College (Formerly the Bible College of New Zealand) in Christchurch. Bob was a missionary/theological educator in Singapore from 1976-82 and completed his PhD at the University of London on the encounter of Christianity with Hinduism.
He was General Secretary of the (Anglican) NZ Church Missionary Society from 1984-95 in which capacity he constantly visited and reviewed aid and development projects in Africa and Asia. Bob joined the WVNZ Board in 1998.
Natalie joined the Board in February 2003 and is the youngest member of the Board. A management consultant, Natalie worked for Sheffield in Auckland while completing a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Management, and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology.
In 2001, along with another staff member, Natalie set up Sheffield's Australian operation in Sydney. Although Sheffield subsequently pulled out of the Australian market, Natalie and a colleague established Bendelta Pty Ltd in 2003, a strategic consultancy focusing on organisational change. She commutes regularly between Sydney and Auckland.
Fran joined the World Vision New Zealand Board in 2004. Prior to that she spent 12 years on the Catholic Caring Foundation board and was involved in grants and other fundraising events.
She currently sits on the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Board, which makes annual awards to artists of all disciplines, the N.Z. Opera Board and the board of a private wine company. Fran is also involved with several arts patrons groups in Auckland, the Auckland City Art Gallery and the Auckland Theatre Trust. Fran is a Registered Nurse, and has an art history degree.
The Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee’s role is to: Assist the Board in discharging its responsibility to exercise due care, diligence and skill in relation to oversight of:
The objectives of the committee are to:
In pursuing these objectives, the committee may obtain advice from suitably qualified Independent Advisor(s) approved by the full Board.