Ara Foundation is governed by a group of trustees with a diverse range of experience and knowledge across a range of sectors.
Katherine Ewer
Chair
Katherine Ewer, LLB, TEP is an experienced Tax and Trust lawyer based in Christchurch. Katherine became a Trustee of the Ara Foundation in November 2013, Deputy Chair in 2016 and was appointed Chair in April 2019. Katherine has 24 plus years’ experience as a Barrister & Solicitor in New Zealand and operates her own specialist Tax and Trust practice which she formed in 2013. Katherine is a member of the New Zealand Law Society and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and sits on the New Zealand Law Society Taxation Committee (NZLS), the NZLS Canterbury Westland Branch Trust Committee and NZLS Canterbury Westland Branch Standards Committee.
Jane Cartwright
Jane Cartwright was appointed to the CPIT, now Ara Institute of Canterbury, Council in 2011. She holds a Bachelor of Science, a Post Graduate Diploma in Science (Human Nutrition), an MBA from the University of Otago and NZ Dietetic Registration. She is an Ara Council appointee to the Ara Foundation.
Her current directorships, trustee and committee member responsibilities include Chairing the Board of Brackenridge Estate Ltd. Jane is Deputy Chair of Nurse Maude Association, Member of Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors, and Associate Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management.
Jane was appointed as NZBA Executive Officer in May 2017 and retains a leadership role for the Canterbury Clinical Network.
Brett King
Brett brings to the table more than 30 years’ experience of technical, operational and leadership roles within the civil construction industry throughout the wider Canterbury Region. Brett is an Executive Divisional Manager with Fulton Hogan with an operational overview of the Central South Island and West Coast.
He currently serves on the board of NetCon Limited, and is a Trustee of the Aoraki Arts Charitable Trust. He has a Bachelor of Applied Management and a National Diploma in Business (Health and Safety Management). He is a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Annemarie Mora
Annemarie is a multi-award-winning communications and engagement specialist with nearly 20 years’ experience in the private and public sectors. She has led the communications function for some of Queensland and Christchurch’s largest infrastructure projects, including for the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team.
She has worked with five Boards over ten years, in diverse circumstances. She brings to the table extensive management team experience, robust knowledge of governance policies and procedures, thorough knowledge of Health Safety and Environment best practice, a deep understanding of organisational culture and high-performing teams, astute risk management, and financial acumen. She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Directors and is planning to become a Chartered Member in the near future.
Elizabeth Hopkins
Elizabeth has over 20 years’ experience in commercialising science and has worked in several areas including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, and food. Elizabeth was previously Director of the Research and Commercialisation office at Lincoln University and has been CEO of several New Zealand Biotech companies and now holds directorship and consultancy roles within a range of organisations, at both local and national levels.
Jackie Curtis
Jackie is managing partner of Cherry Red Consulting, a Christchurch based communications consultancy. Prior to establishing Cherry Red, Jackie held senior roles within the corporate sector. Jackie has a comprehensive background and significant experience in the provision of strategic communications and marketing in both the private and public sector. Jackie is a graduate of Victoria University, a Fellow of PRINZ and has completed the week long residential NZIOD course.
Geoff Cranko
Geoff has been managing and growing companies on a global basis for 30 years. A strong advocate of long term strategy, clear communication and effective marketing, he believes strongly in developing young people through exposure to real world experiences. Geoff is the Group Managing Partner of Strategy, an international network of brand and business experts. As well he is Chair of NV Interactive, an internationally awarded digital agency, a director of several national businesses and Chair of the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation.
Tony Gray
Tony Gray was appointed Chief Executive of Ara Institute of Canterbury in September 2017 having previously been Chief Executive of NMIT in Nelson for eleven years. He has a long career in the tertiary education sector in both private industry training and polytechnics.
Tony came to New Zealand from the United Kingdom in 2003 to take up a role as Chief Executive for the privately owned Pacific International Hotel Management School in New Plymouth, where he also had responsibility for the ORION Hotel Schools group in Australia, China and Switzerland. Before that, he held Chief Executive roles in Further and Higher Education colleges in the United Kingdom. He was also a member of several national and regional United Kingdom education organisations, as well holding a Ministerial appointment to the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council.
Tony is a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management; a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand; he was part of the NZQA Expert Advisory Group for Quality Assurance reforms for the tertiary sector; he chairs the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand (TANZ) Board, and is a member of the NZQA Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Advisory Group.
Izzy Berliner
Izzy joined the Ara Foundation as a student representative in 2016 from the Ara Student Council. She has a strong focus on the student experience and is passionate about maintaining a strong student voice on the foundation. She attended Ara from 2014-2016 and completed a Bachelor of Engineering Technology. She is currently a Civil Engineer at Beca and is also a member of the Canterbury Young Engineers committee and Engineering New Zealand.
Clive Jones
Clive Jones is a Director of management consultancy Metamorphis Digital and has over 20 years’ senior management and leadership experience in a range of industries including vocational education, international education, energy, telecommunications, central and local government. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Massey University.
David Fussell
David is an Investment Adviser at JBWere, an Australasian Wealth Management Specialist. Prior to this, David held commercial and institutional roles in the banking sector. David is a graduate of the University of Canterbury, holding a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours; is an Authorised Financial Adviser and accredited NZX Adviser. David became a Trustee of the Ara Foundation in March 2019.