Our People

Interim Chief Executive Officer (Kaiwhakahaere Mātua)

Pam has taken a leave of absence from her PSN Board member role to work as interim PSN Chief Executive Officer until a new permanent CEO is in place. She will then return to her Board member role. Pam’s career spans many years in leadership and governance roles across the public, financial and NGO sectors. As CEO or general manager, she has led significant not-for-profits and has recently concluded a contract role with Auckland Council as General Manager Community and Social Innovation. Pam has extensive governance experience and serves on the boards of Paralympics New Zealand, Auckland Hockey, and Auckland Restorative Justice Trust. She also continues her involvement with the Sport Integrity Unit for Gymnastics NZ and Women in Sport Aotearoa. In 2022, Pam became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to hockey and women.

Chief Financial Officer

Craig has worked at PSN as CFO since July, 2023. His focus is on working with the Leadership Team and Board on setting and delivering the financial plan for the organisation, and managing the resources to achieve this. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1993 at Ernst & Young, and has worked in the UK and South Africa. Craig has 20 years’ experience working in charitable organisations, including CFO at Auckland UniServices, and trustee at Monte Cecilia Housing Trust. Prior to joining PSN, Craig ran his own consultancy, providing strategic advice to 32 start-up companies between 2016 - 2022. He has spent many years volunteering in the community including 24 years working in church and youth leadership areas, and 10 years in Rotary.

General Manager, Health and Disability

Wendy has worked at PSN since 2014 originally as General Manager Development, then Chief Operating Officer and most recently as GM Health and Disability. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the health and social sectors working in management positions in Auckland DHB and Waikato DHB in both Operational Management and Funding and Planning Management. Wendy is also member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

General Manager, Engagement

Tom joined PSN as General Manager, Engagement in September 2022. He was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland but has spent most of his life in Aotearoa. Tom moved to the NGO sector from the banking industry in 2000 and has held People and Culture executive roles in St John, Healthcare NZ and IHC Group. He is a Chartered Member of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand.

Kaitohu Matua / General Manager Māori

Joe joined PSN in April 2023. His role as Kaitohu Matua is to provide strategic leadership and advice as PSN seeks to engage more fully with Te Ao Māori. Joe also supports PSN’s Kaitakawaenga and Hau Kāinga Rōpū, and other kaimahi Māori across the organisation. Joe is of Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri descent, an uri of Ngapuhi-nui-tonu. He comes to PSN from a Senior Cultural Advisor role at Te Whatu Ora (Greenlane Hospital, Tamaki Mākaurau) and is also a Director of Haua Partners, which works with organisations to strengthen responsiveness to bicultural practice. Joe has trained and worked as a social worker previously and worked with PSN between 2007 and 2009.

General Manager, Fundraising & Social Enterprise

Lisa joined PSN in late 2021 and represents Fundraising and Social Enterprise. As the organisation enters a period of increasing demand, fundraising and commercial activities are vital to ensure the maintenance of core programmes and development of new and exciting opportunities. Lisa has a background in marketing and has nearly 20 years of fundraising experience gained in the health, arts and culture sectors – most recently as Head of Development at the Auckland Museum. Her favourite saying is ‘from acorns grow oak trees’ – especially when acknowledging and celebrating our donors who support PSN’s work and our mission ‘A better life for everyone’.

General Manager, Social Services

Grenville joined in August 2023 as General Manager for PSN’s Social Services, which includes Family Works, Lifeline and Shine. Grenville originally comes fromSouth Africa and has lived in New Zealand and Australia for 25 years.   Grenville is a social services professional with extensive senior leadership experience in New Zealand and Australia. This includes significant experience in both government policy and operational management of large multi-disciplinary teams. He is passionate about making a difference in the lives of whanau and communities, and this has guided his work choices.   His most recent role was Operations Manager, Starship Child Health. Prior to that, Grenville held senior management roles at OzChild (Australia), Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Social Development, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (NZ and Australia).   Grenville holds an MBA, Post Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences, Diploma in Social Work, and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (Psychology).   Grenville is a keen gardener and swimmer, and together with his Kiwi partner, he enjoys travelling and meeting people from different places and cultures.

Representative for Kaimai Presbytery (Waikato) and Trustee (currently on leave of absence)

Pam Elgar joined the PSN Board in December 2020 as a Kaimai rep.

Her career has spanned three distinct sectors – public sector, banking and not for profit.  The emphasis across all has been a focus on leadership and people development plus a desire to improve the performance of each organisation and role she has undertaken.

Interests:  A long term interest in sport in particular Field Hockey which Pam has played since she was 11.

Pam is married with no children but many nieces and nephews.

Chair and Independent Trustee

Nigel joined the Board of PSN in January 2020 as an Independent Trustee.

Nigel is Director of Viatx Consulting. He recently finished a 15-year career at Fonterra, which he joined to establish and run a new business incubator for the Fonterra Research Centre. He then established the Global Marketing Team for Nutrition Ingredients, before being appointed to lead the strategy, marketing & innovation for Fonterra’s global foodservice business. Nigel’s last role was GM Strategy for Fonterra Australia, based in Melbourne.

Prior to joining Fonterra, Nigel led a management buy-out of Viatx, an internet application company, which was a division of Advantage Group. Nigel also held general management, marketing and sales roles in the IT & Telecommunications industry, with gen-i and Netway (both since absorbed into Spark), IBM NZ, and IBM UK.

He has served as an elder and chairman of the leadership team of the Mt. Roskill Baptist Church and chair of the Roskill Community Trust.

Nigel is married to Adele and they have 3 children pursuing careers in Wellington and Melbourne. Nigel’s interests are skiing, hiking and travel.

Deputy Chair and Representative for Northern Presbytery

Mark comes to PSN with a wide range of experience in the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and Commercial Governance sectors.

Mark’s NGO involvement includes Life Member of Rotaract, Child Cancer Foundation; Board Chair, RMHC NZ Trust; and Board Chair, Saint Kentigern Trust Board. Commercial Governance involvement includes Chair at Auckland Eye Limited, Health Improvement Group Limited, Ormiston Eye Limited, and Ormiston Health Properties Limited.

Mark has also served as Director for East Health Services Limited, and his Senior CFO roles have included Noel Leeming Group, The Warehouse, Trademe, Laybuy Group, and Crane Distribution Limited.

A Chartered member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors (CMIoD), Mark is also a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants (FCA) Australia New Zealand, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom).

Northern Presbytery Representative

Barbara joined the Board of PSN in January 2020 as a Northern Presbytery representative.

An experienced senior finance executive, Chartered Accountant, and member of the NZ Institute of Directors, she brings a wealth of various industry and organisational experience to the Board, including her most recent commercial experience in the health industry.

She currently serves as Parish Council Secretary on the Glendowie Presbyterian Church Council and has served on the Board of her local primary school.

Barbara is married to Paul, has children, and enjoys watching sport, playing bridge and when the opportunity presents, travelling.

Trustee Pacific Island Synod

Yvonne Timaloa joined the PSN Board in December 2020 as a Pasifika rep. Her current roles include Managing Director – Waycom Limited, Account Director at JETT Consulting Ltd and Account manager at NFO NZ Ltd.

Interests: Yvonne enjoys women’s ministry through hosting womens connect groups and facilitating Pacific women’s events.

She manages events for Pacific community sports and supports Youth ministry initiatives.

Yvonne is married with three teenagers.

Independent Trustee

Rachael is a descendant of the Tainui Waka and of Ngāti Maniapoto.

She is Co-Director of MAPSS (Māori and Pasifika Support Services) which focuses on the intersection between indigenous people’s and improving social outcomes.  She is a former academic of the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education;  Education Manager of the Auckland South Corrections Facility, and a former Secondary School Teacher.

Rachael’s recent governance experience includes the Boards of Education New Zealand, The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), Manukau Institute of Technology, Voyce: Whakarongo mai, Variety Children’s Charity, Man Alive Charitable Trust, Auckland Community Law Centre and COMET Auckland.

Presbyterian Trustee

Kenneth is an open minded and strong advocate of agile and innovative approaches that support diverse communities to thrive. His approach to governance is values-driven, with a strong focus on diligence and pragmatism. Kenneth likes to be clear about agreed priorities. He also believes in bringing stakeholders on the journey to maintain trust.

He enjoys spending time with family and friends of all ages and backgrounds. He also enjoys being part of his local community, supporting sport and recreational activities, and attending his local Presbyterian church.  

Kenneth is very proud of his Pasifika identity and carries his Samoan heritage with him. He also understands the importance of our special relationship with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which is always an important consideration in making holistic and sustainable decisions.

Presbyterian Trustee

Kate is an experienced governance professional with strong strategy and leadership skills across a number of industries including health, not-for-profit and aged care. Beginning her career in the corporate world, she now commits her commercial skills and experience for social good, with a special focus on those with no voice.

Kate’s consulting and general management experience means she understands how to lead effective organisations to deliver on strategy. At the board table, Kate builds great relationships which drive authentic discussion; and she is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Kate is married to Rob and they have two adult children. She follows in the footsteps of many generations of Presbyterians as an active member of the leadership team of St Columba at Botany.