Board of Trustees



Schooldocs - Please click for Policies and Procedures 


Click above to access School policies User name: sfds Password: sfds


Peter Chew


Presiding Member (Chairperson)
Proprietor's Representative


bot.chair@sfds.school.nz


Aaron Withers


Dan McGuinness


Proprietor's Representative

Proprietor's Representative

Haley Hakaraia

Megan Teusse

Deanna Mallon

Jo-Anne White

Ameha Wondirad

Parent Representative

Parent Representative -  

Parent Representative

Parent Representative

Parent Representaive



Deputy Chairperson

Mary-Angela Tombs


Principal

principal@sfds.school.nz
Sarah Fountain

Staff Representative

sarah.fountain@sfds.school.nz



BOT member profiles




The current St Francis de Sales Board - L-R Hayley Hakaraia, Jo-Anne White, Deanna Mallon, Sarah Fountain, Aaron Withers, Peter Chew, Mary-Angela Tombs, Dan McGuinness, Megan Teusse, Ameha Wondirad.


Peter Chew

I moved to Wellington with my wife, Andrea (a Finance Manager) in 2010, following ten years working in London. Since then, we have had three children, Sammy, Thalia and Benny. After four years getting to know Wellington, we moved to Island Bay, our favourite Wellington suburb. We are members of the parish community and feel very much at home here. Thalia is in year 5 and Benny is in year 1. My wife has banned me from further supporting the growth of the school roll.

I am a Partner at KPMG New Zealand, having spent more than twenty years advising government agencies and businesses in the UK and New Zealand to drive improved operational efficiency, cost reduction and performance improvement. I am currently leading a number of projects for the Ministry of Education in response to the findings of the Tomorrow's Schools Review

I am accustomed to supporting organisations at a governance level, having advised the Boards of major NZX-listed organisations, as well as charities and smaller private institutions. In the UK, I sat on the Board of a school in St Albans, where I provided a financial lens on the performance of the organisation, reviewed financial accounts and provided advice to the operational leadership on potential improvements. From my significant experience working with Boards and management, I am acutely aware of the importance of the different roles of management and governance, as well as the need for governors not to manage.

I am particularly passionate about a Catholic education, am proud to sit on the Board of Trustees for St Francis de Sales, am proud to be part of a thriving Catholic community and would be pleased to support the success of the school wherever possible.

Haley Hakaraia

Kia ora, ko Haley Hakaraia tōku ingoa, he uri ahau o Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga. I am a Māmā of three beautiful daughters at St Francis de Sales - Mahlee (year 7), Frankie (year 5) and little Lexie who has started school this year. Alongside my Māori whakapapa on my fathers side, my Mum is Italian with heritage to the beautiful island of Stromboli. Myself, my Mum and my Nonna are all former pupils of St Francis and my daughters are fourth generation students and also living in Island Bay. I am Pou Awhi-ā-Iwi | Head of Iwi Relationships at Te Papa and have been working in iwi relationships at Te Papa for over 15 years. I am looking forward to joining the Board this year and hope I can share a meaningful perspective and contribution for our children and future generations.


Dan McGuinness

I am married to Becs and we have 4 daughters, of which our three youngest attend SFDS. We have been living in Island Bay for the past 7 years. I have a degree in quantity surveying and am part of our family construction company LT McGuinness Ltd. I am a national Councillor for the NZ Institute of Quantity Surveyors and a member of the MBIE Wellington Regional Leaderships Group. I look forward to another year being part of the SFDS BOT and contributing to the school, particularly the Catholic character and property matters.


Deanna Mallon

Kia ora, my name is Deanna Mallon (Ngapuhi/Te Ati Hau-a-Paparangi) and my husband and I live here in Island Bay along with our four children and dog Foxy.  I originally come from Taupo but have lived in Wellington for the past 26 years.  
Having four children at SFDS means I am a busy mum, but being involved with school fundraising, pastoral care and netball allows me to spend time with my children, and gives me the opportunity to meet their friends and other parents.  I am looking forward to continuing my role as parent representative on the board.

I joined the Board of Trustees in February this year, this allowed me to understand the role of the board, and how it is important that whanau and tamariki have a voice and an advocate from a parent perspective.  I have also been a founding member of Te Korowai Atawhai an advisory group that was set up to support our Māori learners here at SFDS.


Megan Teusse

I am a mum to four kids.  Our older two have already moved through SFDS and on to college and our younger boys, George and Otto, are in years 5 and 2.
I am a Pharmacist who has worked largely in advisory and risk management roles for a large NZ pharmacy group and, more recently, the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ and the NZ College of Pharmacists.  
I like to think I am an objective thinker who is open minded and supportive.  I like to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, and make decisions in a values led fashion.
I have enjoyed watching the school grow,  adapt and overcome major challenges over our time here and really enjoy being able to give back to the community that has supported our whānau.

In our thirteen years at school I have been involved in the PSL and, for the last three years, I have been a parent representative on the board.  


Mary-Angela Tombs - Tumuaki/Principal

As the youngest of a large, loving catholic family of 13 children (Ko Hassan tāku whānau), I was born and raised in Invercargill - with loads of adventures from being in such a large family. My husband Rob Tombs and I have been living in Wellington since 2013, after meeting and marrying much earlier in Blenheim. Our three adult children (Jess, Ben and Emily) are now making their own adventures with their life partners. Rob and I love their company and find ways to get together with them whenever we can. 

Lifelong learning is a passion for me. Wellington College of Education was where I started my professional learning journey to become a teacher. After having children, I studied part time for 10 years with Canterbury University while teaching to complete a Bachelor of Education, a Graduate Diploma in ICT in Education, a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and a Masters of Education. 

I joined the SFDS staff team at the beginning of 2022, after teaching and leading at St Mary’s School in Blenheim for 14 years, and nine years as Tumuaki / Principal of St Teresa's School Karori, here in Wellington. For four years I also co-led the Wellington Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako, which SFDS is still a part of along with the 12 other catholic primary and secondary schools across Wellington. 

Being with the staff and tamariki of SFDS has brought great joy to me. Every day is different, each day brings challenges and new learning. I have a wonderful staff team around me and we are all committed to learning, caring and providing for a loving environment for our SFDS ākonga/learners. The SFDS Board is also a great group of people who are committed to making SFDS the best learning community it can be. They are a pleasure to work with, keep the wellbeing of our community at the forefront, and each bring a diverse set of skills and experience to the table.  


Jo-Anne White

You might know me as Johnny's mum and recognise me supporting from the sidelines of touch, soccer, swimming, cross country, floorball, or school patrol.  Or maybe from the Home of Compassion where I love to tell the story of Suzanne Aubert to the tamariki. I'm an enthusiastic supporter of the SFDS Kaupapa - to develop students with a love of God, learning and life!

Back in the day, I facilitated orientation and wellbeing for an international team of teachers for the Japanese Board of Education, and for international graduate students and their families at UBC, Canada. I have also been involved with the leadership of a wide variety of not-for-profit organisations, especially in their startup and development phases. My qualifications are in management, theological studies and spiritual direction. Currently, the energy I have left over from parenting an energetic nine-year-old boy (?!), is spent supporting the wellbeing and vision of a number of women thought leaders involved in a variety of fields, both nationally and further afield. 

I am keen to put my strengths of creative and strategic thinking, community connections and engagement behind the SFDS team and kaupapa. 

Aaron Withers

Kia ora, I am Aaron Withers. Our family have called Island Bay home for some time but only moved back to Wellington 5 years ago. We currently have 3 children attending SFDS and have been blessed to be part of this school community.  

I am one of the Proprietor’s Representative on the Board of Trustees. This role is to ensure the Catholic character of SFDS is maintained and it continues to provide a Catholic education for our leaners while being aware of and sensitive to the diversity of our community.  

Thank-you for the opportunity of contributing to the discussion and decision making of the Board of Trustees while ensuring our school’s Catholic character is preserved. I look forward to representing you and continuing to make SFDS a great school. 

Ameha Wondirad

My name is Ameha Wondirad. I am originally from Ethiopia and came to New Zealand in 2011.  I am a father of three children and the oldest Christian Bogale goes to St Francis de Sales School.

I have a Bachelor of Law from Ethiopian Mekelle University and a Legal Executive Diploma from Whitireia Polytech, Wellington. I have years of NZ and overseas experience in the legal profession.  I was also a member of the Change Makers Refugee Resettlement forum, as vice chair, for 4 years.

The values I bring to the board of SFDS

  • proven experience as a board member with different organisations
  • Bring the voice of the refugee and immigrant’s children/parents to the table
  • Not hesitant to challenge others on issues that are important to education or learning
  • Bring my own insights for existing school policies or rules








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