Chris was appointed Chair in May 2022 and previously has been a Trustee since July 2018. A lawyer by trade, he is a partner in a New Plymouth law firm with a particular focus on property, trust and commercial law. Before practising as a lawyer, he worked in a range of policy and advisory roles in the public sector, both at the Treasury and the Ministry of Social Development.

As well as his role on the Toi Foundation Board, he is a Trustee on a range of other charitable trusts. Chris and his wife Bridget live in New Plymouth with their two sons and enjoy all the benefits of the outdoors lifestyle in Taranaki from the mountain to the sea.

Born and educated in Hawera, Wharehoka (Whare) went on to Waikato University completing a double degree in Māori and English and then moved into secondary teaching. Later on he completed a Masters in Education with a focus on leadership and te reo Māori and brings 30 years of experience working in the education sector.

His tribal affiliations are Taranaki, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Awa and he is well respected for his leadership in the wider Taranaki community. Whare recently resigned as CEO of Te Kāhui o Taranaki Iwi Trust after 9 years and is currently CEO of Te Tōpuni Ngārahu the Ngā Iwi o Taranaki Regional Body tasked with working on behalf of the 8 Taranaki Iwi. Whare has had vaste experience in governance and is currently a trustee on Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Board and is Chairperson of the Taranaki Tū mai trust and the Taranaki Māori Trust Board. He has played a cultural lead on numerous events most recently with the hosting of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025 in Ngāmotu. Wharehoka is married to Emere and they have four children and 13 moko who are all based in Taranaki. He enjoys surfing, kapa haka and spending time with his whānau.

Robin was appointed as a Trustee in June 2017. Robin is a retired chartered accountant and now actively engaged with a number of governance roles. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand and a member of the Institute of Directors.

Robin completed his education at Victoria University with a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration. Joining the accounting profession in Wellington, that was soon followed by several years in Asia and the United States and eventually residing in Taranaki from 1985. Robin has throughout in his professional career had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of organisations in providing services centred around corporate recovery, strategic advice, assurance, governance and several related services. Robin was previously Chair of Venture Taranaki Trust and Chair of the Western Institute of Technology Taranaki Limited. Robin is currently a Director of Tui Ora Limited, Director of Toi Foundation Holdings Limited, Member of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki and serves as the Chair of its Finance Committee, Trustee of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and is Chair of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation – Taranaki Committee. Robin is married to Barbara who has, and continues to support Robin throughout his professional career, as well their daughters Emma (sustainability and environmental consultant, Auckland) and Renee (process engineer, Taranaki).

Born in Pakistan, raised and educated in England. Bali has been Principal of three coeducational New Zealand secondary schools and was also principal of the National College of the Cook Islands.

He has been President of the New Zealand Secondary Principals Association (SPANZ) and is well known nationally, particularly in the education sector. Bali was Deputy Chief Executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority from 2005 until 2011. In 2019 and 2020 he led a high-profile independent Ministerial taskforce to review the governance, management and administration of the New Zealand compulsory schooling system. In 2022 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education by Massey University. Bali has written two books: ‘New Zealand Secondary Schools and Your Child’ published by Bateman press and ‘Changing our Secondary Schools’ published by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) . He has also written many opinion pieces for mainstream New Zealand publications.

Nicola Ngarewa, (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Ngā Ruahine). Principal, Spotswood College | Governance Leader

Nicola Ngarewa brings extensive governance and educational leadership experience. She is currently the Chairperson of Te Kura O Te Aho Pouamu and serves on the boards of the Toi Foundation, Ngāti Ruanui, and Ako Mātātupu, where she is committed to empowering communities and fostering equitable opportunities for all. As Principal of Spotswood College in New Plymouth, and with previous leadership roles at Tamatea High School and Pātea Area School, Nicola has a proven track record of guiding schools through transformational change. She has also served as Chairperson of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, advocating for improved professional standards and the leadership development for teachers across the country. Nicola is deeply passionate about challenging traditional educational models and promoting authentic, inclusive learning, aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a future-focused vision. Her leadership is grounded in educational equity, community involvement, and a commitment to innovative governance. Nicola is married to Wayne Cribb, and they have two daughters.

Born and raised in Taranaki, Liana attended New Plymouth Girls’ High School and went on to study at the University of Waikato. She was a legal practitioner for 14 years with a strong focus on Treaty of Waitangi, Maori land and Maori governance issues.

Liana is the current Pouwhakarae (Chair) of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust (the entity responsible for managing Te Atiawa’s Treaty Settlement). She also holds other governance roles with Te Atiawa Iwi Holdings Management Ltd, Tui Ora Ltd, Te Reo o Taranaki Charitable Trust and is a member of the Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board. Liana is proud to be following in the footsteps of her grandfather Ted Tamati who was a foundation member of the TSB Community Trust and served as a Trustee from 1988 to 2001. 

Ryan was born and raised with his three brothers in Stratford, Taranaki. A graduate of Stratford High School he went on to gain a BSc Chemistry and MSc (Hons) at Waikato University.

After stints living in Japan, France and the UK Ryan returned to NZ and worked in senior roles across insurance (AIG, Allianz), finance, investment (Macquarie), private equity and venture capital. Ryan is currently the chair of two private companies, a member of the Institute of Directors and a founding member of Launch Taranaki. Married to Susan with two teenage children, Emma and Luke, Ryan can often be found in the surf or on the water in summer or coaching football or on a mountain in winter.

John was born and raised in Okato, Taranaki, and currently lives with his wife and two teenage children in Oakura. He has 20+ experience across both the legal and financial sectors.

John commenced his career as a lawyer for Bell Gully in Wellington and Allen & Overy in London before moving into banking, specialising in structured finance, including for Lloyds Bank as a member of the strategic transactions group.  Most recently John was founder and CEO of a payments startup that provided technology solutions into the US, South Africa and the UK as well as direct consumer services in New Zealand. John holds a BSc (Chemistry), LLB (Hons) and LLM.

Dion is an uri of Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, and Taranaki Iwi. He began school at Urenui Primary school and completed high school at Francis Douglas Memorial College. Dion attended Massey University where he graduated with a Master’s degree in History.

Dion has worked in Maori development his entire life beginning his career as a historian for the Waitangi Tribunal. He has had a diverse career as a writer, policy manager, and has held previous CEO roles for Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation and Te Ohu Kaimoana – the Maori Fisheries Trust. Dion lives in New Plymouth where he currently works as the Pou Whakahaere (CEO) of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust.

Dianne is a Taranaki local who has lived, attended school and worked across the region in Douglas, Opunake, Hawera, Stratford and now lives with her partner Alec in New Plymouth.

She has worked in senior roles with Shell, in strategic people and culture, mergers and acquisitions and asset management and with finance and commercial teams.  This career started in New Zealand and included 15 years living and working in The Netherlands, Malaysia and Poland. Dianne has a BBS from Massey University, is an Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors.  Currently managing a consultancy, a Business Mentor, a Trustee with NP Injury Safe, in governance roles and volunteering with food rescue and transitional housing. Dianne’s daughter and extended family mainly live in Taranaki and she enjoys spending time with them, taming a garden and travel.