2019 Common Election results

Nicholas Ian Bithell
Elected

My name is Nick Bithell and I am standing for election to the Waitakere Primary School Board.

I am the father of Beckett who joined the school at the end of 2018 and is currently a Year 2 student with Mrs Easto in Room 17. Beckett,Tracey, Keira and myself have been living in the local area for over 7 years.

I am delighted with the energy and enthusiasm for school that Waitakere has filled Beckett with. From the moment we visited the school together Tracey and I have experience only positive interactions with staff and students making us feel that we and Beckett are welcomed and belong. Because of this I am keen to offer my services and experience to the school’s board of trustees to assist with ensuring the school remains a great place for our rangatahi. I fully acknowledge the excellent work of our current board members, and thank them all.

I believe in a hands on, active and equitable education for all students, and in my current role as a professional learning facilitator for schools I am able to keep abreast of educational developments which can benefit our school. Furthermore my work as a teacher in High Schools, (most recently as Head of the Science department at Henderson High), would bring additional experience and perspective to the board. I have the skills to work collaboratively with others, including school leaders as attested by my work at Henderson High and my current role.

I thank you for considering my nomination.

Graeme Gellatly
Elected

My name is Graeme Gellatly and I am standing for Waitakere School Board. I have 2, soon to be 3, children at Waitakere School. Between them, they allow me to experience the full spectrum of the school.

My wife Rebecca is a natural born westie, and (former) head girl of Waitakere College, while I emigrated from rural South Auckland via the North Shore a couple of years ago. During my spare time I coach juniors and, legs willing, play seniors for Oratia United FC and am a member of Redwood Park Golf Club. Summers are with the kids at Bethells Surf Life Saving.

I graduated with an MBA (Distinction) after achieving undergraduate degrees in Information Systems, Computer Science and Accounting and hold provisional membership to Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand. I can’t think of a duller set of qualifications but they do come in quite handy sometimes.

I have held previous board positions in both national and international organisations, including as chair of audit and have strong finance skills.

For the past 10 years, as Head of Business Systems for a large national manufacturing group, I’ve led a team identifying, designing, writing and managing strategic and operational change projects. It sounds boring, I don’t talk about it much, but we are lucky that we get wide latitude to deliver occasionally jaw dropping things using the latest technology and methods.

I feel working on the leading edge of business and information technology, managing its integration into workplaces, and seeing both the good and bad effects on people gives me a unique understanding of our children’s present risks and future opportunities, and the types of skills required to thrive in it.

As a candidate, it would be a privilege to be elected to the Board of Trustees.

Wade Robin Hansen
Elected

My name is Wade Hansen and I am standing for the Waitakere Primary School Board.

I am the current Chair of the Board and have just come to the end of my second term.

I currently have one son in Year 7. My two older children have graduated from Waitakere Primary and are attending Massey High School (I am also on the Board of Massey High and am standing again for re-election) and I also have a four-year-old who is currently at kindergarten!

I am a born and bred West Aucklander and live in Taupaki. I am a commercial and property lawyer and have been practicing in West Auckland for 22 years and have been a partner in my law firm for 17 years.

I love our School. We have the most amazing staff and children and it is a real privilege being part of the Board. With my experience and skills, it would be an honour to again be part of the team to ensure that the School continues developing and is the best place for our kids.