2019 Common Election results

My name is Rodney Booth. I am standing for CGHS Board of Trustees. I am married to Sonia. We have a daughter (Year 12) and son (Year 7).

As we live near Hororata we wanted our daughter to have the opportunities that CGHS can provide so we enrolled her at Acland House. Both Sonia and I are very involved with the Acland House Parents Association.

I recently finished a 10 year tenure (9 as Board Chair) on the Hororata Primary School Board of Trustees. During this time I was involved with the establishment of the Malvern Coalition of Learning (COL), designed to enable collaboration between schools for the betterment of all nine schools in the Darfield area.

The Canterbury Earthquakes provided a large array of complex issues to deal with which provided me with a huge amount of valuable experience. As a parent of both the School and Acland House I am able to represent aspects of both the School and the Acland community which has a long and proud history of exceptional achievement and contribution to CGHS.

Being an old boy of OBHS I appreciate the history, traditions and benefits of single sex schools.

After graduation from Lincoln University I pursued my passion in the agricultural industry holding numerous managerial roles, including property development. I am currently Managing Director of Dunfield Farming Ltd, a large specialist sheep and beef finishing farm focussing on the ethical and sustainable production of high quality grass fed beef and lamb.

Last year I completed the "To the Core" leadership and governance development programme where I was privileged to interact with directors from some of NZ's biggest and most successful Companies.

I am and have been involved with numerous sporting clubs in both coaching and administration and also volunteering at many local events including the Hororata Highland Games.

I am standing for election because I wish to contribute by continuing to provide and enhance the already high academic standards that the girls of CGHS achieve and to ensure that we continue to provide outstanding opportunities for all students in a positive and inclusive learning environment.

If elected I look forward to working within a team to achieve these goals. I will bring to this role a practical and common sense approach coupled with a wealth of life experience in dealing with people and countless other organisations.

Julian Bowden
Elected

My name is Julian Bowden and I am the current Board Chair a position I have held from late last year. I was elected to the Board at the elections 3 years ago and have enjoyed being part of a Board focused on achieving the best outcomes we can for the girls, teachers and wider school community. During the term I have also Chaired the Finance and Resources committee and worked with staff to ensure agreed outcomes have been met from a financial perspective. The Board has been happy to see the opening of the Performing Arts center and the top floor of the main block. The current pause in activity is needed to ensure we get the best outcomes for the school. . One of the Boards key roles has been to appoint a new Principal and we are thrilled that we have been able to get a Principal of Christine O'Neil ability to join us to lead the school into its next chapter.

I have two daughters at the school. Sophie is year 13 and Emily is year 11. Both have had a fantastic journey through the school and developed amazing friendships and networks through the various opportunities the school offers. This has also seen me involved with the Schools rowing club along with a group of supportive parents and staff.

I am currently the Chief Executive Officer at Mainland Football. We are responsible for the delivery of Football across the top half of the South Island. As an organisation we are focused on positive outcomes for our members. This is something that Christchurch Girls High School -Te Kura O Hine Waiora is focused on achieving for all of our students.

I have thoroughly enjoyed serving on the Board and would like to stand again to work with the incoming principal and the rest of the staff and new Board as we look to continually improve what we offer for our students. I would like to see a solution for our building program with initial discussions now underway with the Ministry of Education and finally I would also like to see a program developed for the school to maintain better contacts and networks with all of the Girls that leave the school.

Jennifer Ann Goldsmith
Elected

Christchurch Girls' High School - Te Kura O Hine Waiora. School 328

My name is Jennifer Goldsmith and I am standing for the Christchurch GirIs' High School Board.

I was invited to join the current board of trustees in mid-2017 and I am the Deputy Chair and a member of the board’s resources committee. I have a daughter at the school who is in year 12.

I was lucky enough to attend a state girls school, as an out of zone student, and have always been grateful for the excellent education I received there, but more importantly for the inspiration and confidence the school and its teachers gave to me as a young woman.

Now, as a company lawyer and director, I understand the importance of good governance and see the role of school trustee as an opportunity to share my experience with the board and school staff and support the achievement of the school's vision for our girls. On a personal level I want my daughter to be part of a school which she can be proud of, and to be able to look back at her time there, with appreciation for the opportunities and values which CGHS and its teachers have given to her.

Recently, I have been part of the team involved in the recruitment and appointment of the school’s new principal and, if elected, I am looking forward to being part of this new chapter for the school.

Thank you.

My name is Sally Nicholas and I am standing for the Christchurch Girls High School Board.

I have two daughters Millie in Year 11 at CGHS and Lucy in her first year at the University of Canterbury.

In February this year I was co-opted onto the Board of Trustees and the Resources Committee. I have enjoyed this opportunity to support the school in this Governance role.

I bring a broad background and experience in leadership and management, across the private and public sector, with a focus on the public health sector. I am a qualified accountant and currently an Operations Manager with the Canterbury District health Board based at Burwood Hospital.

In recent years I have been involved in the $300m redevelopment of the Burwood Hospital site and the integration of services and staff from The Princess Margaret Hospital. A focus has also been on supporting major system and technology changes across our health services particularly people and change management to deliver improved patient care for our patients. I have also lead our sites focus on Wellbeing Health and Safety.

This year I have had the privilege of being been involved with the education sector in the development of the first Project Search Programme for New Zealand at Burwood Hospital, supporting young people with disabilities in a work environment.

I am also a trustee of the New Zealand Spinal Trust and Chairperson of the Burwood Hospital Volunteers.

Education provides the building blocks to provide our young people with a strong foundation as they move out into the complex world we live in. I have enjoyed the opportunity to be more closely involved with the school community this year as a co-opted member of the Board of Trustees. My skills and experience fit well to support the students, staff and whanau in a Governance role on the Board of Trustees to meet the challenges in the coming years.

Brian Northern
Elected

My name is Brian Northern and I am standing for the Christchurch Girls High School board.

I have been privileged to be a Parent representative on the board of trustees for CGHS initially as a co-opted member and then as a full member spanning the last 2 and a half years, and during that time chairing the Acland (boarding house ) board for the past year. I have two girls at the school Grace in year 12 and Maddie in year 10 so will be committed to a governance role (if fortunate enough to be elected) for at least another full term. I enjoy these types of roles and have previous experience in the education sector having served on a primary school board for 3 years and then as a co-opted and elected member of an intermediate school board for a further 4 years. My experience also extends into the private sector with my role as a CIO for a multinational organisation. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in a thorough and exciting process to appoint a new principal that will see CGHS continue to improve from already being a very good school to an even better school. There are also things which remain unfinished that I’d like to help see though. The rebuild programme has delivered a great performing arts centre and gymnasium, however, now more than ever it needs focus and direction to achieve a positive outcome for the school, students and staff alike. Most importantly it is about helping to ensure there is a positive environment to help our students in girl’s single sex education. I’m passionate about helping to make sure I can do all I can to help our CGHS students to achieve their future goals without being discriminated against. If elected I’d like to continue to help our great staff with that shared and common goal adhering to the school’s values of compassion, gratitude, honesty and strength whilst embracing diversity and inclusiveness, to ensure CGHS students are well equipped for the ever changing world in a supportive environment.