Our Team.

As well as guiding the Management Team, Hilary handles the continued development of the Village and our role within the wider community.

Hilary has a wealth of experience within community organisations. Before joinng us she was the CEO for the Auckland Communities Foundation and prior to that, the CEO of the Auckland YWCA.

Hilary has lived in Northland, primarily based in Whangarei, for around 20 years of which 8 were spent working in Auckland.

Outside of work she enjoys travel, horse-riding, boating, sports and great food and wine.

Cheryl supports the leadership and administration teams. She’s all about the details and it’s her job to implement the systems and strategies that keep things running efficiently.

Before joining us Cheryl was the Revenue and Collections Manager at the Far North District Council. She has also had a lot of experience working with Voluntary Organisations.

Part of Cheryl’s motivation in moving to Kerikeri almost 20 years ago was to spend more time on the water and her passion is Big Game Fishing.

Grant manages the licencing, maintenance and refurbishments of the cottages and apartments, as well as the landscaping and gardening throughout the Village.

Grant’s very committed to the wellbeing of residents living independently and, although it’s not part of his current role, is a Registered Nurse with a clinical background in Intensive Care.   

He has extensive management experience including five years as Nurse Manager at Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa where he helped to develop the new hospital. He has also worked in construction and landscaping.

Grant spent much of his childhood in Paihia and Whangarei. He spent some years travelling before he and wife Hallie decided they wanted to raise their two children in the Bay of Islands.

They moved to Kerikeri in 2016, later relocating an old house here. The project continues to keep them busy with renovating, landscaping and caring for their menagerie …they have a horse, a sheep a dog, a cat and a turtle.

Grant loves spearfishing and anything that involves being in or on the water. But his absolute favourite thing is spending time with the kids and watching them learn and discover life.

. 

Gaylene is a Chartered Accountant and also holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accountancy).

She heads our accounts team and handles everything from accounts to forecasting and preparing annual budgets. Given the complexities of her role, it’s not surprising Gaylene’s favourite saying is “it’s the stickiest situation since Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun” (a line from her favourite programme ‘Blackadder’).

Originally from Auckland, Gaylene spent her school years in Kerikeri before moving to Australia. She and her husband returned to Kerikeri in 2019 to live on the family property but their two adult children remain in Perth.

In her spare time Gaylene likes gardening, doing jigsaws, drinking red wine and catching up with family

Heather has worked in a variety of roles here since 2016. She took a short break in 2021 before returning in 2022 to take up the position of Village Support Coordinator.

She arranges assistance for those living independently within the Village that need help with their personal or household care. This can encompass anything from providing cleaning services and assisting with meal preparation to assisting with bathing and dressing. It also extends to offering companionship  and checking on residents general wellbeing.

A Registered Nurse, Heather has over 11 years’ experience in Aged Care sector including long-term care and the training and development of staff. She also worked for several years in neonatal intensive care units.

Heather was born in South Africa but moved to the United States in her early 20s. She emigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and is now a NZ citizen.

Heather enjoys the simple pleasures in life such as spending time with her husband, their two children and the family pets (Jamie, an English Staffy, and Ally, the cat). She likes reading, taking long walks and catching up with friends over a coffee or wine.

Her favourite saying "It always seems impossible until it's done” is a quote from Nelson Mandela and is something she applies to her role when facing a big challenge.

Heather’s favourite food is anything she hasn’t had to cook but she particularly loves a traditional South African braai (BBQ)

Adele manages the giving program for the Village which ultimately benefits the elderly in our care.

Adele has a wealth of experience fundraising in the charitable sector including working as the Fundraising & Awareness Manager at Hospice Mid-Northland for over 5 years. She is also well known for her volunteer work helping to organise the Blu Heelers Annual Fishing Competition which has successfully raised thousands of dollars for a variety of Northland Charities.

Currently working towards a Diploma in Business Studies, Adele uses any precious spare time  crafting, learning macramé, and fishing (weather permitting, she’s out on the water ever second Sunday with her Dad).

Adele’s big on family, human and paw people. She loves spending time with her two cats Simi and Jazz who came from BOI Animal Rescue and is super excited about the imminent arrival of her first grandchild.

If you invite Adele to a potluck dinner, she’ll likely bring her ‘world famous’ rice salad or pecan pie – not that you’ll catch her eating either due to an allergy to tree nuts.

She has a few personal goals but says making a positive, lasting contribution to our community is right up there.

Sheree is responsible for championing health and safety, and quality assurance processes throughout the Village.

Her skills are backed by an array of impressive qualifications including NEBOSH International Diploma for Occupational H&S and a General Certificate in H&S, and she holds Diplomas in Social Practice and Personal and Corporate Coaching.

In addition to her role at the Village, Sheree continues to work as a freelance H&S Consultant and Trainer across the health care sector, central and local government, schools, and private businesses. She has held a wealth of Health & Safety advisory roles but started her career in early childcare before moving into social work.

Originally from Auckland, Sheree and her family moved to the Far North in 2016 and, together with their 5 cats and 2 blue heelers, are loving life on their 8-acre lifestyle block.

Sheree relaxes by catching up with friends and family over a meal, as long as it’s cooked by someone else, as she cheerfully describes herself as an “atrocious cook”… with the exception of her legendary chocolate and raspberry brownie. She also enjoys keeping fit and is into Pilates, yoga, bush and beach walks.

Sheree’s favourite saying is “you may be given a cactus, but you don’t have to sit on it!” and her long-term ambitions are to explore more of NZ and to complete a total renovation of their property.

Lucy assists the CE and Senior Management Team with administration and documentation support.

She holds a BA in English and her supreme organisation skills are backed by years of experience in recruitment, executive support, administration and event management

Lucy has a passion for travel and has lived in the UK, Australia, and for a short time she did volunteer  work in Papua New Guinea.

In her spare time, Lucy loves reading, music, theatre, hanging out with family and friends, and exploring new places.  Her favourite foods are Italian, Thai, and anything chocolate but when cooking she likes to keep it simple, and she makes a “mean omelette”.

Her ambitions are to keep learning  and trying new things.

 Tracey is a very important person at the Village because, as well as making sure we receive the relevant funding, she handles payroll. It’s a big job but the qualified Accounting Technician has a NZ Diploma in Management and Business and, with over 15 years’ experience in accounting, is well used to the pressure.

Tracey actually started as a volunteer at the Village. In November 2019 she went on to become a Healthcare Assistant working in our dementia unit one day a week so has plenty of hands-on experience in the Care Facility.

Originally from Wellington, Tracey lived overseas for a while later moving to Auckland where she met her husband Colin. The pair moved north to Kerikeri in 2007 in search of a better lifestyle. she also lived in Napier before moving to Kerikeri.

Tracey loves getting out walking and visiting the local coffee shops. She enjoys good food but says her favourite dish is anything someone else cooked.

Tracey and her husband have two sons and a pet blue tongued lizard called Noodles.

Lorraine handles a myriad of tasks. In addition to managing all of our administrative documentation and medical records, she handles accounts payable, assists our Chief Executive, and helps with social media.

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Lorraine and her kiwi husband moved to his family home in Waimate North in 2002 where they live with their cat, George.

Lorraine takes good care of herself and eats a very clean diet, preferring organic food.  She credits American style line dancing “with lots of boot stompin” as keeping her fit and enjoys creating hand- made soap in her spare time. 

You’ll find Rochelle answering the phones and greeting visitors in reception as well as assisting with a host of administration tasks.

Rochelle has extensive experience in people centred roles, including 12 years running the St Johns Sick Bay at Kerikeri High School.

Rochelle has lived in Kerikeri since she was 8 and is now raising her own family here. She and her husband have three girls. Rochelle’s idea of a great weekend is watching her daughters play sport, going to the beach or live music concerts with friends, shopping and girl’s weekends. As if that’s not enough to keep her busy, the family has a cat, four dogs, four goats and lots of cattle and sheep to care for.

One day, when time allows, Rochelle hopes to travel and see more of the world.

Geran has worked at the village since July 2009. His responsibilities include general repairs and maintenance throughout the complex as well as co-ordination of cottage and apartment upgrades and new projects. He also shares the afterhours on-call duties with Anthony and serves on the OSH Team.

Geran has over 25 years’ experience in construction both in New Zealand and the U.K.

The village is virtually a second home to Geran’s family as his wife Judi works for Village Support and their eldest daughter, who is an Occupational Therapist, visits here often.

Deb Condron grew up in Derbyshire, England. She credits having the Peak District National Park as her back garden for her love of nature and the motivation to train in countryside conservation skills. This included dry stone walling, hedgerow maintenance, woodland coppicing, footpaths and land care, all which later proved useful when she moved into landscape gardening.

Deb emigrated to New Zealand in 2001 where she had to familiarise herself with the flora and fauna of a new country so she set about gaining skills in amenity horticulture, glasshouse market gardening, vineyards, private estates, nursery and plant propagation before establishing her own garden maintenance business.

Deb says gardening feeds her soul so it comes as no surprise that it is also her hobby. She has two acres at home and is kept busy in her greenhouse, vegetable garden and food forest. She is passionate about sustainability and has tried to create her own 'River Cottage', living off the land.

She also loves nothing more than a long beach walk with her husband and two’ fur babies’, Scoobz and Nibs, and says she feels very blessed to live in this beautiful part of the country.

Karen, a  teacher with over 25 years’ experience, is responsible for organising and hosting a varied and stimulating program of events for cottage and apartment residents.

Originally from Canada, Karen moved to Kerikeri in 1989 as a newlywed. She returned to Canada for a while but now considers New Zealand her home. She has 3 adult children in New Zealand and Australia.

Her partner Gavin  grows orchids which she loves to use in her floral art. She’s a woman with many interests including walking, bike riding, yoga, square dancing, sailing, fishing, floral art, gardening, cooking, and playing the guitar and ukulele.

Karen also has strong community ties. As well as volunteering at the Turner Centre, she does the floral arrangements at the Cornerstone church.