The Rangi Ruru Board of Governors is an Incorporated Society and has charitable status. Unlike a public school board, the Board members are not elected but are interviewed and go through a recruitment process. Board members are chosen to represent a cross-section of competencies. Our Board has a number of sub-committees including Engagement, Campus, Appointments & Remuneration, Future Thinking in Education and Finance and Audit.
Strategic Goals
- To recognise, value and develop the wellbeing and capabilities of each student in a safe and secure environment.
- To provide a world class personalised, all-round education.
- To have staff who are passionate about delivering a Rangi Ruru education in a way that is consistent with its pillars of “Be You, Belong, Be Your Best, Be the Change”.
- To embrace the heritage, values and culture that make Rangi Ruru unique.
- To understand local and global community and environment, and act as a future focused and community minded school
- Build a culture of engagement, giving and innovation that supports the aspirations of Rangi Ruru.
Board Members
Nicki Carter (LLB (Hons), B.Com.(Canterbury), MS in Management (Stanford)
Chairperson
Nicki is a Rangi Ruru Old Girl, a Lawyer, has lived and worked in Christchurch and London, and since 2014 has been working for a Christchurch property development company. She is part of the team that was dedicated to developing The Crossing in central Christchurch, which was a very challenging but equally rewarding project.
Nicki believes in the importance of girls’ education and sees the Board’s role as providing guidance and support to the Principal and the school so that Rangi Ruru continues to be a leading educator of girls. As a Governor, Nicki would like to encourage alumnae and the Rangi community to embrace the Rangi value of Generosity of Spirit and give to the school. Giving to Rangi supports ongoing investment in the school and enables Rangi Ruru to continue the tradition of providing the very best opportunities for its girls.
Brendan Anstiss BA Hons, MA, PhD, PGDipClinPsych
Vice Chairperson
Brendan lives with his wife, Sally, and daughters on small farm near West Welton. Madison is in Year 9 and Lexie is in Year 12 at Rangi Ruru.
Trained as a clinical psychologist, Brendan has worked in public service most of his career. He has worked at executive level in both central and local government and is currently Director for the 2023 Census for StatsNZ. Brendan has served on previous school boards and NGO organisations.
Brendan is honoured to be able to contribute to the Rangi Ruru school community via his Board service. He is excited to support the school as it continues to offer the best opportunity for girls to be the best versions of themselves in all areas of their life.
Bob Penter BSc, BA(Hons), MSc (Canterbury), MInstD
Bob lives in rural North Canterbury with his wife Adeline. They have three children, and their eldest daughter, Bella, is a past Rangi Ruru boarder.
A member of the Rangi Ruru Board of Governors since 2017, Bob brings extensive executive leadership experience across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, with a background in strategy, governance, infrastructure, environmental management and organisational performance.
Bob is Group CEO of the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust and is also serving as Interim Chief Executive of the Chatham Islands Council. Previous roles include Chief Executive of the Waikato River Authority, General Manager of the freshwater management group at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and NZ/Pacific Business Leader for Environment and Water Resources at GHD.
He is a graduate of the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Bob is pleased to contribute to the Rangi Ruru community through board service and to support the school’s future.
Stuart Hall B.Com/PGDip (Otago)
Stuart grew up in Hawkes Bay, is an old boy of Napier Boys High School and attended Otago University completing a Bachelor Of Commerce & Post Graduate Diploma.
Stuart has held Commercial General Management positions with several large New Zealand organisations, including international experience with responsibility for offices in the UK, Europe and North America.
Stuart is currently Commercial Director for AgResearch, and is a Director for a significant Agri-Business and an innovation start up. Stuart also sits on the Investment Committee for the Government funded science incubator Kiwinet.
Stuart’s daughter Kiera left Rangi Ruru in 2022 and Sofia in Year 11 this year.
Stuart joined the Board so he could make a contribution back to the school, and to play a part in ensuring that future families enjoy the same experience and opportunities that his daughter has enjoyed to date.
Stuart is passionate about the critical role of education, and believes strongly in the philosophy of understanding every girl as an individual, and providing opportunities and experiences at Rangi Ruru that will allow each girl to develop the love of learning, confidence and resilience to maximise their potential and make the most of an ever evolving world.
Chris Porter MbChB (Otago), FRACS (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery)
Chris was raised and educated in Christchurch before attending Otago Medical School. After completion of his Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical specialist training in NZ, he worked in Oxford, UK and Los Angeles, USA. In both, he was affiliated with the universities to teach undergraduates as well as post-graduate doctors. These contrasting cities provided a diverse student blend with specific needs not always met by traditional teaching. Soon after arriving at the University of Southern California, he was offered a professorial role to revise the teaching programme to contemporary requirements.
Chris returned to Christchurch in 2006 and has since been in combined public and private practice. Formerly he has been the Clinical Director for the Canterbury District Health Board Plastic Surgery Department and a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Otago School of Medicine in Christchurch. He has been an educator and facilitator for the development of Plastic Surgery within the South Pacific. He held a clinical governance role for the CDHB hospital rebuild project post-earthquake leading to the opening of the new hospital.. Chris appreciates the education, sport, culture, and community he and his family have been privileged to receive and wishes to help instil similar experiences for the upcoming generations.
Chris and his wife Kate, a Rangi Ruru Old Girl and boarder, have daughters Tabitha in Year 12, Jemima, and Primrose Rangi Ruru 2019 and 2022 leavers respectively, and an older son Angus who is a University of Auckland graduate.
Phil Newton Dip.POL
Phil is from the UK but became a Kiwi in 1988. His wife Tara is a Rangi Ruru Old Girl, and they have a daughter Connie in Year 10.
After working in the London Metropolitan Police for eight years he moved to New Zealand and worked various roles before joining the New Zealand Police in 1991.
Phil is currently the Youth Services Manager for Canterbury. His role includes the strategic overview of all child and youth services provided by police including care and protection, youth offending and all interactions with schools. He liaises with other government and non-government organisations to provide the best services for children and youth. He represents the New Zealand Police on multi-agency governance groups and steering committees.
Phil has been impressed by the level of education and support that Rangi Ruru has given his family. He states that by joining the Board he aims to help the continued evolution of the school to provide the best environment for the girls to reach their full potential.
Aleisha Chadderton LLB (Hons), BA (Canterbury)
Aleisha is an Old Girl who attended Rangi Ruru from 1998 – 2004. Following school, Aleisha studied Law and Arts at the University of Canterbury. Aleisha specialised in civil litigation and disputes resolution at one of New Zealand’s leading law firms.
In more recent years, Aleisha has had three children. She has also spent a number of years on the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association, including as Honorary Legal Advisor and Vice President.
As a proud and passionate old girl of the school, Aleisha is delighted to sit on the Board of Governors and believes it is an exciting opportunity to support the school and contribute to its future success.
Deborah James TTC
Deborah has most recently served as the chief executive for Independent Schools of New Zealand (ISNZ), the peak body serving and representing the best interests of private schools to Government, the Ministry of Education and other education agencies.
A strong advocate for choice in education and protecting the right of parents to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children, Deborah has vast experience in governance, management, marketing, communications, development, and operational aspects of independent schooling. During her 15-year tenure with ISNZ she advised and supported 54 private schools throughout New Zealand. Deborah also has a strong understanding of the global independent school movement, its challenges, and opportunities.
Deborah resides in Wellington and was educated at an independent school. She has four adult children, all of whom were also educated at private schools.
After leaving her role with ISNZ at the end of 2022, Deborah now works as an education consultant, and she is excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the Rangi Ruru Girls’ School community and to continue her strong advocacy for choice in education.
Sam Naylor C.A., B.Com. (Hons), Qualified Auditor
Sam is a Partner at Nexia New Zealand, where he leads the Audit & Assurance division. He has over a decade of audit experience, having worked in both Christchurch and London.
A significant part of his professional career has involved working alongside Public Sector and not-for-profit organisations – which currently includes a number of schools.
Being passionate about both finance and education, Sam hopes to add value to Rangi Ruru through an independent lens. He looks forward to helping the school achieve their strategy and supporting management as part of his role as Governor.
Sam has a young family and is motivated to making a meaningful difference to the education sector and is pleased to join the Board of Governors.
Rogier Eradus B.Com, LLB
Rogier and his family of three daughters are part of the Rangi Ruru whanau with Piper in Year 10, however there is a long journey ahead with their youngest not due to start until 2029.
Rogier hopes the experience he gained as Chairperson of St Marks Primary School governors will assist him to contribute where possible and hopefully making a positive impact on the school today and into the future.