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  1. About us
  2. Our People
  3. Board

Board

Dame Lesley Max

DAME LESLEY MAX

Co-Founder and Co-Chair

Dame Lesley Max is the Co-founder and Trustee of Great Potentials Foundation.

Her background includes University of Auckland; secondary school teaching, mainly in London; freelance journalism, principally for METRO and writing. Her book “Children: Endangered Species?” (Penguin, 1990) has been profoundly influential in New Zealand.

Dame Lesley co-founded Great Potentials Foundation (originally known as Pacific Foundation) in 1990, together with businessman, author and broadcaster, Gordon Dryden. Lesley created the Family Service Centre model, introduced HIPPY (Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters) in New Zealand, and developed MATES (Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme).

Awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship, Lesley studied successful interventions in child protection and education in five countries. On her return, she was influential in the establishment of Family Start in New Zealand.

Lesley is patron of Family Help Trust, the National Council of Women, and Teach First NZ.

She has been appointed to a number of roles by Governments, including as a Director of the Northern Regional Health Authority, and a member of the Family Violence Advisory Committee to successive Ministers.

She was a founding supporter of the Brainwave Trust and has filled advisory roles for a number of tertiary institutions.

Lesley was awarded a MBE in 1994 and was made Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2010 for services to the community.

Fuimaono Tuiasau

FUIMAONO TUIASAU

Co-Chair

Fuimaono graduated from Auckland University with a BA and LLB and then practiced for many years as a senior lawyer. Fuimaono then joined the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Auckland Chamber of Commerce with a focus on policy, research and operational projects.

Fuimaono has managed a range of strategic and operational relationships and has a strong interest in innovative approaches to community and business development.

Fuimaono is also currently a Trustee of the NZ Youth Mentoring Trust, Chair of Ember Service, and Pacific leader. Fuimaono is also a teacher at De La Salle College in Mangere, Auckland

Dr Leeanne Mataira

DR LEEANNE MATAIRA

Trustee

Leeanne is a dentist working in Newmarket, Auckland.  She grew up in Dunedin where she attended Queen’s High School and the University of Otago, where she completed her dental degree in 1990.  In 1994, Leeanne completed a Masters degree in restorative dentistry at University of London. 

She returned to New Zealand in 2003 with a young family of four children and has since then been working full time for her family and as a dentist.  

Focus on her family and improving social outcomes for all New Zealanders motivates Leeanne’s involvement with Great Potentials.

Katie Jacobs

KATIE JACOBS

Trustee

Katie has worked in marketing roles for a number of companies in New Zealand, Australia and Japan and has extensive experience in branding, strategy and sponsorships.

After graduating with a BA/BCom conjoint degree from University of Auckland, Katie began her career in advertising, first with Saatchi & Saatchi in New York working with Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble businesses, before continuing to roles in London and then back in Auckland.

Katie also sits on the Board of Directors for Auckland Theatre Company.

Murdoch Dryden

MURDOCH DRYDEN

Trustee

Murdoch is a property developer and investor with a particular involvement in the Auckland suburb of Glen Innes, where Creating Communities Ltd have led a regeneration of the State Housing Estate with the expectation that mixed housing tenure, in conjunction with improved housing quality, can be a catalyst for better health, education, and economic outcomes for the Glen Innes community.

Murdoch graduated with a Masters degree in Management from the University of Waikato and worked in project management roles within a number of New Zealand companies involved in the primary industries, technology commercialization, and construction and development.  He has also had an involvement with NZ Rowing which continues with having a leading role in the establishment of The Highbrook Regional Watersports Centre at Highbrook, Auckland, a facility to foster the development of Rowing and Waka Ama sports in South and East Auckland.

Murdoch is currently a Trustee of the NZ Rowing Foundation, and sits on the Boards of several development entities.

HELEN JONES

Trustee

Helen has worked in law and finance in London, New York and New Zealand. Currently she is the Head of Risk for NZ Funds and in her spare time is a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Helen is committed to understanding and helping New Zealanders with some of the challenges that they have, both at a community and day to day level.  

JILLIAN FRIEDLANDER

Trustee
Wendy Schofield

WENDY SCHOFIELD

Secretary & Treasurer

Wendy is a Chartered Accountant in public practice and has been involved with Great Potentials since 1994.

Prior to having children Wendy was a senior Manager in Business Services at Deloitte, Touche, Tohmatsu.

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Latest

  • Great Potentials Annual Report 2021-2022

    Great Potentials Annual Report 2021-2022

    In 2021-2022, 4,841 children, young people and families were supported by us across New Zealand through our three life-changing programmes; HIPPY, MATES and our Family Service Centres.

  • From Ruzan: My role as the Playgroup Coordinator

    From Ruzan: My role as the Playgroup Coordinator

    Ruzan works as a Playgroup Coordinator at the Takanini Family Service Centre. She says it’s really rewarding to see smiles on the children’s faces and to watch how much they enjoy playing and exploring new things.

  • GP HIPPY Facebook Resources

  • GP HIPPY Certificates

Most read

  • HIPPY Locations

    Locations and contact details for HIPPY sites around New Zealand

  • Become a mentor

    Become a mentor

    If you are a tertiary student in Auckland and are interested in becoming a MATES mentor, please complete the online application form...

  • HIPPY Programme

    HIPPY Programme

    Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) is a home-based early education programme working in communities throughout New Zealand. It empowers parents to prepare their 2 - 5 year old children for success at early childhood education (ECE) and school by fostering parents' skills and confidence as educators.

  • Community Funding

    We are immensely grateful to all of our supporters who contribute in various ways to Great Potentials Foundation. Your generosity truly impacts the lives of children, young people and families propelling them towards brighter futures.

  • MATES Programme

    MATES Programme

    MATES (Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme) through its guided programme supports children and young people at year 8, year 13 and tertiary. Intervening at key transition points, it helps create pathways for success academically, emotionally and socially.

  • Contact Details

    Contact Details

    Address and contact information for Great Potentials Office and programmes

  • Our Mission

    Our Mission

    Working for and with children, young people and families to promote family function, relieve suffering, release potential, reduce disparities in New Zealand society, reduce crime and violence and break the cycle of disadvantage...

  • Papakura Family Service Centre

    Papakura Family Service Centre

    Papakura Family Service Centre & Early Learning Centre has been providing valuable services to the families in Papakura since 1992. We provide an early learning centre, the HIPPY programme, social work and advocacy, counselling and Social Workers in Schools.

  • Takanini Family Service Centre

    Takanini Family Service Centre

    Family Service Centre Takanini opened its doors in January 2014. Our warm, colourful new Centre was established in partnership with the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association, whose superb early learning centre provides a beautiful environment for the local children.

  • Family Service Centres

    Family Service Centres

    Our Family Service Centres assist the community with housing, food, health care, employment support and wellbeing services as well as offering early learning services, parenting programmes, playgroups, social workers in schools, counselling and more...

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Great Potentials Foundation is a Registered Charitable Trust with approved donee status - CC32333