Safe Exit

Get to know our management team and who currently sits on the Good Shepherd New Zealand Board.

Fleur Howard, Chief Executive – Fleur is an experienced lawyer

Meet our management team and board that help guide us to tackle the significant issues impacting women and girls. Plus get to know a few of our staff who have shared their stories.

Our People

Our management team

Fleur Howard, Chief Executive – Fleur is an experienced lawyer, specialising in corporate and commercial law in Wellington, London and Auckland. Fleur’s association with Good Shepherd spans many years, starting as an external legal advisor in 2003, then joining the Board of Aidanfield Holdings Limited that carried out a property subdivision on behalf of the Good Shepherd Sisters. Fleur then took on a Project Management role to establish the Good Shepherd New Zealand Trust, before becoming Good Shepherd NZ’s first Chief Executive in 2015.

Nicola Eccleton, Manager Social Inclusion – Nicola has been a primary school teacher, a project manager in small business, and an advisor in local government in the areas of community development and governance. Nicola implemented one of Good Shepherd NZ’s first NILS programmes at Aviva, has an MA in Political Science and is Board Chair at Christchurch organisation PIPS – Pregnancy Infancy Parenting Support.

Matt Halsey, Development Manager Microfinance – A trained lawyer, Matt has 15 years’ experience in international development and aid, including designing and overseeing microfinance projects in Bangladesh. Matt’s development experience includes working in government and non-government organsiations, as well as for multi-lateral development agencies.

Marie Holo, Service Delivery Lead – Marie draws on her background in the finance industry, project management, and leadership within the Pasifika community to help people to change their lives. Marie has a particular interest in creating employment pathways for entrepreneurial women, improving financial literacy, and building community pride and connections for local whānau, fanau and families. As well as her role at the Good Shepherd NZ she also sits on the Board of Auckland Girls’ Grammar School.

Our Board

Emma Saunders, Chair – Emma is a business owner and works on governance boards with senior executives to find the best path to achieving an organisation’s vision. Her parents were health professionals and community volunteers, which sparked her belief in equity, service and systems for strength. Emma gravitates toward tackling significant issues that compound disadvantages for people, particularly women.

Sr Teresa Donworth – Sr Teresa is a founding member of the Good Shepherd NZ Board. After working in finance she joined the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and has been involved in many ministries in the residential, community and institutional settings. Sr Teresa spent 15 years as a prison chaplain, and eight years with The Trading Circle, and is particularly interested in supporting people to realise their potential through employment.

Marian Kleist – Marian has many years’ experience in social services, and has held senior management roles in a variety of organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees, families with a member experiencing major mental health issues, people who have been sexually abused, and victims of crime. Marian has been a social worker in women’s health and worked for the probation service, and is committed to improving the lives of women and children.

Emma Thompson – Emma is Manager of the Central Region Eating Disorder Service. Emma was instrumental in establishing an intensive recovery service in the mental health directorate at Wellington Hospital that was responsible for several highly successful initiatives, including the Wellington Special Circumstances Court and Te Mahana, New Zealand’s first homelessness strategy. Emma works in an advisory capacity both in New Zealand and Australia.

Sara-Jane Elika – Sara-Jane is an admitted Barrister and Solicitor to the High Court of New Zealand and a strategic management consultant with a background in media, creative enterprise and education. Her passion for contemporary Pacific music has gained national and international recognition including published academia in ethnomusicology. As an independent director in governance, her key strengths include leadership analysis, stakeholder engagement, employment relations, policy and cultural intelligence.

Ally Gibbons – Ally was born and raised in Rotorua and is part of a strong Te Arawa extended whānau. Both her language and her tikanga are important to her. Her 40 years in education has been closely aligned to the achievement of young Māori women, and she was principal at Rotorua Girls’ High School when it was awarded the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence in Governing Award/Te Awatea Award. She has 15 years of governance experience in the Education Sector and led school reform projects in the United Arab Emirates.

Bernie Smith – Bernie has over 40 years’ experience in social services in NZ, PNG and Australia. He has extensive experience in child protection, foster care, disabilities and seniors, as well as 12 years in housing, homelessness and poverty. Currently CEO of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, Bernie believes strongly in empowering individuals and families to stand tall in their culture, faith and community.

Danielle Auld – Danielle has been working in the wealth management industry for over 20 years in Edinburgh, London and New Zealand. She has worked for Private Banks like Adam & Company, Coutts & Co and the BNZ before taking over a Rotorua based investment advice business. A Chartered Director, she is a Director of Rotorua Regional Airport Limited and Chair of their Risk, Assurance and Finance Committee and a member of the Investment Committee of Geyser Community Foundation.

Anne Astin – Anne is an experienced Board member, Chairperson and Executive with more than 25 years of working in the areas of education and science, the food, beverage and pharmaceuticals industries, food safety regulation, energy, land management, environment, and social services. Anne is passionate about advocating for those in our societies who are not able to do so, promoting women in leadership, sustainability in the food industry, and elevating organisational governance.

Hon Clare Curran – Clare is a Cabinet Minister and long-time politician. She has spent her entire working life working for, or with, organisations that empower people who are vulnerable; to have a voice and to advocate for social justice. As a member of parliament for Dunedin South between 2008 and 2020, she has an extensive appreciation for the issues facing vulnerable workers, in particular Maori, Pacifica and migrant workers.