Our Trustees & Staff
Who We Are
Our Patron
Neil Callaghan
Neil was invited to be a founding trustee of the Perry Foundation by Brian and Peggy Perry.
He held this position for 30 years and retired from it in 2007.
Later that year he became a trustee of POET.
Our Trustees
Marlene Julian
Chairperson
Marlene is a qualified secondary teacher who resigned to raise four children.
She is strong in governance from her experience as a trustee on a number of boards.
Vicky McLennan
Trustee
After a long career in education, most recently as principal of Waikato Diocesan School, Vicky is a passionate supporter of young people and committed to the transformational benefits of outdoor education experiences.
She is currently deputy chair of Trust Waikato and brings governance skills and experience to her role on the POET board
Dr Mike Brown PhD
Trustee
Mike is currently the general manager for Coastguard Boating Education.
He has held academic positions at several universities and published numerous articles, including three books on outdoor learning.
Emma Burke
Trustee
Emma currently leads internal audit for Fletcher Building after 11 years in Risk Assurance at PwC and has strong risk and controls experience.
Emma has a passion for the outdoors and is keen to see young people have their own outdoor experiences.
Craig Blackmore
Trustee
Craig is the current chief financial officer of the Perry Group.
His extensive financial management experience is highly regarded, and Perry Outdoor Education Trust is very fortunate to benefit from this.
Rob Hamill
Trustee
Rob is passionate about environmental and healthy community initiatives.
Following his Olympic and trans-Atlantic Ocean rowing challenges, Rob developed a career in motivational speaking.
He is keen to see young people connect to our natural world.
Rob lives in Te Pahu where he and his wife Rachel raise chickens, sheep, bees and three energetic boys.
Our Staff
Karen Singers
Manager
Karen has more than 18 years’ experience in the for purpose.
She is committed to supporting programmes that reduce barriers and enable our young people to make the most of their opportunities.
Gemma Periam
Programme Coordinator
Gemma has 31 years’ experience, teaching students from years 7-13 and providing professional development for adults in outdoor education practice. She enjoys sharing outdoor experiences with teenagers, and mountain biking as recreation.
Donald Matheson
Programme Coordinator
Donald joined POET in 2014, having previously worked in a variety of roles in outdoor education – from specialist instructor, to trainer and tutor.
Rene Eales
Bike Maintenance
Rene works with us on a casual basis – maintaining our fleet of mountain bikes.