Board of Trustees

Rowan Milburn

Principal

Rowan leads our student wellbeing team. She leads our staff in shaping how our students engage with learning, with each other and with our teachers. Rowan directs our school calendar, events, day to day student operations, as well as promotes opportunities for student participation and leadership.

Melanie Morris

Chairperson

Kia ora.
I am delighted to have joined the Board in April 2021, prior school board experience is with Lyttelton Primary School as Parent Trustee and Chair. I firmly believe that all students should have the opportunity to learn in an inclusive supportive environment so they can achieve their best outcome. I am particularly impressed with the student wellbeing support Hagley provides. My son joined Hagley in year 9, he is currently in year 12.
My work history has centered around finances, so I am also pleased to join the finance committee.
Very much looking forward to supporting Hagley anyway I can as a Parent Trustee.

Andrew Swift

Deputy Chair

Tena koutou katoa.
I joined Hagley’s Board in 2016 having served as a school trustee of a local primary school for the previous 12 years. I really appreciate the opportunity to share in this governance role with my fellow trustees. I am passionate about education and am impressed by Hagley’s philosophy and practice in recognising and celebrating students as unique individuals.
My association with Hagley College began in mid-2010 when selecting an appropriate secondary education provider for our eldest son Tim who is on the autistic spectrum. While Hagley was not initially on the radar it quickly became apparent that there was not even a close contender for preference. The passion of the staff, the pastoral care, options and opportunities, robust set of values, and keen appreciation of individuality all contribute to the college’s very special character, and are attributes of which we can be very proud.
I have been happily married to Carolyn for over 30 years and we have three sons; our middle child is currently in Year 12 at Hagley. I have 20 years’ experience in the real estate industry as a consultant and have ownership in two local offices, one of which I also manage. Prior to my corporate role I was a primary school teacher with senior management responsibilities.
Outside of the work environment I enjoy the outdoors, spending time with my family, and I am active in a range of community groups and initiatives.

Paul Ballantine

Chair of the Finance Committee

Kia ora.
I joined the Board in early 2021; the same year that my daughter Isla started at Hagley as a Year 9 student. When choosing a school for our daughter, my wife and I were impressed with the student centric focus of Hagley where student well-being is seen as a priority. The values and culture of the school are also why Isla was adamant that Hagley was the right school for her.

I was born in Ōtautahi and have lived here for the majority of my life. I have a passion for lifelong education, and am a Professor and the Head of School at the University of Canterbury Business School. Outside of work I greatly enjoy getting into the outdoors, especially if it involves a bike of some kind.
Ngā mihi, Paul

Suzanne Waters

Staff Representative

Tēnā tātau
Ko Whakatere-tū-tonu te maunga
Ko Hakatere te awa
Ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi te waka
Ko Ngāti Pākehā te iwi
Kei Ōtautahi taku ngākau
Ko Suzanne Waters au
Tēnā koutou
Tēnā koutou
Tēnā koutou katoa

Originally from Ashburton, with Mt Hutt as my mountain, I now think of Christchurch as my home as it is where I have settled and raised my family.
I came to Hagley as a trainee teacher in 1988 and it felt like I had found the perfect place to work as soon as I walked into the school. All these years later I still feel this to be the case; I love working with our students and especially value the support and regard of my colleagues.
During my time at Hagley I have also raised three children, all of whom have been students here. This has allowed me to see the school not only from a teacher perspective but also with my “mum” hat on, while at the same time getting a better understanding of the student view of the school.
My role as Director of Junior College and Year 11 means I work with teaching staff from every department across the College and numerous support staff. This has enabled me to establish connections with staff and develop a big-picture understanding of the College while being familiar with the types of issues and concerns that individual staff and groups of staff have. Having been at Hagley for a long time I have been part of the many changes and growth that the school has experienced. Hagley is now a bright light for Christchurch and I’m proud of the progress the school has made.
As the Hagley College staff representative on the BoT I am honoured and privileged to work with and for our staff as we all work together to make Hagley an even better place for all who work and study here.

Karen Johnston

Parent Trustees

Tēnā koutou katoa
I’m delighted to have joined the Board in June 2018 as a parent representative. I grew up in a small community, Waitati, where I went to the primary school and then made daily commutes to Dunedin for high school.
My son attends Hagley and is in year 11. I am very impressed with the inclusive and community feel at Hagley, and totally endorse the emphasis on building healthy relationships and supporting student’s wellbeing. I value the many different study options at Hagley including after school learning, and classes offered to refugee and migrant students.
Like the school, I too believe in lifelong learning and I completed a PhD in 2014 on city planning, governance, decision-making and power. I have my own consultancy providing research and planning advice mainly on local government topics. I am currently the Chair of the Canterbury branch of the Geographical Society. In the past I worked at Palmerston North City Council and was a lecturer at Lincoln University.
I look forward to my role of supporting Hagley through the Board.

Laurence Mote

Parent Trustees

Kia ora. I was given the opportunity to join the Board in June 2018, but my relationship with Hagley started many years ago. My father was Assistant Principal in the late 80s, and I completed my last two years of high school at Hagley. My two children are now enrolled in Years 9 and 11.
I graduated with a BSc in Geology from Canterbury University, but after a short stint as a professional mountain biker have spent much of my working life involved in online sales and marketing.
A serious medical event in 2013 left me with a traumatic brain injury, requiring me to re-learn the basics of walking and talking. Tough times, but I’m in awe of the resilience shown by my family, in particular my children, which I think in part is a gift of youth, but also a supportive community of family and friends.
I see Hagley as a continuation of that family, strengthened by Hagley’s focus on celebrating diversity and student wellbeing.

Sara Gordon

Co-opted Trustees

I’ve been a parent representative since 2010 and have previously been Chair at Hagley Board of Trustees. Both my children have attended Hagley and have thrived in the flexible and diverse learning environments offered here. This, together with the positive and supportive guidance from the staff, has allowed them to focus on what excites and inspires them. I have always been interested in education and as a family we have been involved in Montessori education, home schooling and schooling overseas.
I feel hugely privileged to be able to support the excellent work of the College. I am frequently amazed by the success stories I hear as students overcome barriers and embrace their own special passions to succeed and grow. In my opinion, these opportunities are worth gold.

Lilly Anderson

Student Representative

I am very focused on enhancing the student culture at Hagley specifically around diversity. I would like to look at ways that we can enhance this experience for our students, be well connected with students and am very much open to being approached by students who would like to share their thoughts and ideas with me.

I have been at Te Puna Wai o Waiapapa – Hagley College since Year 9 and came to this school for many reasons, one of them being my Mum works here, I came to the conclusion that it was an easy transition even though I came without knowing anyone and found everyone very welcoming and lovely.

Lilly has plans.. plans for her future include studying business and commerce at University of Canterbury and would like to become an advocate for women in business. I have a strong interest in Music from when I was young when I would sing and play the ukulele and this continues now with voice lessons. I will be a key part of the student council so I can work alongside a group of young leaders with the goal of making our College a better place for our ākonga. We will work together to recognise students achievement and students doing their best work.