Trustees

Andy Britton
Chair, Northland Regional Council Community Trust. BSc (Hons) - Environmental Science, Dip Air Pollution Control, FCA - Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales CA (retired) - Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand, Member of Institute of Directors

Andy has 24 years of assurance and business advisory experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers, including 16 years as a partner. He has provided wide ranging internal and external assurance and business advisory services to a number of companies and other businesses in the UK and New Zealand . These businesses have included many leading publicly listed companies as well as Crown Health organisations and NZ Government Departments. Andy was an appointed auditor on behalf of the Office of the Auditor General for a number of entities.

Andy led the Auckland office Corporate Governance, Risk Management Sustainability and Internal Audit practice. He has been extensively involved in developing the coaching culture and personal development training curriculum in PWC New Zealand and has trained as a workplace coach with Results Coaching Systems Ltd. Andy retired from practice with PWC in September 2005 at age 50.

Andy is currently the Treasurer for the Tutukaka Coast Promotions Society. He is also Chairperson for the Arts Promotion Trust (Northland).

In the past he has been Vice President and Treasurer of the Northland Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer on the Board of the Ngunguru Primary School BOT and soccer coach to the Whangarei Girls High School soccer first eleven.

Irene Durham
M.N.Z.M., Trustee, Northland Regional Council Community Trust

Irene is a certified financial planner, property investor, business consultant, and company owner and director. Her work history spans business coaching and consulting, financial planning, and law. Irene was NZ Business Woman of the Year in 1998/99 and holds a Degree in Management and a Dip. Business Studies (Financial Planning).

In addition to her role as trustee of NRCCT, Irene has held various board positions in Northland and throughout NZ. Irene is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NorthAble, Trustee for NorthHaven Hospice Endowment Trust and on the Board of Northland Business Development Trust. She has a strong desire to see Northland and its people reach their potential.

Irene is a keen sportswoman, having represented Northland in netball. Irene enjoys skiing, running, water sports and outdoor pursuits. She also enjoys reading, travel and time with family.

Irene lives at Whangaumu Bay on the Tutukaka Coast with her husband Bill.

Bill Shepherd
Trustee, Northland Regional Council Community Trust

Born and educated in Whangarei, Bill Shepherd went straight into a career in dairy farming. He and wife Sue continue to own two dairy farms, currently operated with 50-50 sharemilkers.

When Federated Farmers separated the Northland region from Auckland in 1990, Bill established the new Northland Province and became its first president. He rose through the ranks of the national federation, becoming senior vice president for New Zealand . He left Federated Farmers in 1994 and in 1995 took on the position of chief executive of the Northland Chamber of Commerce, which he held until 2001.

Currently Bill and his wife have business interests in forestry and childcare as well as their dairy farm businesses. Bill is a keen sportsman, particularly enjoying masters hockey, representing New Zealand in the over-50 age group at three international tournaments.

Rawson Wright
Trustee, Northland Regional Council Community Trust

As well as his role as Trustee for the NRCCT, Rawson is chairman of Taitokerau Forests Ltd, Pouto Papakianga Trust and Te Uri o Hau Tangata Development Ltd, and a Member of the Institute of Directors. Rawson has extensive experience in forestry and pastoral farming and lives in Whangarei with his family.