Our People

OUR PATRON: Sir Bill English

Clutha Foundation's patron is former prime minister, and long-serving Clutha-Southland MP, Sir William (Bill) English. Bill is happy to support the Clutha Foundation, saying, "Giving to the Clutha Foundation is a great way to support our community now and for the next generation. The long term investments are controlled by the local foundation and the decisions about where the funds are spent are made locally."

Bill Thomson

Chair
Bill Thomson is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand and was a Partner in Shand Thomson Chartered Accountants, Balclutha from 1978 to 2014. He has now retired and lives in Wanaka, but continues to be a strong supporter of the Clutha District.

Hamish Anderson

Deputy Chair
Hamish has his own farm in Stirling, and works as a Project Manager, assisting farmers with resource consents for activities in waterways. Hamish is very involved in community and governance roles both locally and nationally.

Peter McNab

Trustee
Peter was born and raised in the Owaka district. Following ten years away for education, sport and travel he returned to farm in the district for 40 years. He and his wife Nellie raised three boys on the family farm, Lochindorb. Peter was heavily involved with the Veterinary industry in New Zealand, and also the elimination of Bovine Tb from Otago. Peter believes the Clutha Foundation is a marvellous vehicle to manage locally sourced funds for the benefit of the community.

Fiona Hancox

Trustee
Fiona and her husband are sheep and beef farmers near Tapanui in West Otago, they have 4 grown up children. Fiona is a very active member of her community and is particularly enthusiastic about the West Otago Community Endowment fund.

Susie Johnstone

Trustee
Susie is a chartered accountant in public practice in Balclutha. She has governance experience across the health, education, tourism, and IT sectors with a focus on finance, audit and risk. Time as a trustee of the Otago Community Trust exposed Susie to NZ’s vibrant philanthropy community and provided increased insight into the real difference well managed, philanthropic, funders can make to communities.

Simon Cleverley

Trustee
Simon Cleverley recently joined Clutha Foundation as a new Trustee. Simon will be well known to many car enthusiasts across the district as since leaving school he has worked and now owns Steve Cleverley Autos in Balclutha. Simon and his wife Christy are extremely supportive of the local community.

Will Clarke

Trustee
Will is a dairy and beef farmer from Clinton where his family have farmed for over 130 years. Prior to returning to the farm Will practiced as a Chartered Accountant and is a strong supporter of the community through his involvement in other community organisations, including being the Deputy Chair of Clutha Development.

Noel O'Malley

Trustee
Noel practiced law in the Clutha District from offices based in Balclutha and Milton for over 40 years. Noel and his wife Kate, have six children, and have resided in the village of Benhar, adjacent to Balclutha, for most of that time. Noel personally supports the objective of the Clutha Foundation to provide a vehicle for generous people to make a difference in their community by applying their philanthropy here.

Gaynor Finch

Trustee
Gaynor lives on a sheep farm with husband Geoff just north of Milton. Gaynor worked at Clutha Vets Milton for 30 years as a Vet Nurse and has been Bruce Ward Councillor for the Clutha District for the past 17 years. Gaynor represents Council on the Clutha Foundation. Gaynor is also a Council representative at the Otago Museum and is very involved in many Milton community organisations.

Avis Rishworth ONZM

Trustee
Avis has lived in the Clutha District all her life, attending Stirling Primary and South Otago High schools.

Avis is extensively involved in her community and the wider South Otago area. Avis was involved for ten years at National level for the New Zealand Federation of Women’s Institute holding the position of National President for four years. Avis has also been a Trustee on the Otago Rural Support Trust for a number of years and Secretary of New Zealand Century Farms.

Ruth Baldwin

Trustee
Ruth has recently retired from teaching in Clutha for 30 years and has been the Secretary for the Waikoua Ngai Tahu (South Otago) Runanga since 2001.

The value of manaakitanga is very important to Ruth and she considers that the Clutha Foundation is a way of expressing manaakitanga in our local community.

Ruth is interested in our people, our shared history and promoting healthy communities through support and encouragement and looks forward to seeing our communities strengthened through the generosity of others.