The Chris Ruth Centre Board Of Trustees
GAE NEAME
I am married with three adult children. Camille, our youngest child has been attending the Centre since 2002. I have been a member of the Board since 2005 and also was Accounts/Payroll person at the Centre until end of 2017.
As a parent of a person with disabilities I am always grateful for the expertise of Management and Staff in providing excellent care for my daughter. I feel privileged to be part of the Board to help make the decisions to enable this ongoing support of all the persons who attend our Centre.
JACINTA GRICE
MARILYN PASTON
I have been involved with the Chris Ruth Centre since its inception when it was known as the Supported Employment Centre. The continued growth of the Trust reinforces the importance for the need for a community organisation such as ours. Along with a passion to see clients achieve and have a meaningful day, providing a high quality service has always been a high priority for me.
I am very fortunate to work alongside fantastic clients, parents and staff as well as a huge number of community groups and organisations. I look forward to an ongoing partnership.
PAUL MCGIRR
Paul has had involvement in the Not for Profit Sector for many years starting with Board membership for the local school where his three boys attended from the start of Tomorrows Schools. He is also currently on the Boards of two other entities involved with youth development and young adults in Canterbury.
As a West Coaster he has a fond connection to Greymouth and its surrounding area and is involved in the history of the area. Paul worked in the education sector and was a chartered accountant.
JUDY EATON
I am married with two adult children. Michael our youngest has Cerebral Palsy and has attended the Centre since he turned 21.
I joined the board in June 2009. As a parent I am very grateful that the Centre exists and want to see it maintain the high standards of care and support it provides for adults with special needs. The staff are wonderful and help the clients have meaningful lives.
I work part time as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and when time permits I enjoy reading and quilting.
JO ALLAN
I am proud to be part of the Board of the Chris Ruth Centre. From the beginning of its inception and its need to provide a post school service, I have observed, supported and advocated for its high quality service for school leavers. Most of the people that attend this service I have known and worked with for many years through Templeton Centre (Briar) and Hillmorton High School (Upland Unit).
I have a passion for working with people who have special needs and work to ensure they are valued and have fun filled purposeful lives. I have been teaching for over 20 years and at present teach at a satellite unit which is part of a Special School in Christchurch. I have two active teenage sons and husband and we love being active in the outdoors.
OLIVIA RUTH
I am the mother of two young children – Molly is six and attends Leeston Consolidated School and Charlie is four and attends pre-school at Lincoln University.
While we live in Leeston, my husband Scott and I both work in Lincoln Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research – a Crown Research Institute (CRI). I work full time as a financial land systems accountant. As part of this roll I prepare tax returns, work with external auditors, perform internal audits, write financial reports and commentary, produce full year budgets and forecasts and I also manage a team of four accounts staff. In addition to that I support and maintain our financial system.
On a personal note, I am the sister of Christopher Ruth and I am extremely interested in being involved with the Centre and the people who work and attend there.
MARK WINDER
Kia ora. My name is Mark Winder. My involvement with the Chris Ruth Centre is due to my son Michael attending the centre from 2006 until he sadly passed away in March 2024.
From this connection I was asked to join the Board and have been a member for three years. As a parent I bring to the table feedback and insight from a parents perspective. Being a new board member has been a new experience for me. As a passionate adult with lived experience I contribute as and when appropriate and required.
I am now retired after a 40 year career for NZ Post as a Postie. I also worked in theatre. Both of these roles allowed me to be the main carer for Michael. My passions include cycling. One significant trip I completed was with friends (who all had children with disabilities and would normally be in a wheelchair), biking from Christchurch to Mt Cook. Our children were in specially
modified buggies on the back of our bikes. This was a trip of a lifetime and made TV News.
My other passion is my creativity, especially with wood, in particular carving. My tree lined street has allowed me to transform two of the trees on my berm. One is a Hobbit House and the other is a fairy tree named after my granddaughter Luna. These trees are also admired by many tamariki that come to see them. I enjoy seeing the pleasure they bring to young and old faces alike. I also carve walking sticks and other creations.
As a parent and Board member I continue to support the Chris Ruth Centre and their ongoing commitment to provide services for all those they support. Tena koe.
BROCK VULETA
I recently became a proud father of a beautiful wee boy not long after my wife and I relocated to North Canterbury in 2024.
I am a qualified and licensed carpenter. I have achieved a diploma in Quantity
Surveying and a certificate in Business Management. My background is in delivering commercial construction projects from initial conception
through to completed projects. Additionally, I am responsible for overseeing the on-going maintenance of property. My strengths include bringing stakeholders together using communication as a tool to achieve desired outcomes of which I am very proud. I am driven to deliver a high standard of service amongst all parties enabling prosperous business and communities to thrive. I have a focus on people and networking. My current role is a business development manager leading the relationship, sales, and tendering side of the business with a focus on the big picture to ensure a sustainable business operation.
I am interested in supporting the Chris Ruth Centre as a new Board member as I
believe my knowledge and expertise will be beneficial as we/they embark on the capital project to rebuild the Hoon Hay site. My personal interests include spending time with my family, socialising with friends, skiing, hiking and some building work.