Board of Trustees

Schooldocs

Click above to access School policies User name: sfds Password: sfds

Dan McGuinness	Chairperson Proprietor's Representative
Aaron Pratley	Vice Chairperson Parent Representative
Rob McCullough Peter Chew	Proprietor's Representative Proprietor's Representative
Tamanda Chinula Nicholas Grove Megan Teusse Dr Sudesh Wasoori	Parent Representative Parent Representative Parent Representative Parent Representative
Tracy Gundesen	Principal	principal@sfds.school.nz
Sarah Fountain	Staff Representative
Suzanne Lek	Minute Secretary	office@sfds.school.nz

BOT member profiles

The current St Francis de Sales Board (from left) - Dr Sudesh Wasoori, Rob McCullough,

Megan Teusse, Peter Chew, Aaron Pratley, Sarah Fountain, Tamanda Chinula, Dan McGuinness, Tracy Gundesen (absent Nicholas Grove).

Dan McGuinness

I am married to Becs and we have 4 daughters, of which our three eldest attend SFDS. We have been living in Island Bay for the past 7 years. I have a degree in quantity surveying and am part of our family construction company LT McGuinness Ltd. I am a national Councillor for the NZ Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Chairman of the Weltec Built Environment Education Committee. I am looking forward to being part of the SFDS BOT and contributing to the school, particularly the Catholic character and property matters.

Peter Chew

I moved to Wellington with my wife, Andrea (a Finance Manager) in 2010, following ten years working in London. Since then, we have had three children, Sammy, Thalia and Benny. After four years getting to know Wellington, we moved to Island Bay, our favourite Wellington suburb. We are members of the parish community and feel very much at home here. Sammy is in Year 4 at St Francis, Thalia is in year 2, Benny will join in 2022 and my wife has banned me from further supporting the growth of the school roll.

I am a Director of KPMG New Zealand, having spent more than fifteen years advising government agencies and businesses in the UK and New Zealand to drive improved operational efficiency, cost reduction and performance improvement. I am currently leading a number of projects for the Ministry of Education including optimising school enrolment zones, leading a review on the response of schools in Canterbury to the City-wide lockdown of 15th March, implementing Communities of Learning (Kahui Ako) in Wellington and supporting the rebuild of a number of earthquake-damaged schools in Christchurch. I have led a number of programmes for the Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Commission focussed on improving value for money and improving student achievement.

I am accustomed to supporting organisations at a governance level, having advised the Boards of major NZX-listed organisations, as well as charities and smaller private institutions. In the UK, I sat on the Board of Francis Bacon School in St Albans, where I provided a financial lens on on the performance of the organisation, reviewed financial accounts and provided advice to the operational leadership on potential improvements. From my significant experience working with Boards and management, I am acutely aware of the importance of the different roles of management and governance, as well as the need for governors not to manage.

I am particularly passionate about a Catholic education, am proud to sit on the Board of Trustees for St Francis de Sales, am proud to be part of a thriving Catholic community and would be pleased to support the success of the school whereever possible.

Tamanda Chinula

I have been a member of the St Francis de Sales School community for the past 10 years and done one term on the BOT. I am mum to Harry (St Patricks College) and Maziko (yr 5).I am a stay at home mum and keep busy by helping out with various activities at St Francis and St Pats. I also help out in various communities with family budget setting.I am a level headed, happy individual who works well as part of a team and am never afraid to put my hand up. I see being on the school board as a way to constructively contribute and support the school and wider community. I am looking forward to continuing the work we have started as a Board over the last 3 years.

Nicholas Grove

My wife, Lydia, and I have our son, Toby, attending SFDS in year 6. We live in Newtown & have done since 2012 after returning from 8 years in London. I have been starting and running/managing small businesses wherever I live, for the past 23 years. I have grown up and been educated in Wellington. I am looking forward to contributing to SFDS School as a member of the Board of Trustees. My son is attending because we believe SFDS School is the best school in Wellington; I would like to help this continue.

Megan Teusse

I have been a member of the St Francis de Sales School community since 2009 when our eldest started and will be until 2028 when our fourth child will have completed his primary schooling. We are most definitely here for a marathon, not a sprint!!!

By trade I am a Pharmacist who has worked in many less than typical roles, most of which centre on education. I have trained Intern Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Staff and have a strong focus in risk mitigation and professional support. I also have a passion for public health and education and in more recent years I have been more involved in this sector.

I am an active member of the PSL and, alongside Jayne Mason, take a lead in Pastoral care provision at SFDS. I see being on the school board as another way to contribute and support the school and wider community who have done so much for my family in our time here.

Dr Sudesh Wasoori

I am married Veena and have two lovely kids Adiya & Ashlyn who are in year 2 at St Francis de Sales School.

I migrated to New Zealand from Europe in 1997 on a skilled category and have been active in some sort of community role or other, be it for the Indian community or the wider New Zealand mainstream community. I was always fascinated by law, but pursued my career in engineering and earned a doctorate degree. I am a member of the Justices of the Peace Association, doing JP clinics weekly at Central CAB Wellington. I was a dedicated member of the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services from 2011-2018 after resigning in 2018 due to other commitments. I am an elected member of the Board of Trustees for the Wellington Indian Association - looking after the finances of the BOT since 2015. I am the Executive member of the Mahatma Gandhi Commemoration Committee. I was associated with the NZ Hockey Association as liaison officer in 2009 during the Indian National team's visit to New Zealand. I am currently serving as a member of the Immigration Commitee - NZICA.

My contribution to community work has been voluntary and on my own free time, despite my busy schedule working full time at my place of work. I have learnt six different languages which enables me to interact and relate well with a a wide range of people.

St Francis de Sales School