Meet our Board of Governors

An Old Boy and the son of a former teacher, Hugh has always taken a great deal of interest in College. He was on the CCOBA committee from 2000–2013, was CCOBA president from 2009–12, and has served on the Board of Governors for more than 10 years.

Hugh studied law at the University of Canterbury. He is a partner in law firm Simpson Grierson’s corporate and commercial department, advising on all aspects of business law, with special expertise in corporate structuring and governance, business transactions and advisory, overseas investment and commercial property. Hugh has extensive corporate and non-profit governance experience in a diverse range of organisations across Christchurch and Canterbury.

Bishop Carrell was installed as the 9th Anglican Bishop of Christchurch at services at Christchurch Boys’ High School and in Cathedral Square in February 2019. He is the Warden of Christ’s College by virtue of his office.

Peter Carrell was formerly Director of Theology House and Director of Education for the Diocese of Christchurch, and Archdeacon for Pegasus [East Christchurch]. He has served as a parish priest and as a theological educator in the Diocese of Nelson. His doctorate is in New Testament studies (Durham) and he has taught biblical studies for the University of Otago, St John’s College (Auckland), Laidlaw College and Seminari Theoloji Malaysia. Peter is a member of the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and of the Academic Advisory Board for Laidlaw College

With more than 30 years’ experience in the business and agricultural sectors, Mark is currently owner and director of Ngatapa Limited & Eagle Hill Farming Ltd.

An innovative and creative self-starter, he is a founding partner and previous CEO of Craigmore Sustainable, a food and fibre investment group, and has gained significant financial experience owning and developing businesses from the ground up. As founder and managing director of Coxco and Extreme Foods, he has created and established branded food products into mainly Asian markets and has been involved in e-commerce produce trade into Asia. Sustainable farming has always been a priority. He has also been involved in the establishment, with founding shareholders, of a start-up agri data company now operating successfully internationally. Not surprisingly, Mark’s broad expertise is sought by many boards and committees.

He was chair of the St Margaret’s College Foundation from 2016-2020 and is a GP board director of Craigmore Partnerships.

An Old Boy and School House Prefect, Mark has a long family association with College, starting in 1874 when his first family member was enrolled. Mark’s youngest son will start at Christ’s College in 2022.

Murray is an Executive Director with Genesis Capital, a South Island-based private equity firm with investments throughout New Zealand. He has more than 25 years’ experience in professional services and a wide range of commercial environments, the majority as either a Partner in PwC or as a CEO. Murray holds or has held director/governance roles in infrastructure, tourism, education, local government and as Director of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He has a son at Christ’s College.

Oliver believes in the importance of philanthropy to Christ’s College and the wider community, recognising the role it plays in engendering positive outcomes. He points out that College without the gifts of the past will not be anything like what it is today. Oliver aims to maintain this value and tradition to ensure that College continues well into the future. Oliver is a director of Brooksfield, one of the region’s largest property development companies. Oliver and the company are interested in creating master-planned developments that stand out aesthetically, add to the community and will stand the test of time. He devotes time and energy to multiple philanthropic projects.

An experienced litigator and dispute resolution specialist, with particular expertise in commercial, insolvency, equity and trust law, Jeremy Johnson is a partner with law firm Bankside Chambers in Auckland.

He is a fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand for arbitration, and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Jeremy serves as deputy legal advisor to the Primates of New Zealand and is Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, where he acts as legal advisor to the Bishop and Synod. He is also a member of the board of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust, and an Old Boy and past president of the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association.

Amanda Johnston has a breadth of business investment, management, and board experience across a variety of sectors.

At present, she is a PrimePort Timaru director, Melanoma New Zealand trustee and treasurer, and Waihi School Association committee member. Amanda also manages the family dairy farm and associated interests near Temuka.

She has held several global investment management and corporate finance roles, including with Marwyn Investment Management and Global Leisure Partners in London, and ABN Amro and PwC in Sydney and Auckland. Amanda has also founded a luxury tourism business and consulted for NZ Trade and Enterprise the The Icehouse.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce, both in Finance. She has three children, and is a future parent of Christ’s College.

Tim, a College Old Boy, is Head of Marketing and Engagement at Enable Networks Limited. He has a broad strategic and commercial background founded on a Commerce degree from the University of Canterbury, and started his career in accounting, working in Australia and the United Kingdom.

While overseas, Tim moved into marketing. He has held senior marketing roles for many well-known organisations, both in the UK and New Zealand, including AMI, Meridian Energy, Airways NZ and Seequent. He was a long-standing board member of Netball Mainland, incorporating the Tactix ANZ Premiership team. Tim is a board member of Southern Zone Rugby League.

New York-based Old Boy Angus McKenzie is a Manager at EY (Ernst & Young) in the People Consulting practice in the United States.

A 2014 Christ’s College graduate, Angus spent his tertiary years in the US after gaining multiple scholarships and obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the University of Kentucky. He then achieved his Master’s Degree in Management at Cornell University. Following university, Angus joined EY in Atlanta, Georgia, specialising in global talent mobility before transitioning to New York, specialising in transformation strategy in the consumer space in their New York office.

Angus also serves as Vice Chair for the Recent Alumni Advisory Board at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, driving the school’s innovation agenda through student mentorship, corporate partnerships, philanthropy, and alumni engagement. He holds a Certified Public Accountancy licence from New York state and is a certified Prosci change management practitioner.

A passionate educator and educational leader with the ability to see the big picture, Gillian brings to College a breadth and depth of experience, locally and nationally, in both management and governance in the sports and education sectors.

Gillian started her teaching and educational leadership career at Wellington Girls’ College and on returning from a role at St Paul’s Boys’ College in London at King’s College, Auckland.

From a Deputy Principal role at King’s, she was appointed Principal of Waikato Diocesan School, Hamilton, before moving to Christchurch to take on the role of Executive Principal at St Margaret’s College, a position she held for 10 years.

While at SMC, Gillian managed a substantial rebuild programme, futureproofing the campus, ensuring sustainability of infrastructure and buildings, and creating a flexible and responsive learning environment. She believes preparation and planning and persistence are key to ensuring young people have the benefit of an education that nurtures mind, body and spirit, and prepares them for a hope-filled and purposeful life. Gillian has completed terms of service in her director roles for NZ Rowing, Anglican Schools NZ and NZ Secondary Sports Council to join the University of Canterbury Council and the Canterbury Rugby Football Union Board, and continues on the NZ Education Scholarship Trust and as an independent organisational strategy and education consultant.