Advancement Office
Claire Sparks
Director of Advancement
Claire Sparks
Director of Advancement
Claire Sparks leads the Advancement team at Christ's College, overseeing all marketing and communications. She sets the agenda for publications, advertising, promotion, social media and community engagement. Claire ensures that a cohesive College message is delivered across all channels and reflects core College values.
Claire started at College in 2014 after running her own marketing consultancy and working for companies as diverse as Yellow Pages, Thrifty Car Rental, BOC Gas and Ansett New Zealand.
The Advancement team unites the strands of communications, marketing, promotion and advertising, Old Boys, event management, development, sponsorship and bequests, domestic and international admissions and reception.
Martine Cusack
Communications & Publications Advisor
Martine Cusack
Communications & Publications Advisor
Melissa Hogan
Graphic Designer/Marketing Assistant
Melissa Hogan
Graphic Designer/Marketing Assistant
Shelley Keach
Senior Development Manager
Shelley Keach
Senior Development Manager
Experienced Senior Manager in Development and fundraising with a demonstrated history of raising funds for capital and operational programmes in the education and not for profit industries. Skilled in strategic planning, event, staff and volunteer management. Shelley is a former journalist who is passionate about providing opportunities for young people to facilitate growth and personal development.
Lizzie Dyer
CCOBA Alumni Manager
Lizzie Dyer
CCOBA Alumni Manager
Lizzie Dyer couldn’t resist the opportunity to work at College when the new Alumni Manager role came up as she has always felt a strong affinity for – and has many connections with – the school through family, friends, and as a College parent.
“I’ve always loved College and its environment. I used to drive to St Margaret’s via Rolleston Avenue just to take a peek through the gates. I love the whole feel of the place.”
However, people before buildings – and, for Lizzie, life is all about people. She is warm and friendly, relaxed and convivial, and a great talker and accomplished hostess, who thrives on making and nurturing connections.
The daughter of a “larger than life” Irish father and Kiwi mother, Lizzie was born in Belfast. The family moved to New Zealand when Lizzie was a child and she grew up – the eldest of three daughters – in Tai Tapu, appreciating the easy balance between country life and proximity to the city. One of her first jobs was working in travel, through which she says she was lucky to be able to go back and get to know the Irish side of her family, and even more delighted when one of her cousins married her best friend – they met at Lizzie and husband Tim’s wedding – and moved to New Zealand.
Family and friends are the bedrock of Lizzie’s life. She quit the travel industry when she had children, but then started organic baby food business Green Monkey with her sister.
“I became very aware of what my children were, or weren’t, eating. And, like any parent, I wanted to do my absolute best. There wasn’t really any organic baby food around at the time, so we took the chance and entered a very competitive market. It was tough with three young children. Really good, but very busy.”
Laura Forbes
Future Gifts Manager
Laura Forbes
Future Gifts Manager
Future Gifts Manager Laura Forbes has worked in arts philanthropy, promotion, and event management.
In her previous role, Laura was the SCAPE Public Art Philanthropy & Development Manager in Christchurch. Supporting the public art programme through sponsorship and fundraising, Laura has been involved in development strategies and communication. During her career, she has also curated the Art in a Garden Sculpture event in North Canterbury and worked in art galleries in Australia and New Zealand. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Theory from the University of Otago and a Master of Art Administration from the University of New South Wales.
Boarding House Staff
Stacey James
Day Matron and Assistant to the Housemaster
Stacey James
Day Matron and Assistant to the Housemaster
Stacey started in Richards House as Day Matron in 2022. Prior to being at College she worked for the New Zealand Red Cross, in refugee resettlement and teaching first aid in schools. Away from College, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also loves camping, travel, and live theatre. Stacey has three children, one adult daughter over in the U.K. where she was born, and two teenage children still at home.
Lydia Sinclair
Boarding Community Overnight Nurse
Lydia Sinclair
Boarding Community Overnight Nurse
Kathleen O'Malley
Domestic Staff Flower's House
Kathleen O'Malley
Domestic Staff Flower's House
Centre for Wellbeing
Sports Department
Benn McBrearty
BExSci, GradDip Ed Physical Education & Health (Sydney), GradDip Physical Conditioning (Otago)
Director of Sport
Benn McBrearty
BExSci, GradDip Ed Physical Education & Health (Sydney), GradDip Physical Conditioning (Otago)
Director of Sport
Director of Sport Benn McBrearty’s enthusiasm for sport is infectious. He strongly believes sport is a vehicle for developing a life-long love of physical activity and future health.
Prior to returning to Christchurch, after an extended period living in Australia, Benn worked as Director of Sport and as a Physical Education & Health teacher, as well as coaching and coordinating multiple sports.
Benn understands that participation in sport helps young people to grow, learn and enjoy themselves while nurturing their personal, physical and intellectual skills, and developing healthy minds and bodies.
“Sport creates an environment for personal growth. It teaches us the value of discipline, teamwork and perseverance. It enlightens us about resilience, courage, failure and success and challenges us to grow and become better people by holding a mirror to us all when faced with each of these challenges.”
Benn has a Bachelor of Exercise Science and Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education from The Australian Catholic University having attended the Strathfield campus in NSW. He also has a Graduate Diploma in Physical Conditioning from Otago Polytechnic.
Llorne Howell
Acting MiC Cricket
Llorne Howell
Acting MiC Cricket
Experienced coach and mentor Llorne Howell will be stepping into the role of Assistant to the Director of Sport and MiC Cricket and Rugby while Stephen Dods takes a sabbatical.
A former Black Cap, Llorne has played one-day internationals for New Zealand and also represented Canterbury in age-group rugby. In a 14-year career at the top level of cricket, Llorne has won one-day and four-day titles with Canterbury and Auckland. He holds a New Zealand Cricket Level 3 Coaching Qualification, along with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in several languages. He has also been awarded the Prime Minister’s Scholarship to China Peking University.
Llorne has led the Howell Cricket Academy and coached extensively in New Zealand and India, along with establishing and growing business and educational links with India. He has held business development and financial advisor roles during his varied career.
Kris Miller
BPhEd (Otago), PGDipPC
Assistant to the Director of Sport/Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Kris Miller
BPhEd (Otago), PGDipPC
Assistant to the Director of Sport/Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Assistant to the Director of Sport and Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Kris Miller believes everyone should participate in some form of exercise or sport, because the benefits – in terms of health, cardiovascular fitness, wellbeing, strength, energy and enjoyment – are enormous. He works with individuals and teams across all sports, teaching skills and techniques to enable the boys to perform at their best, and helping them develop and maintain good habits around health and fitness.
Kris has a Physical Education degree, with a double major in Sport and Exercise Science and Exercise Prescription from the University of Otago, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Physical Conditioning from Otago Polytechnic.
Executive Assistants
Mel Murrell
Executive Assistant to the Executive Principal
Mel Murrell
Executive Assistant to the Executive Principal
Human Resources
Attendance Officer
Finance and Operations
Rob McFarlane
BCA (Victoria), CA ANZ
Director of Finance & Operations
Rob McFarlane
BCA (Victoria), CA ANZ
Director of Finance & Operations
Director of Finance & Operations (DFO), Rob McFarlane brings a wealth of experience at the highest levels of business management to College, having worked for companies as diverse as Shell Oil, North Solomon’s Pharmacies, Boral Australia, Zeus (New Zealand Apple & Pear Marketing Board), Lyttelton Port Company, Silver Fern Farms and Longbeach Holdings, in New Zealand and overseas.
Rob has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University, Wellington, and is a Chartered Accountant.
He completed three fixed-term contracts at College before taking on the DFO role.
He is delighted to be working in an organisation whose values align so closely with his own.
Len Van Hout
Finance Manager (parental leave cover)
Len Van Hout
Finance Manager (parental leave cover)
An experienced financial accountant, Len Van Hout joins the Finance Department while Finance Manager Lisa McCleary is on maternity leave.
Having led his own consultancy business, Len has provided financial analysis and modelling, and services associated with business process reviews. He has also worked as a financial accountant and advisor and in a governance role for several of Christchurch’s biggest businesses and entities. From 2012 to 2016, he was the Finance Manager for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and previously worked for several government departments.
Daniel Gibbs
BCom, GradDipCA
Financial Accountant
Daniel Gibbs
BCom, GradDipCA
Financial Accountant
Robbie McKeon
FETAC Level 6, ILX PRINCE2, LBP Carpentry
Facilities Manager
Robbie McKeon
FETAC Level 6, ILX PRINCE2, LBP Carpentry
Facilities Manager
Archives
Jane Teal
MA (Otago), PGCert (Strathclyde), DipTchg
Archivist
Jane Teal
MA (Otago), PGCert (Strathclyde), DipTchg
Archivist
Library
Health Centre
Digital Services
Paul Rodley
MSc(Hons) (Canterbury), DipTchg
Director of Digital Services
Paul Rodley
MSc(Hons) (Canterbury), DipTchg
Director of Digital Services
Paul Rodley manages all aspects of information and communications technology (ICT) across the College campus and is also responsible for the learning associated with digital technology.
His main teaching area is robotics, which encompasses a diverse range of skills, including the practical, such as programming and coding, building websites, robots and drones, and the cerebral, such as problem-solving, team building, self-management and innovative thinking.
ICT is challenging, exciting and evolving – and Paul sees it as a tool to facilitate learning.
“It’s all about the boys, about empowering them to have the confidence to get out there and make the most out of life.”
Paul started at Christ’s College as the first Director of ICT in 1999.
James Brand
Web Services & Digital Services Support Manager
James Brand
Web Services & Digital Services Support Manager
Mark Gillette
Digital Services Solutions Architect
Mark Gillette
Digital Services Solutions Architect
