Waikato/Bay of Plenty Division

Matt White (Chair)

Matt is a partner at PwC and leads the Waikato Assurance practice. After graduating from Waikato University he joined PwC in Auckland and subsequently worked with PwC in Indonesia, Switzerland and Papua New Guinea before returning home to Hamilton.

Karen Bennett

Karen has a background in journalism and public affairs with extensive experience in the private and public sectors, including health and local government in New Zealand and Australia. She has run her own management consultancy and worked in-house for large organisations communicating business strategy, enhancing stakeholder relationships and managing risk. She is currently manager of the CE’s office at Waikato Regional Council with responsibility for strategy, stakeholder relationships, climate change response and sustainability. She has a particular interest in forging partnerships and collaborations that aim to improve environmental, social, cultural and economic wellbeing.

Maurice Gianotti
(BA, MPP, Dip Ed, Dip Teaching, NZTCC, Member of NZ Order of Merit, 1990 Commemoration Medal)

Maurice retired to Taupo following a career in the public service where his roles included chief executive of the Education Review Office, assistant state services commissioner, deputy head of the Parliamentary Service and founding complaints investigator of the Accident Compensation Scheme. Maurice has recently held the chairmanship of the Lake Taupo Hospice Trust and the Taupo Primary School Board of Trustees, and he also sits on the National Board of the Cancer Society of New Zealand.

Tony Kinzett

Tony brings a wealth of investment and financial management knowledge to the Board, having recently been CEO for 15 years at First Mortgage Managers. Over the years, Tony has provided strategic planning and governance in both private and public sectors. He has been a director of AGC Finance and has held other directorships, most recently with First Mortgage Managers for 8 years. Tony has significant expertise in strategic planning, leadership, governance, commercial property, property and development and investment strategy. Tony is also a member of The Institute of Directors in New Zealand.

Hugh Lees

Hugh is a retired paediatrician now living in Bay of Plenty. He studied at Auckland Medical School and trained as a paediatrician at Westminster Children’s Hospital in London and Waikato Hospital, before joining Tauranga Hospital in 1984. During his time at Tauranga Hospital, Hugh was involved in Shared Care Management of child cancer patients with Auckland Starship Children’s Hospital and the management of child cystic fibrosis patients. More recently, Hugh’s roles at Bay of Plenty DHB included Medical Leader Woman, Child & Family Service (2007-2014) and Medical Director and Chief Medical Advisor (2014-2020).

Alan Pracy

Alan is a director of Colliers International in Hamilton and has significant experience in property and development. He is involved in both the day-to-day business operation and the direction and strategy of the business. Alan is a respected member of the local property community and has often been asked to advise councils, Iwi, corporate and various private entities around property projects.

Ellyn Proffit

Originally from the East Coast- Gisborne, Ellyn now resides in Waikato and works as a clinical nurse specialist supporting 12 – 24-year-olds with cancer in the Midland region. Prior to this, she was a registered nurse in Waikato Hospital children’s surgical/oncology ward, with the added role of oncology shared-care nurse, which involved providing clinical care, education and support to children aged 0 - 16 years and their whānau. Ellyn has been an avid volunteer and provided nursing support for Camp Quality for nearly 20 years and CanTeen over the last decade.

Jaedyn Falwasser (Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Hinerangi)

Jaedyn has dedicated his career to the betterment of the taiao (environment) working in this industry for over 13 years. His experience spans across working in local Government, funding agencies, central Government, and Iwi. In his current role as Pou Taiao (Environment Manager) for Waikato-Tainui, Jaedyn oversees a commercial nursery and the delivery of conservation work.  His aspirations are to grow people’s maatauranga (knowledge systems) across a wide spectrum of environmental matters – from people engagement, environmental restoration, climate resilience, resource management and environmental policy.

Wayne Tainui (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui)

Wayne has over 25 years of business and commercial experience as a former PwC Partner. He has worked for PwC in the United Kingdom and Australia and has a strong knowledge of the Māori economic and social landscape within Aotearoa. His experience includes providing governance, advisory and strategic services to both Māori and non-Māori organisations including iwi, corporate clients, SME’s, local government and government-funded agencies. Wayne is a Chartered Accountant Fellow with CAANZ and is a member of the Institute of Directors. He has also provided voluntary services at the Waikato Hospital and University of Waikato.      

Helen Carter (Chief Executive Officer)

Helen Carter joined the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society as chief executive in August 2022. For over 20 years Helen has helped organisations find ways to grow and sustainably achieve their mission. Early in her career, she was involved with marketing some of the most recognisable global consumer brands, before making the transition to working in the non-profit sector. Helen led marketing and fundraising for World Vision NZ (including their iconic 40-hour Famine campaign) for eight years and more recently has experience in workplace wellbeing and development. Helen also serves on the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, which provides wrap-around services to refugee and migrant communities.