The Vodafone NZ Foundation Board of Directors
Find our more about our Board of Directors, some of whom are Vodafone NZ employees and some external volunteers with the relevant skills and experience to help us make a difference to the young people of New Zealand.
Chair
Name: Andrea Midgen (Chair)
Occupation: Director Customer Care
Background: Having joined Bellsouth in 1998, Andrea is no stranger to Customer Care - previously heading the Customer Operations team for Ericsson. She initially worked in finance, then had a regional role heading up a program across Australia, Fiji and NZ before moving to the UK on secondment to the One Vodafone team, working for Global IT until June 2005. Now back home as Director of Customer Care, Andrea is absolutely focused on enabling her people to deliver a Red, Rock Solid, Restless customer experience!
Passions: My biggest passion is working with people, and making a difference in what ever I am involved in. I adore working in the Customer Care team and doing everything we can to make a difference for our customers. My family are also up there on the passion list - most favourite pastime is swimming and fishing over at Waiheke Island.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF? As a corporate organisation we realised we had two choices, to chose the easy path or take the one less travelled. The projects we support through the VNZF make a real, tangible difference to NZ youth. For me personally, getting involved in the VNZF allows me to learn about the issues and challenges facing young people and to provide some support and learnings to the organisations we are involved with. I am passionate about people and want to do the best I can. Ideally I would like to have a job in this area and am just waiting until my son is a little older. I am a workaholic now, so believe I will be even more so when I start working in an environment where you can make a world of difference by what you do.
What is the most outrageous thing you have done to raise money for charity? Being tarred (with golden syrup) and feathered by a load of kids and then doing the chicken dance in front of hundreds of people!
Name: Pete Watson
Occupation: Specialist Youth Health Doctor
Background: I am a specialist doctor who has worked in the specialty of youth health for 12 years doing University research and teaching as well as seeing patients. Currently I am working at Whirinaki, a child and adolescent mental health service in South Auckland. I live with my wife Jenny and 3 kids in Glendowie.
Passions: Having quality time and plenty of it with my family; being fit and healthy; summers at the beach, winters in the mountains; making a difference to troubled young people and their families; giving adults another way of viewing young people and recognising the positive in our youth.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF? The opportunity to work with a great team at Vodafone to make a real difference to support positive youth development amongst the young people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Name: Alison Sykora
Occupation:
Background:I joined Vodafone recently as Head of Company Communications after more than five years with Coca-Cola Oceania as Public Affairs and Communications Manager. Our Company Communications team is focused on protecting and promoting the company's reputation, brand and products and services among key stakeholders including the media and employees. I have more than 15 years of experience in public relations agencies and journalism in South Africa and New Zealand. My experience in the non-profit world includes board membership of the Robin Hood Foundation and working closely on developing and managing corporate partnerships with New Zealand charities such as Youthline and the OSCAR Foundation.
Passions: My 'people' (husband, families and two badly behaved dogs), travel - am fortunate enough to have visited all seven continents - but haven't seen nearly enough of the world and its fascinating places and people. Red wine and good food.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF?I genuinely believe that business can and is a force for good in every society - and it is organisations such as the Vodafone NZ Foundation that spearhead the contribution businesses make. By being 'internal activists' board members and those dealing with non-profits and CSR work within business can help change the world ... one small step at a time of course!
What is the most outrageous thing you have done to raise money for charity? I have twice had my hair completely shaved off (once for Ronald McDonald House and the second time as part of the Shave for a Cure project for Leukeamia research). I certainly looked pretty outrageous.
Name: Alison Taylor
Occupation: Consultant, specialising in public sector management and development.
Background: I have specialised in public health and social sector leadership, holding key roles in New Zealand and the UK over fifteen years. I was Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand between 1998 and 2004, and General Manager, Ministry of Youth Development from 2004-2006.
Since then, I've led strategic development projects for a range of national non-government organisations, crown entities and a university based specialist centre.
I'm passionate about positive and sustainable models of change and development, where the focus is on strategic leadership, people centred approaches and a proactive style.
Passions: health, young people, family and friends.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF? I was inspired by the work of the Foundation and its approach to tackling the hard issues and taking risks to make a difference for young people.
What is the most outrageous thing you have done to raise money for charity? Sorry, nothing! Just the usual boring ways of donating, I'm open to suggestions though :-)
Name: Antony Welton
Occupation: General Manager HR
Background: I trained as an occupational psychologist and worked on selection and development of individuals and teams and also assessments for employability testing (assessing people who have had physical or mental injuries and the impact this may have on future employment). I have also work in HR, and Strategy, Planning and Governance roles in a range of large corporates. Throughout my career I have worked in the UK, Finland, Japan and Turkey before moving to NZ to be with my Kiwi-born wife.
Passions: My family, my wife and two daughters, really inspire me. I love spending time with them and watching them grow - they definitely keep me on my toes. I am really passionate about Mountains; whether it be tramping, climbing glaciers or snowboarding, just being in the outdoors gives me a real buzz. I also love music, and good wine. But my one true weakness is a decadent caramel slice.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF?As I have recently moved to NZ I have a strong urge to connect with the people and the culture of this place. Being part of the VNZF enables me to gain an understanding of number of issues in the community, and also play a role in helping to solve them.
I also believe it is vital for Vodafone to understand the community it serves. By being able to understand the ways of life of the people in our community, we are better able to meet their needs. The Foundation is also a really great way to give back to the people who are our customers, and Vodafone is a better organisation for it.
What is the most outrageous thing you have done to raise money for charity? In terms of raising money, I have been involved in a number of sponsorship events but most recently for Movemeber, I took advantage of the fact that I am an English Ginger boy, and grew a very ginger moustache and lamb chops. Although it helped me fundraise it also offended a lot of people, I earned more money on the promise I would shave it off than growing it in the first place.
Name: Debbie Aukett
Occupation: Senior Commercial Manager
Background: Commercial and sales roles in the telecommunications and energy industries, as well as communications, film production and government sector roles. I have completed two university degrees: one in Politics in the USA, and a law degree in NZ.
Passions: I'm very interested in Politics (I worked for the Ministries of Maori Development and Courts in a past life). I also love music (I sing and play guitar) and run my own proofreading and editing business. When we have time, my partner and I run away to the bush or to the beach up north.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF?I have always volunteered for charities and non-profits since childhood. While at university in Boston, I ran a homeless shelter for four years, started a food collection programme as well as a halfway home for homeless people on the brink of becoming self-reliant. In New Zealand, I've volunteered as manager of the City Mission drop-in centre and have always wanted to make sure that there is sufficient balance between the professional, personal and community aspects of my life. The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation allows me to do just that, by becoming involved in a whole range of community service projects and non-profit organisations. I especially like the fact that the Foundation is focusing on at-risk youth and Auckland charities in particular because I believe that a sharper focus will make the Foundation more effective.
What is the most outrageous thing you have done to raise money for charity? When I was 16 years old, I marched from Santa Fe to Las Vegas, New Mexico - approximately 100kms - to raise money and awareness for my high school's Anti-Apartheid campaign. Nelson Mandela was freed later that year (but probably not just because I marched against Apartheid!).
Name: Michael Stanley
Occupation: Director HR
Background: I grew up in Brisbane and went to the University of Queensland, where I qualified with a Bachelor social work. I worked for 12 years as social worker in Australia, the UK and NZ. I mainly specialised in child protection - working with children, adolescents and families in crisis. During this time I also worked for a year with isolated aboriginal communities. I then transitioned from social work into HR, where I worked for Telstra in Australia, ran my own HR consulting business, and then worked for AMP before joining Vodafone Australia. I recently transitioned to Vodafone NZ to take on the challenge of being Director of HR.
Passions: Life! I have three children aged between 16 and 20. I want my kids to have the chance to have a good life, be fulfilled and to grow and develop to the best of their abilities. I believe it is much easier to stay well spiritually, emotionally and physically than it is to recover - so I am really passionate about wellbeing and promoting people's wellbeing. I am also passionate about being happy and making to most out of life.
What motivated you to become involved in the VNZF? In my view, the single best thing about Vodafone is the commitment and contribution it makes to the community. The most prominent way Vodafone contributes is through the VNZF, and for me, it is an honour to be part of that.
I also believe that the Foundation offers a great opportunity to our staff. We have 1500 people at Vodafone, and through the Foundation it is great to be able to offer them the chance to contribute to the community, and be part of the many initiatives that the Foundation is associated with.
What is the most outrageous thing you have done to raise money for charity? Some of the interesting things I have had the opportunity to be involved with through my social work include going crocodile hunting with aboriginal tribes out of Aurukun and spending nights and days in prisons with young offenders. I have also had the privilege to work with children who are dieing and their families.
Interested in becoming a Board member? Email your details to vodafonenzfoundation@vodafone.com
