Our Trustees

Paul has been involved with the programme since 2004 when CapGemini NZ became a Scholarship Partner. He then became a mentor to a Scholar in 2007 and furthermore joined the Board of Trustees in 2008.


Originally from England, Paul completed a Master of Arts (Oxford and Dublin) and is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Paul has a background of international leadership and management roles with PWC, Ernst & Young, CapGemini and Hewlett Packard. Since retiring from full time employment in 2006 Paul has also become an active member on the boards of Ed&Co and The Hearing House.

Paul lives in Auckland with his wife Barbara. He has 2 sons and 3 stepchildren.

First Foundation Founder Steven is currently based in Melbourne, where he is PGG Wrightson Seeds Australia General Manager.

Prior to joining PGGW, Steven was a manager at the international management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. Based in New York, he worked on strategy issues for North America's largest companies in the financial services, media, healthcare, logistics and telecommunication industries. He was General Manager of New Zealand's largest internet retailer, Flyingpig, and has worked in the finance industry.

He is the author of New Zealand Unleashed: The Country, Its Future, And The People Who Will Get It There, published by Random House in July 2007. This book discusses New Zealand's future in a dramatically changing world.

Steven has a MBA from Harvard Business School, where he received a Knox Fellowship and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (political science) from the University of Auckland. In 2005, Steven was one of five inaugural winners of the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leaders award.

Read Founder's Message here

Susan is a specialist in Maori issues with a background in governance, communications and general management. Susan was a member of the senior executive at Auckland International Airport Limited for ten years before starting her own management practice, Huria Anders.

Susan specialises in work with Maori organisations including constitutional reviews, Board appointments, support and strategic advice for Boards and Chief Executives.

Susan completed six years as a Director of Radio New Zealand Limited and Ngäi Tahu Development Corporation and has chaired the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee at Ngäi Tahu. She is former Director of Housing New Zealand Corporation, and is on the board of AgResearch Limited. Susan is also a member of the Advisory Board of Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design.

Susan is a fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Alan enjoys a variety of governance roles within a range of New Zealand businesses, from sporting bodies through to commercial and Crown entities. He is a respected board member and advisor who works with businesses to enhance their performance.

His expertise with asset structures and development of governance models for organisations has lead him to develop a pragmatic perspective on governance and he has regularly presented on governance topics in a variety of forums. Alan has a record of leading organisations through significant corporate change and crisis from his executive history as an insolvency specialist within a successful major partnership. As Chairman of Partners of KPMG, Alan guided the organisation through a very successful period of growth and structural change, firmly establishing the accounting firm's reputation as an employer of choice.

Alan bring considerable experience, vision and business connections to a board table, and sees his ability to identify risk management issues and financial expertise as key skills.

Alan is acknowledged as a prominent New Zealand businessman who has lead favourable outcomes for many significant corporate failure situations. A feature of Alan's philosophy in these situations, and throughout his business life, has been his concern for the impact of crisis on people and his desire to get the most positive outcomes, and to create energy and enthusiasm in the people he works with.

Stephen is a Principal and co-founder of leading executive search firm Hobson Leavy. He has extensive international experience in senior-level executive recruitment, both in New Zealand and the UK.

Stephen has a BA/LLB (Hons) from The University of Auckland, is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a Member of the Institute of Finance Professionals of New Zealand. Prior to becoming involved in executive search, Steven practised as a Solictor with leading New Zealand law firm Russell McVeagh.

Stephen's association with First Foundation began in 2004 when he involved the company he was working with as a Scholarship Partner. This progressed to becoming a Mentor to James Bryant of the Class of 2005. Stephen was then invited to join the Board of Turstees for First Foundation in 2005.

Living in Auckland and married with 3 young children, Stephen now finds family take up most of his free time.

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga joined the First Foundation Board of Trustees in 2009. As well as being National MP for Maungakiekie, Peseta Sam brings a wealth of experience and currently sits on several Not For Profit and educational boards.



Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga was born in Apia, Samoa. He was raised in Mangere and currently resides with his wife Jules in Onehunga. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and went on to the University of Auckland to attain BCom/LLB and MCom(Hons) degrees. He also holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge (Queens College).

He was an Auckland City Councillor (Tamaki-Maungakiekie ward) where he was Chairman of the City Development Committee. He has also worked as a solicitor for Russell McVeagh, a financial analyst for Bankers Trust (London) and as an executive consultant for Macquarie Bank (Sydney).

He takes a keen interest in social services through his tenure on the Boards of Primary Health Organisations of New Zealand, One Tree Hill College and Great Potentials. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Penrose and Greenlane Christian Centre. Sam is also a mentor for the I Have a Dream Trust.

Dallas is well known for his sporting credentials - he has played for the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team in 35 international tournaments including the 1993 and 1997 World Cups and he has also played an impressive 100 games in first class 15 a-side for Canterbury, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, and Bay of Plenty.

Whilst Dallas has now retired from a professional rugby career, his passion for sport continues unabated and is now reflected in his role with Sport & Recreation New Zealand where he works to empower young people to live healthier lives through physical activity and participation in sport.

As well as being a role model in his professional life, Dallas and his wife Julie, also lead by example in their personal lives - as parents to four young children and as Ambassadors for The Family Help Trust in Christchurch; an organisation that helps empower vulnerable families to create safe and nurturing homes for their children.