I semi-retired at 50, after 30 years working in investment banking roles specialising in worldwide Mergers and Acquisitions, I came home to be a stay-at-home Dad, and my wife Sue went back to full time work in the wine industry. One of the reasons for returning home was to assist with looking after my 3 daughters, the oldest of which suffered from severe anxiety and depression and was a suicidal risk. My family had a history of difficulty in terms of mental health, so I decided it was more important to be ‘present’ rather than working full time. 

Part of that plan was also to give back to my community on a voluntary basis using the skills I had accumulated during the last 30 years. I didn’t have any plan as to what organisations I would contribute my time to and more let the opportunities come to me. As a result, I ended up on the school board that all my daughters attended, Havelock North High School. At the end of the current term, I would have served a decade on that board, one term as chair. I also have assisted the Hawkes Bay Racing Club, The Havelock North Canoe Polo Club, as one of my daughters plays that sport, the local Summerset Retirement Village residents association as my parents-in-law live there, as well as helping many individuals using my legal skills for various legal issues.

The Reid O’Leary Charitable Trust opportunity came about via tragedy, but a group of us wanted to turn that tragedy into something of hope in Reid’s name. The opportunity really came because my wife encouraged me to assist in the post trauma impact that then led to being involved in the hope project. I used my skills to establish the legal entity and provide all the accounting services for the Trust. I also contribute to the events and funding initiatives and more recently helped set up of the Reid O’Leary wellness Pulse programme in Hawkes Bay Schools. To contribute to mental wellness is a full circle contribution from myself to others and I am extremely proud to serve as a Trustee of a organisation founded in tragedy but passionately now engaged in hope serving our local community.