Mark Larson

Chairperson and Trustee

Mark taught in the state network as a secondary teacher (Humanities, Mathematics, Special Education) for 22 years before becoming the Principal at Middleton Grange School in 1999.  In 2010 Mark left the Principalship to become CEO to the Christian Schools’ Trust, the Proprietor of Middleton Grange School, Ashburton Christian School , Aidanfield Christian School and Rolleston Christian School. He is also CEO of the Association of Integrated Schools. Mark is married to Anne and has four children and 13 grandchildren - all living in Christchurch. Principals and school Boards will lead their school communities with vision and passion if the Proprietor creates the right conditions – Mark loves having that kind of role and influence for the Kingdom!


 

 Vaughan Darby

Trustee

Vaughan is married to Mary and has two sons, Joshua and Samuel.

Vaughan is  a Trustee of the New Zealand Christian Proprietors Trust of which he was founding Chairman until 2016. He has resumed this role for the time of Mark’s involvement in the Wellington project. Vaughan has been involved with the KingsWay Trust for over 20 years. He was Chairman and a Trustee on the KingsGate School establishment board at its inception in 2007. He was inaugural Chairman of KingsWay School Board of Trustees for nine years. For a period, Vaughan was a Trustee and Deputy Chair of the Masters Institute, a Christian Teacher’s College and also a Trustee of the Masters Development Foundation.

Vaughan has a passion for Christian education, especially preparing our children so they can live out their faith in the world they live in.

Formerly a school teacher, he is now Director of a number of businesses, including investment property management.

Vaughan has joined the Board of Asian Outreach Cambodia and is in the process of establishing Cambodian businesses to help fund the work.


 

Eoin Crosbie

Deputy Chairperson and Trustee

Eoin is an identical twin and is married to Judith who teaches at Bethlehem College. They have three adult children Anna, Laura and Michael.

Eoin has been involved in Christian Education since he became Principal of Bethlehem College in 2011. Before that, he was a Southern Man based in the rural township of Gore where he was Deputy Principal and Rector for 20 years. Eoin has been seconded to ERO before arriving in Tauranga and has also assumed leadership roles within the Presbyterian Church as a youth leader, an elder and a member of the Council of Assembly.

Leading a year 1-13 College over two campuses has been a wonderful blessing. In retirement Eoin is engaged in service in his local Church, is a member of Kaimai Presbytery Council and works with Christian school leaders in a review and mentoring capacity. God has been very faithful as Eoin was the recipient of a new liver in 1996. The transplant completely revitalized his life and has enabled him to serve in ways he never thought would ever be possible.


 

Wes Braddock

Trustee

Wes is passionate about Christian Education as a very useful tool for growing young people who are strong in their faith and equipped to grow the Kingdom of God in every area of society. He sees this role as one of protecting what we cherish as Christian Schools and also empowering teachers and other members of the school community.

We is married to Carley with three children who are in their mid- to late teens, all of whom have been through KingsWay School and also spent time at Kaitaia Abundant Life School.

Originally trained in Agricultural Consultancy and later moved into teaching Science, Economics and Business, Wes has held the position of Careers Advisor at KingsWay School before taking on a Deputy Principal role in the Far North , then returning to KingsWay School, where he worked as Head of the Senior School and now runs his own business.


 

Carolyn Stuart

Trustee

Carolyn's career in education has always been underpinned by a belief that schools need to be relevant to, and make sense for, students. This sense-making comes through authentic relationships, whānau partnerships and making use of the tools of today's world. Carolyn has a Masters in Education with a specialisation in Leadership.

Carolyn’s extensive career in education has included being Principal of Southbridge School and Tawa Intermediate School; working for a year in a seconded role in the Ministry of Education and in a Deputy Chief Executive position at Network for Learning. In 2019, she founded her own company, Weaving Futures Ltd and writes a weekly blog that is followed by many with an interest in education, design thinking and transformational change.

Carolyn is married to Geoff, and has two adult children, both of whom are married. Carolyn and Geoff are active members of Arise Church in Wellington.


 

Stephanie Corban

TRUSTEE

Stephanie is passionate about Christian families having the choice to send their children to local Christian schools which are centred on God’s truth, where staff encourage children to grow in their love and knowledge of God, and children are equipped to live out their faith in their communities. Stephanie is a lawyer and joined the Trust in June 2022.

Stephanie is married to John and they have had three children. All three attended Immanuel Christian School in Avondale.

Immanuel School was located at the site where Jireh Christian School is now located. Stephanie’s husband served on the Immanuel’s Board as Treasurer for 9 years and then Stephanie served for two years, during which time negotiations with KingsWay Trust to relocate Jireh Christian School occurred.


 

Hazel Warnes

TRUSTEE

I began teaching in Otara, South Auckland where I confess I lost my heart to Maori and Pasifika tamariki. I taught in Remuera, Blockhouse Bay and Ruapotaka in Glen Innes before leaving Auckland and State Education to enter Christian Education. I taught at Bethlehem College, for 9 years eventually becoming the Primary Principal. I then joined Bethlehem Tertiary Institute where I was a Primary Lecturer for 17 years. During the last 3 years at BTI I helped to pioneer a non-denominational Christian kura in Rotorua where we lived. I continued to teach 2 days a week at BTI and worked 3 days a week at Chapman voluntarily. Focused on mentoring the kaiako and overseeing the Teaching and Learning Programme was part of my responsibility. I left BTI in 2014, to move into the role of Principal. In 2018, we became Bethlehem College Chapman, a ‘satellite’ kura of BC Tauranga. I was appointed to the role of Head of School, which I currently serve in.

Commitment to Christian Education

We live in challenging yet exciting times. It isn’t the ‘waves’ we need to watch but rather the undercurrents which steal our identity, our worth and our security. As the years have gone by, I have become ever more convinced and passionate about Christian Education. I pray for and dream of a ‘generation rising up to take their place with unwavering faith, unswerving hope and unrelenting love’. I am committed to intentionally weaving the Truth of the Word of God throughout our Teaching and Learning programme.

Our rangatahi deserve to know that they are made in the image of God, have immeasurable worth, unique significance. Their identity, security and purpose can be anchored in Christ. The freedom Christian Education brings to me as a Christian kaiako is no less exciting than the day I entered it. Each day with our rangatahi is to be treasured, as we watch God, by His Holy Spirit, at work in their lives, the life of their whānau and our lives as kaimahi.


 

Peter Wilding

TRUSTEE

Peter is married to Rachel and together they have three children who have all completed their schooling attending a Christian School. He regularly attends church on the North Shore in Auckland.
 
Peter has been associated with Christian schools for over two decades and is a passionate supporter of quality Christian Education. He has been an active board member of seven schools and several non-profit organisations for many years bringing extensive governance experience to help boards and their organisations flourish.

After finishing a long career as a senior manager with the New Zealand Fire Service, Peter accepted the role of Acting CEO for both The Kingsway Trust and the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust. He concluded this position in 2023 and now works as an independent consultant in governance for non-profit organisations. He currently sits as a trustee/Chairperson on the boards of several charitable trusts in New Zealand and Australia.

Peter sees Christian schools as strategically important assets to the body of Christ. By educating young people through a framework of Christian education, these schools are growing and releasing young people to carry the heartbeat of Father God into our communities.