Our People
Our Trustees
Neil Richardson
Chair
Neil is a well-known businessman, entrepreneur, mentor and professional director. Originally from Australia, he has lived in Hamilton for over 30 years and is active in both business and community circles locally, nationally and internationally.
He has a long record of management and governance leadership in commercial, government, investment and not-for-profit enterprises.
Neil is an Adjunct Professor at the Waikato Management School, and is currently the chair of several commercial enterprises, chair of Vision Research Foundation, Biometry Charitable Trust and involved with several other charities.
He is also a member of Te Puna Whakannuai (Thought Leaders Forum) advising the government on the future of the food and fibre sector.
Neil lives in Hamilton with his wife and has two adult children and six grandchildren.
Joan Forret
Dr Joan Forret started at Harkness Henry in 2001 and was appointed a Partner in 2009.
She holds a PhD in law and a LLB from the University of Waikato, along with a Diploma in Teaching. She also holds a BSc in chemistry and a BA in history from the University of Otago.
Joan advises clients on resource management and planning, environmental enforcement, public works and local government issues. She is a Ministerial appointee to the University of Waikato Council, a member of the Central Regional Committee of the Property Council, and a member of the Property Council’s Resource Management Reform Taskforce.
She is also an immediate past Chair of the Waikato branch of the Resource Management Law Association and was previously a lecturer in resource management and public law at the University of Waikato.
Joan lives in Hamilton with her husband Mike and has two adult children who, like their mother, both attended schools in Hamilton.
Mark Ingle
Meet Mark, a Hamilton native and University of Waikato graduate with a Business Management Degree, specialising in Accounting.
After a brief stint at Deloitte, he worked as an accountant in London for a global emerging-markets investment company. In his mid-20s, Mark transitioned to management, holding leadership roles until 2012, when he shifted his focus to governance and business investment.
Mark has founded or co-founded a number of organisations and involvement in numerous startups. He currently chairs six boards and serves as a director and/or trustee on three others, including Momentum Waikato.
Alan Livingston
Alan is a well-known local body politician elected to office over 24 years – 18 years at the Waipa District Council, including 12 years as Mayor, and then on the Waikato Regional Council, which he chaired from 2016 to 2019.
He currently holds several other governance roles, including on the board of QEII Trust, chair of Te Awamutu’s Regent Theatre Trust, a member of the working group bringing the NZ Sports Hall of Fame to Cambridge, and as a member of the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards panel.
His previous roles include being on the boards of Sport Waikato and the Waikato River Authority.
He is also a sheep and beef farmer at Te Pahu on the slopes of Mt Pirongia.
Alan and his wife Janet have three adult children and he has been awarded the ONZM for services to the community and to sport.
May Low
May’s drive and purpose centres on creating an enduring legacy that benefits all.
May holds a number of roles at the governance and executive level. Her main current role is the COO of Kiwi Innovation Network, an organisation accelerating publicly funded research into investor readiness.
She has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law and a Bachelor of Science majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics.
Originally born in Fiji, raised in Hamilton and studied in Wellington and Auckland, she now lives in Hamilton with her partner and three children and is surrounded by an amazing supportive village.
Simon Rickman
Simon is an experienced executive and director who returned to the Waikato after spending many years living and working in Auckland, the United States and the United Kingdom.
He is the New Zealand Chief Executive for Soudal, Europe’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of sealants, adhesives and foam for the construction industry.
Simon is involved with a variety of other commercial and community organisations and was previously a Trustee of the McKenzie Centre, which provides early intervention services for children with special needs and their families.
He also has experience in the construction, forestry, health and fitness, dairy and management consulting sectors. A member of the Institute of Directors, Simon holds a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato,
Spare time is spent with his family, wife Joanne and two school-aged children.
Holly Snape
Holly Snape is a passionate leader in the not-for-profit sector. She has been involved at both a governance and management level in community and social service organisations for 15 years and has been the Chief Executive of Community Waikato since 2015.
Holly has a Master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Waikato and delivers guest lectures both there and at Wintec.
Holly is currently also on the boards of national peak body Community Networks Aotearoa and local access radio station FreeFM. She continues to be actively engaged in community development at a grassroots level.
Holly is an avid indoor social netballer and dog obedience instructor. She lives with two dogs and two cats.
Margaret Wilson
Margaret has had a career in law, university teaching and research and public service.
She was raised in Morrinsville before attending the University of Auckland, graduating with a LLB (Hons) and a MJur (1st), and has received an Honorary Doctorate from University of Waikato.
As a strong advocate for the Waikato and a specialist in public policy, Margaret has held a range of significant local roles, including being the first Dean of Te Piringa Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato, a Deputy Commissioner at the former DHB, and Chair of the former Waikato Plan Committee.
Margaret was a Member of Parliament between 1999 and 2008, during which time she held several Ministerial positions, including Attorney General, as well as the Speaker of Parliament. She also has been a Director of the Reserve Bank and a Law Commissioner.
Margaret lives in Hamilton with her cat, Madam, and her sisters and is great aunt to six nieces and nephews.
Our TEAM
Andrea Jones
Endowment Manager
What a privilege to work for an organisation that enables so much goodness and kindness, thanks to the generosity of donors from around the mighty Waikato.
I have lived in Hamilton since my early teens and watched the city grow and get better with age. The picturesque parks, lakes and river running through the city makes it a great place to live.
I enjoy connecting with people and have previously worked for philanthropic and community organisations, and I am very proud to be part of the Momentum team.
David Christiansen
Executive Officer
As a proud third-generation resident of the Waikato, it’s a real privilege to be leading an amazing group of people dedicated to delivering real, impactful benefit for this region and its communities.
I was born and educated in Hamilton and have lived my whole life here or nearby – from Ngaaruawaahia to Tamahere to Cambridge and back to Hamilton. I have paddled the mighty awa, climbed most of the major maunga and holidayed at the beaches on both coasts – the Waikato really is my home.
After a long career in education at both The University of Waikato and Wintec-Te Pūkenga, I am delighted to now be part of ‘Team Momentum’, as we connect, enable and partner with generous and committed locals across the region.
Together, let’s make the Waikato an even better place to live, work and play, for generations to come.
Janice Lapwood
General Manager: Endowments
The Waikato Region is my heart and soul having grown up in the regions and settling on the outskirts of the city. I am passionate about building a culture of philanthropy and have always been encouraging of our family members to give back to the communities that have served us well. I see my role at the Momentum Foundation as the perfect complement to these values and are excited to be working for such a forward-thinking organisation.
Mark Servian
Communications and Marketing Manager
Hamilton is a great 'little big city' that is culturally defined by its creative tension between provincialism and cosmopolitanism, long may we not resolve it! The Waikato keeps us honest, not being in Auckland makes us happy and the jealous hassling we get from the rest of New Zealand continues to be 'water off a duck's back'. Momentum Waikato is just what is needed to move this town to the next level, a place that can take on the world, but you can still know everybody.
Ruwani Perera
Finance Manager
It is indeed an honour to join Momentum Waikato in the capacity of Finance Manager cover.
Having lived in Cambridge for the last seven years, I’ve experienced the benefits of many charities that serve our community.
My career has mainly focused on accounting positions in the commercial sector and this is my first experience of gaining a perspective into the internal mechanisms of a charitable trust. I look forward to contributing positively to Momentum Waikato.
Board appointments panel
The purpose of the Board Appointments Panel is to establish the Trust Board’s composition by evaluating the competencies required of prospective trustees (both non-executive and executive), identifying those prospective trustees, establishing their degree of independence and developing succession plans for the Trust Board.
Membership of the Appointments Panel is made up of:
The Chairperson or nominee of the WEL Energy Trust
The Chairperson or nominee of the Board of Momentum Waikato
One representative appointed by the Appointments Panel in consultation with the mayors of Hamilton City, Waikato District and Waipa District Councils
One representative appointed by Waikato Tainui
The Chairperson or nominee of the Institute of Directors, Waikato Branch
Three independent members appointed by the Appointments Panel taking into account the skills, knowledge and experience required for the Appointments Panel to function in a balanced and effective manner.