Our Trustees
Don Harris - Chairperson
Don joined the Resthaven Foundation Board in 2021 and has held the role of Chairperson of the Friends of Resthaven Foundation since 2022, bringing a wealth of commercial experience and strong community connections to the role.
With farming in his blood, Don’s early career was centred around the agricultural industry. Later on, he held roles in the transport and tourism industries, before he and his wife Audrey set up Elite Building Compliance Ltd, a business they owned and operated for many years before retiring in 2023.
In addition to the Friends of Resthaven Foundation, Don is an active member in many areas of the Cambridge community. He is a Cambridge Rotary Club member, Past President and current Vice President of the Cambridge Bowling Club, and a member of Cambridge Men’s Rebus Club.
In his spare time there is never a dull moment. Don likes nothing better than being in the great outdoors, where you will find him fishing, gardening, playing outdoor bowls, catching up with his children and grandchildren, or taking a spin in his classic car.
Alan Wellington - Trustee
Alan relocated to Cambridge after spending around 10 years in voluntary work in Northland, including 3 years as a trustee of a Community Trust Board running a retirement village in the coastal town of Ngunguru.
This followed a successful business career in the finance industry and then as a business owner of a motor vehicle franchise business.
Alan is a trustee on the Cambridge Resthaven Trust Board and Friends of Resthaven Foundation Board. His motivation for these roles is being able to utilise his experience and skills to give back to a community organisation dedicated to helping others. He is also an active member of the Golf Club and a local service club.
Married with children and grandchildren in different parts of the country he finds Cambridge a very conveniently central and pleasant town to live in.
Dawn Mienie - Trustee
Dawn Mienie joined the Foundation in August 2020 and brings to the Board her extensive experience in the aged care sector, passion for caring for the elderly and commitment to getting things done.
People are at the heart of everything Dawn does. Dawn and her husband Doug opened Cambridge’s first fitness centre in 1983, and she has become a familiar face in the community through her many sporting and fitness connections.
Dawn has spent a large part of her career in the field of Diversional Therapy. She was involved in the development of the NZ Society of Diversional Therapy, sat on the panel for the development of unit standards and became a tutor and assessor for the National Certificate qualification.
Dawn’s compassion for older people saw her work for Alzheimers Waikato for 5 years and Cambridge Resthaven for 15 years. Recently retired from the role of Activities Coordinator at Cambridge Resthaven, Dawn brings her skills and positive energy to the Friends of Resthaven Foundation.
John Bishop - Trustee
Extremely community-minded, John has vast commercial and board experience spanning both profit and not for profit organisations, honed by a New Zealand and international corporate business career. His business acumen is an asset for the Foundation, and his sense of humour means there is never a dull moment at board meetings!
John was a Cambridge Councillor for the Waipa District Council, which included the role of Chair of the Waipa District Council Strategic Planning and Policy Committee. He has also held the position of Chair of the Cambridge Community Board, Cambridge Parks and Reserves, Light up Cambridge and Le Quesnoy Sister City Committees.
John has taken a special interest in the Foundation because of its absolute community focus and forward-thinking spirit. It comes as no surprise one of John's favourite pursuits is business governance and management, but when John can be dragged away from the board table, his other interests include farming, forestry, wetland trust, Rotary and equestrian activities.
Laurie Graham - Trustee
Laurie’s business background has spanned working in the Government meat inspection, food safety and biosecurity fields, through to owning and running livestock and kiwifruit farming businesses. He has experience as a Company Director and in the glazing industry.
Laurie has been a Trustee of the Foundation since 2022. He has a very hands-on approach to helping in the community and is generous with his time and energy to help community causes. It’s this same approach that he brings to the Friends of Resthaven Foundation, where he provides his practical know-how to projects. Laurie is also a member of Cambridge Rotary and a committee member of the Cambridge Historical Society.
Belinda Gelston - Trustee
Born in Ireland, immigrating to New Zealand at a young age, and growing up in a rural seaside environment in Northland with hard working, kind parents, gave Belinda a terrific platform to life.
Belinda has had an extensive career in the building industry, with 20 years developing systems and processes to successfully project manage residential builds, followed by 16 years working with developers to create a software company, Rave Build Management, for the building industry. With Rave operating successfully, Belinda stepped away from the company to pursue more projects of the heart. She is a Trustee for the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust, a board member for Destination Cambridge and the Irish Business Network New Zealand and joined the Foundation Board in 2021.
When spare time allows, Belinda enjoys entertaining, skiing, horses, cooking (and eating!), travel, gardening, and yoga.
Beverley Rogers - Trustee
Beverley’s commitment to community service over the years has extended across a wide spectrum having served on and chaired a number of management committees and charitable trusts both in the wider Auckland region and in Cambridge. These include chairing the Auckland Choral Management Committee and Birkenhead Community Arts Council as well as being a trustee on the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust and the Auckland Choral Foundation. Beverley is a Rotarian and has been President and Secretary of the Rotary Club of Cambridge and been involved in organising a number of their major fundraising projects. Currently she is a Director on the Board. She has a long history in local government in Auckland where her employment was in management and co-ordination in the areas of democracy services and civic events, including assisting with the organisation of the Rugby World Cup 2011, FIFA Under-19 World Cup and FIFA Under-21 World Cup.
She aims to bring value to the Friends of Resthaven Foundation as a trustee with her significant experience in governance as well as her former profession in event management. Beverley is committed to contributing to the aims and activities of the Foundation for the benefit of Resthaven and its residents.
A resident of Cambridge since 2016, Beverley is both an employee and volunteer at the Cambridge i-site. She enjoys being out and about in the community, travelling, pursuing her love of music and spending time with her family.
Nigel Salter - Trustee
Nigel is an accountant by profession, having a strong background in public accounting, but having also worked in the mining, forestry, and sugar industries. He was a principal in a Cairns accounting practice for a number of years, and then served as Company Secretary of a public company until his retirement.
Nigel has a passion for people and a strong record of community involvement, including Chairman of the Board of Trinity Anglican School in Cairns, and board member of the Cairns branch of the Leukaemia Foundation, the Cairns and District Rugby Union, the Tully Community Nursing Home and Djarragun Indigenous College.
Since settling in Cambridge with wife Christine in 2019, he has enjoyed board roles in a variety of community organisations including Cambridge Men’s Rebus Club, Cambridge Bowling Club, Cambridge Historical Society, Abbeyfield Waikato Inc, and is an incoming member of the Cambridge Rotary Board.
Nigel likes nothing better than spending time with the grandkids, heading out on a bike ride, or enjoying a game and some friendly banter at the bowling club.
David Hall - Cambridge Resthaven Liaison
David is the CEO of Cambridge Resthaven, having been appointed to this position in 2001. Cambridge Resthaven provides care centre, continuing and dementia care and runs a retirement village comprising both independent living units and serviced apartments.
Prior to this David was employed at Waikato Hospital for over fourteen years in a variety of clinical and management roles. Clinical experience included four years as the Charge Nurse of the Cardiothoracic Unit. Following this he moved into business analyst and operational management roles within the hospital. He then completed a short period as a regional manager in intellectual disability sector before joining the team at Resthaven.
David holds a Master of Health Management Degree from Auckland University, a Post Graduate Diploma of Management from Waikato University as well as a Comprehensive Nursing Diploma.
David is married to Rachel, with whom he has three children.