Earthquake Trust Advisory Board members announced

Members of the Advisory Board to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust have been appointed by the trustees.

The Trust is to provide charitable relief to the Christchurch and Canterbury community from the effects of the recent earthquakes and aftershocks. It will distribute money from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, established by the government. All money raised goes to Canterbury.

The trust has established the advisory board to ensure its decision-making is informed by the community’s perspective.

Jane Huria, David Close, Ros Burdon, Justin Murray, Tane Norton and Pamela Richardson have been appointed to the advisory board. Other members may be appointed later.

The advisory board members will not advocate for a particular interest group or take responsibility for a particular category of distribution. Rather, they have been chosen as respected Christchurch and Canterbury people who together have experience, interests and knowledge that will help the trustees.

Advisory Board members will not be paid, but reasonable expenses will be met by the government.

Attached: Board Members’ biographies (below)

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Advisory Board members: Brief Biographies

Jane Huria
Jane is a member of the Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal Commission, is a patron of the University of Canterbury Foundation, a supporter of the Christchurch Arts Festival and is a Board member of the Court Theatre.

Jane has broad-based commercial experience including law, insurance, market research and the financial markets. She has directorships in the electricity, technology, business development, education, insurance, property development, agribusiness, seafood marketing, and sport and recreation sectors. These have resulted in many years of governance and organisation development experience. Jane is Ngai Tahu and affiliates to Ngai Tuahuriri.

David Close
David Close, an eastern-suburbs resident was a member of the Christchurch City Council from 1977 to 2001. To acknowledge his contribution as a Councillor, the Council established the Christchurch City David Close Awards, to attract students who face challenges which would otherwise prevent them from considering entry to tertiary education. He is a former staff member of Christchurch Boys’ High School. He is also a trustee of the Hamlin Trust NZ, which supports an ongoing project to assist women in Ethiopia who suffer from horrific birth injuries.

Ros Burdon
Ros Burdon is a benefactor and patron of the arts and recognised as one of Christchurch’s most influential figures in the arts world. One of her main appointments is as chairwoman of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, a national private trust that supports art forms. She was a key mover for the establishment of the Christchurch Arts Festival and prominent in raising funds for the new Christchurch Art Gallery.

Justin Murray
Justin Murray has experience in law, banking and corporate finance. He was Vice President of Bankers Trust in London and Managing Director Principal of Bear Stearns International in London. On returning to New Zealand in 2004, he founded Murray & Company, a financial services firm involved in investment banking, wealth management and principal investment. Justin is an accredited NZX Adviser and is a member of the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc.

Justin is also a Fellow of the Board of Governors of Christ's College and is on the Board of Trustees of the Christchurch Symphony Foundation.

Tane Norton
Rangitane Will "Tane" Norton (born in Waikari, Canterbury) is a former All Black captain. In 1977 he captained the All Blacks to a series win over the British Lions. After retiring from playing he remained actively involved as a coach and administrator with the Linwood club in Christchurch. He was elected as New Zealand Rugby Union Vice President in 2001 and subsequently President in 2003. He is a Board Member of the Charitable Trust for Critical Rugby Injuries.

In 2006, Norton was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the annual New Zealand Honours List.

Pamela Richardson
Pamela Richardson, of Akaroa, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and the community. She played an important role in the former Banks Peninsula District Council’s Task Force for 10 years, co-ordinating rural landowners’ responses to the district plan. She also helped establish the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, which encourages rural landowners to protect areas of biodiversity. She was a former President of the North Canterbury Federated Farmers and is the convenor of its Banks Peninsula branch. She was involved with the Canterbury Community Trust for many years, has been a trustee of the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust, and is an Akaroa-Wairewa Community Board member.