Meet our team

Simon Cayley

Chief Executive Officer

Simon has extensive experience in community development, capacity building, social research, governance and management. Simon has an MPhil with a research thesis that examined governance in voluntary and community organisations and contributed a suggested framework of governance for the sector. He has completed Post-Graduate Diplomas in Development Studies and Public Health and is an accredited business mentor with Business Mentors New Zealand and Community Mentors New Zealand. Simon is a coach of junior football.

Andrew Brock

Manager Projects & Innovation

Andrew has experience in senior management and governance roles within the health, sport and community sectors, and additional experience in education.  He has extensive knowledge of community development and sustainability with a particular focus on the wider determinants of wellbeing.  Andrew has Diplomas in Strategic Leadership and Teaching, a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.  He is Chair of the New Plymouth Injury Safe Trust and a board member of the Mentoring Foundation of NZ, Mahia Mai a Whai Tara, and the Taranaki Curious Minds allocations committee. He is also a Mentor with the Mentoring Foundation of NZ.

Corryn Pryce-Baxter

Programme Development Manager

Corryn has extensive experience in facilitation over a range of different areas including the Justice sector. Her focus has been primarily on a holistic approach to well-being and self-determination. Corryn holds degrees in International Development, Gender and Colonisation and Anthropology as well as further education in these fields. Alongside programme design and delivery, Corryn has a passion for Rongoa Maori in all its capabilities of healing, with a focus on people sustaining and creating their own futures, with their own voices; Rangatiratanga, Self-Determination in the making. Corryn has lived in, or around Taranaki for the past 12 years originating from Wales and is passionate about bringing communities together to thrive.

Ngaire Potter

Accounts Officer

Ngaire has extensive experience in accounts processing having previously held roles with Wells Instrument & Electrical and Tainui Resthome & Village. As well as providing an accounting service for The Bishop’s Action Foundation, Ngaire also manages the accounts for over thirty Anglican Parishes within the Diocese of Waikato & Taranaki Parish Accounting Service.

Alex McNab

Community Connector

Alex is a local Taranaki girl, born and raised in New Plymouth. She attended high school at New Plymouth Girls’ High School but has spent the last three and a half years in Wellington completing her studies/working.  She has recently graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion.

Her studies focused on enabling people and communities to gain control over their health through a holistic lens so Alex is a great fit for our Community Connector role which supports the welfare needs of individuals and whānau to keep safe while isolating at home / in the community.  Community Connectors navigate and connect individuals and whānau to various services available during and transition from self-isolation.

Marcia Millard

Manager The Wheelhouse

The Bishop’s Action Foundation is hosting the Manager of The Wheelhouse on behalf of the nine collaborative partners involved. Marcia has worked within community development for over 25 years both here in Taranaki, and her former home county of Yorkshire in the UK. Marcia has a passion for supporting the long term sustainability of the voluntary and community sector and the development of community leaders.  She is also the program Coordinator for the Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand’s Taranaki Community Leaders Mentoring Programme. Marcia has held board roles on numerous community organisations and is currently an elected member of the COGS South Taranaki Local Distribution Committee, member of the Funding Distribution Committee for the Taranaki Foundation, and a committee member of the Tarata Community Hall.

Sarah Shepherd

Accounts Officer & Wheelhouse Administrator

Sarah is an experienced accounts administrator having worked with several small businesses as an Account and Office Manager. In her previous roles she also provided administration support to different community groups. Sarah has a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation with a Double Major of Sport and Exercise Science and Management. She takes pride in enabling outcomes through her extensive administrative skills.

Trudy Smith

ICT Gateway Technican

Before joining the ICT Gateway in 2019, Trudy completed her Bachelor of Information Technology at Waikato Polytechnic and worked for the Waipa District Council as an Informix Database Administrator.   Moving to Australia for 20 years, she worked for the Nurses Board of Western Australia as their Computer Supervisor and started a family before returning to New Zealand to be closer to extended family.

Judy Wood

Seasons for Growth Coordinator (North Taranaki)

Judy has been a Seasons and Seasons for Growth coordinator since April 2008 and the Taranaki SfG Trainer since 2016.   Judy’s other experience includes high school teaching, governance church and community work.  More recently she has acquired four grandchildren and loves to be with them. She is actively involved at West Baptist Church, sings with Taranaki Harmony Chorus and Living Harmony Choir and loves  running, cycling, swimming, gardening, walking, writing and reading.  

Tania Hanlon

Seasons for Growth Coordinator (Central Taranaki)

Tania joined the Bishop’s Action Foundation team having previously completed a student placement with us in 2015 as part of her studies to complete a Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences. Tania is passionate about working with children and families and brings extensive experience of working to support children.  She is also a mother of three.

Carolyn Phelan

Assistance Administrator to the Archbishop of the New Zealand Dioceses

Carolyn has extensive experience in Office/Co-ordination roles, she has worked overseas as an International Student Co-ordinator returning home and working for WITT in a similar role.  She moved into the oil and gas industry working for ENSCO International looking after their expatriate crew.  She has worked for Transfield Services/Broadspectrum in administration and finance and Worley as a Project Administrator.  Carolyn enjoys cake decorating, getting out in the garden and spending time with her two cats and partner.