Our People

All of our people are committed to serving the community and to maximising the return on our assets, and in turn, community giving.

Meet our trustees, independent directors, and chief executive officer.

Kate Jackson
Chief Executive Officer

  • Joined Mount Wellington Licensing Trust in 2019 as GM Finance & IT and in late 2022 was appointed Interim CEO.

    Kate has a broad range of skills and experience in finance, technology, and change implementation. Earlier in her career, Kate worked in an accounting capacity across a range of sporting and cultural events in England and New Zealand.

    Her qualifications are a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Chartered Management Accountant from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

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Troy Elliott
President

  • Is a resident of Mt Wellington where he lives with his family. With a strong passion for community service, Troy has been a dedicated volunteer for local associations. He is an experienced entrepreneur with a successful track record of owning and leading award-winning businesses in the telecommunication and fitness industries. He has expertise in financial management and governance in local government and business, having served on a number of boards including as deputy chair of Orakei Local Board. Troy is the current CEO of I am Hope and Gumboot Friday. He is committed to ensuring that funds distributed by the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust benefit the local community. Troy is an appointed board member of Mount Wellington Trust Hotels and is a Trustee of Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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Tanner Vili
Trustee

  • Spent his early years in Glen Innes and Panmure and calls himself a passionate Eastsider. A former professional rugby and rugby sevens player, Tanner represented Manu Samoa at two Rugby World Cups and Rugby Sevens World Cup. He currently works as a Housing Support Manager for Kāinga Ora. This is Tanner’s first year on the Trust; he says it is great to be able to contribute to his community in a bigger way. Tanner is an appointed board member of Mount Wellington Licensing Trust’s grants committee and is a Trustee of Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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Nerissa Henry
Trustee

  • Is a dedicated and experienced community leader, currently serving her third term as an elected member of the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust. With more than 15 years of service to her community, Nerissa has held a range of positions, from grassroots roles to elected and appointed positions on boards. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her current position, including diverse skills in governance, community engagement, and strategic planning. As a Trustee, she has served in various capacities, including as Mount Wellington Licensing Trust President for 18 months, and she is passionate about making the best decisions for the future of her community. Nerissa is also in her third term as an elected representative for Maungakiekie-Tamaki local board. She is an appointed board member of Mount Wellington Trust Hotels and is a Trustee of Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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Clinton Farley
Independent Director

  • Is a seasoned business leader with 25 years in Tourism and Hospitality, Clinton boasts a significant 14-year track record in directorial roles across Australasia, spanning health, arts, tourism, and association sectors. His diverse background encompasses personal company management, non-profit, local government CCO directorship, and various General Management roles within the hospitality industry across Australia and New Zealand.

    Dedicated to championing sustainable tourism practices, Clinton is a seasoned governance professional recognised for driving organisational excellence through effective leadership and strategic decision-making. He excels in developing and implementing governance frameworks to ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability. Clinton's strong communication skills and commitment to ethical and sustainable principles have left a lasting impact on governance and board effectiveness.

    Highly regarded in the tourism and hospitality industry, Clinton leverages his strategic vision, risk management proficiency, financial acumen, and legal and ethical awareness to identify growth opportunities and guide organisations toward success. His motivation centres on maximising business and organisational success through top-line growth and operational effectiveness.

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Tabetha Elliott
Trustee

  • Is a dedicated, experienced community leader living with her family in Mt Wellington. With a strong background in business and governance, Tabetha brings a pragmatic and effective approach to her role as a Trustee. She has spent more than 10 years running a family-business in the telecommunications industry and has served on a range of boards, including Manurewa Local Board, Girls Brigade NZ, and Te Karaka Trust. As a teacher at Stanhope School, she brings a wealth of experience working with youth in the community. As chair of Mount Wellington Licensing Trust’s grants committee, Tabetha is also dedicated to maximising community grants and delivering strong management of the Trust's funds to support the local community. Tabetha is also the Chair of Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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Michael Holloway
Independent Director

  • Is a property investment specialist with decades of the senior experience in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Most recently Michael was GM Property Investment at Kiwi Property. There, he was involved in transactions totalling $685 million, management of a $900 million office portfolio including the development of an $80 million office building at Sylvia Park, and developing the business case for Build to Rent investment.

    Michael is a Master of Science, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and a Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008). He is the former President of the Property Council of New Zealand’s Auckland Region, former Member of the MSCI Property Index Advisory Board and member of the Selwyn Foundation Property Committee.

    Michael is an elected Independent Director of Mount Wellington Trust Hotels.

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Michael Pepper
Trustee

  • Has lived and worked in the Mount Wellington community for most of his adult life, and for the past 15 years has been the owner of Wired Up Electricians, a small electrical contracting company. Michael loves his work as a trustee for Mount Wellington Licensing Trust and having a hand in creating positive change in the local community. Michael is married, with a son who goes to school locally. With his business he spends a lot of time out and about in the community, and recognises the importance of feeling part of the community and knowing what goes on and why. Michael is an appointed board member of Mount Wellington Licensing Trust’s grants committee and is a Trustee of Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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Tania Batucan
Vice President

  • Has worked in administration, sales management, and business development in IT, security, and finance for more than 18 years. Her current role is as owner/operator of Lunar Sol Bodywork based in Mt. Wellington, focusing on bodywork and mental health support. Building a stronger and safer environment for our families is one of Tania’s passions. She was instrumental in setting up the Mt Wellington Community Patrol and has been the Secretary and Treasurer since 2019. Tania has lived in Mt Wellington for 25 years. She is an appointed board member of Mount Wellington Trust Hotels, and is a Trustee of Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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Paula Savage
Independent Director

  • Is an experienced professional with extensive experience in finance, leadership, and governance roles across a range of sectors.

    As an independent director Paula holds governance roles with Ministry for the Environment – Manatu Mo Te Taiao, Northland Events Centre (2021) Trust – Te Pae Taurima o Te Tai Tokerau, Mahitahi Hauora, and Pāmu Farms of New Zealand. Previous roles include New Zealand Avocado, Ara Taiohi, Foundation North, New Zealand Rugby League and New Zealand Football.

    Paula brings a strong strategic focus and lateral thinking to her roles. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand. Paula and her husband own an avocado orchard in Northland.

    Paula is an Independent Director and Chair of Mount Wellington Trust Hotels Limited and Mount Wellington Charitable Trust.

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