Here for the Community

Rachel is a self-employed businesswoman, an independent Director and Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors NZ.  She brings more than 20 years of extensive governance leadership experience from the business and Not-for-Profit/Community sectors: social housing, mental health, education, and the wellbeing of women and children.

With husband Aleki, they live an active life with their four young sons in Hamilton East.  She enjoys playing golf, cycling (socially) and family walks along the river.

Rachel feels blessed to be serving on the WEL Energy Trust Board.

‍

Natasha is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors with close to 20 years of commercial experience and over ten years of experience working in board roles across the Not For Profit sector.

With her husband James and two sons, Natasha enjoys spending busy weekends on the sidelines of a sports field, and spending time with family and friends.  She enjoys reading, running and pottering around the kitchen in her spare time.

Natasha is honoured to have the opportunity to support and contribute to the community through being part of the WEL Energy Trust.

‍

Jan is a proud Hamiltonian, and together with her husband John, has raised two children in the mighty Waikato.  She has predominantly worked in the Health sector, but has also spent time as a real estate agent where she built strong connections with people across the community.

Jan is currently employed by the NZ Blood Service where she advocates for this essential health provision.

In her spare time, she enjoys watching sport, supporting local theatre and spending time with her two growing granddaughters.

Jan is honoured to be serving the people of the region as a WEL Energy Trust member.

‍

Matt is a born and bred Hamiltonian who lives locally with his wife and two young sons.

He is a Director of Silverton Alexander (Registered Property Valuers) where he specialises in the valuation of commercial and industrial properties.  He was previously the Secretary, and then Chairman, of the Waikato Branch of the Property Institute of New Zealand and is currently on the Board of Trustees for Matangi Primary School.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys a wide range of sports (particularly golf), travelling and socialising with friends and family.

‍

Mike lives in Hamilton with his wife Jenny. Together they have three children and five grandchildren, with more on the way.

‍
He is a local businessman with over 40 years of Engineering and Business experience, having successfully built and operated his Engineering business here in Hamilton since 1984.

‍
He is a long-time supporter and life member of Hamilton Old Boys Rugby and Sports club where you will find him volunteering his time on many occasions.

‍
He is a practical thinker and problem solver and has learned to be innovative with an eye for detail.

‍
Mike is currently serving his third term on the WEL Energy Trust, previously as Trust Chair and currently Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, and he enjoys the opportunity to serve his community.

‍

Alan Chew’s commitment to community is not abstract. Born into poverty in Malaysia, he understands inequality not as theory, but as lived experience.

In 1986 he founded Houston Technology Group, which has grown into Waikato’s longest-established technology company.  Together with eight earlier years as a Senior Accountant and Company Secretary, Alan has more than four decades of experience navigating economic cycles and technological change.

Alan holds a BMS(Hons) and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and the Chartered Governance Institute NZ.  His philanthropic governance work began in 2012 with Trust Waikato. E lected to WEL Energy Trust in 2020 and re-elected in 2023 as the highest polling candidate, he brings deep commercial and governance insight to the Trust’s role in relation to WEL Networks Ltd.

‍