Our People - Introducing the BOT

Our People

Introducing the Board of Trustees

Our School Board is comprised of dedicated professional people from all walks of life and connections to the School - with one common purpose.

The careful stewardship of the School’s Purpose, Vision and Values and the strategic framework that guides the growth and development of Ōtūmoetai College in the present and into the future.

Name: Russ Browne

About: I am the current board chair of the Otumoetai College Board of Trustees and a trustee of the Otumoetai Education Trust Fund. My wife and I reside in Matua, and our two children have been educated at Otumoetai College. I am the Managing Partner in a local accounting firm, Manning Warner Browne and am committed to good governance as a member of the Institute of Directors, and a director and chairman in several private businesses.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Management Studies, Chartered Accountant

Name: Gavin Frost

About: I have lived in Tauranga for the last 25 years and am married to Carolyn. I have three children who have all attended Otumoetai College with two now in further study. I managed football at the college for 6 years and I am a life member of the Otumoetai Football Club. I have served on the BOP Polytechnic Council, and manage Beca’s BOP office with a professional services team of 280 and am involved with a number of organisations that help young people with their career choices. I enjoy football (while my knees still hold out), sailing, scuba diving, motorcycling and working on my life sentence block.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)

Name: Matthew King

About: I’ve been practising as a lawyer for over 20 years in Wellington, London and, for the last 12 years, Tauranga. My wife Adele is an OTC alumnus, my oldest child is in year 11, and my youngest will start at OTC next year. This is my first term as an OTC Board member, but I was Board Chair of Bellevue School before that. As a lifelong tennis enthusiast, I belong to the Otumoetai Tennis Club and I help oversee its junior tennis programme. I am an avid sports watcher and have to confess to the odd bout of binge-watching on Netflix.

Name: Bryce Lawrence

About: I became a BOT member in 2019 because I wanted to contribute to my community and I have a passion for people and education. I am an ex primary school teacher/ principal, an ex professional rugby referee and my current role is National Referee manager for NZ Rugby. My wife Clare teaches at Bellevue and both our daughters have been through Pillans Point, Otumoetai Intermediate and Otumoetai College. I believe NZ has a world class education system and great teachers and school leaders. My role as a BOT member is to assist staff to “make a difference” – a difference for every pupil, a difference for every family/whanau and a difference for our community. I am a proud “Oats Old Boy” with very fond memories of my school life and I am motivated to serve our school community.

Qualifications: Dip in Teaching, Bachelor of Education, Post Grad diploma in Human Resources

Name: Eloise Stephen

About: I have been at Otumoetai College for 17 years and have enjoyed every moment. I love being involved in many facets of the school and joined our Board of Trustees a few years ago as the elected staff representative. In my time on the board it has been a pleasure to be involved in and learn about school governance and to get to know members of our community who have the same positive attitude as I do when it comes to getting the best for our educational community. Name: Lisa Adams

About: I was born in Matamata but have lived in Tauranga since 1987. I grew up involved in a successful family business before leaving Matamata to follow a career in Tauranga. I returned three years ago to that family business to assist with running our Tauranga branch. I have been married to Andy for 19 years and we have 3 boys, 2 at Otumoetai College and 1 at Otumoetai Intermediate. I have been on a primary school board for the past 7 years with a keen interest in finance, employment, international students, health and safety and the achivement of students. I’m very passionate about everything I’m involved in and genuinely care a lot about our school and community in general.