Meet The Board

YMCA Nelson is governed by our trustees who bring with them a diverse range of skills and experience. The role of the Board, to ensure and support the YMCA Nelson towards achieving its vision and mission. The Board is also responsible for the development of strategic directions and goals and the provision of leadership in achieving these.

Lindsay McKenzie

Chairperson
Lindsay Joined the YMCA in Invercargill, first as a gym member, before being appointed to the local board, and then elected President. He later served on the YMCA National Board, including a stint as President. A move to Nelson for work saw him reconnect with the YMCA. When he retired from his CEO role at Tasman District Council, he took on the YMCA Nelson presidency. Service back to the community is his primary motivator. He has been a Y Member for the past 25 years. Outside of the Y, Lindsay serves on two commercial company boards and is contracted to two city councils providing governance support and advice. He is also an accredited Justice of the Peace.

Trudie Brand

Director
Having worked within local communities for over 30 years, Trudie endorsed the YMCA's vision and values and felt that she brings sound knowledge and experience of Board governance. Trudie has formal qualifications in the Business, Health and Social Services. She strives to support our young people being supported and mentored to reach their full potential.

Helen McEwan

Director
Helen has been involved in the YMCA for about 20 years and has found it to be enlightening, fascinating and exasperating. She has been on the Nelson Board as treasurer for 20 years, on the National Board for 10 years and on the World Alliance Executive Committee for 12 years. Over that time, Helen has become familiar with the complexity, the frustrations and the dynamics of the YMCA. We are all bound by a common ethos, we are all working with young people, we are all part of the same global organisation but we are also all very different. Helen’s background is in accounting hence treasurer positions, and she has worked in that environment for 35 years. Helen currently run’s her own practice in Nelson but has worked for both large and small firms from Alexandra to the Cayman Islands. Helen has two sons, a young architect and a young design engineer. She is a strong believer in outdoor pursuits and is a keen skier, tramper and trail runner.

Joe Kennedy

Director
Joe was appointed to the YMCA Nelson Board in 2010 having previously served as the Education Manager, Operations Manager and Executive Director for YMCA Nelson. Joe has a military and policing background and has fulfilled an array of management and leadership roles in a civilian context in both urban and outdoor environments. Joe contributes to several voluntary and not-for-profit organisations including a stint on the YMCA New Zealand Board in 2013/2014.

Greta Melvin

Director
YMCA Nelson is Greta’s first board appointment and she is looking forward to this new challenge and opportunity to gain governance experience. Greta graduated from Otago University with a double degree in Law and English. Greta is employed by local law firm Fletcher Vautier Moore and practices in the areas of family law and trusts. Greta’s legal knowledge and experience working with parents navigating difficult issues provides a valuable perspective to our board. Originally from Southland, Greta’s connection with the YMCA is through the holiday programmes and activities she took part in at the Invercargill Centre. Greta understands the importance of investing in our tamariki and is grateful to sit on a board where this is a priority.

Cynthia Greep

Director
Cynthia is based in Nelson Tasman and works nationwide as an employment relations and HR practitioner specialising in dispute resolution. Her business Work Depot offers professional supervision for HR professionals. She is an Aotearoa NZ trained mediator (AAMINZ) working across a range of forums including employment. Cynthia has experience in training and supporting Boards to be true strategic operators as well as ensuring Boards and organisations are authentically diverse and inclusive. Cynthia is a Trustee of the Nelson Arts Festival Trust Board.

Sean Trengrove

Executive Director
After a number of years on the board Sean took up an operational role as the executive director in early 2023. Sean grew up in Nelson & returned to live here in 2000 after a career in the army. Married with four daughters, all now working. The general manager of Raine Group, the home of Oaklands Milk. He has contributed to the community by being a member of the YMCA Nelson board for the last decade & member of the Board of Trustees for Nelson College for Girls, participating in a range of other community activities including continuing to assist the Chamber of Commerce with their leadership development programme, as well as remaining a senior member of the Army Reserve. Sean enjoys mountain biking and looks forward to a good season of sea swims in the coming summer.

Our YMCA is built on a strong vision our core values of:

Responsibility
Respect
Caring
Honesty
Contact Us
YMCA Nelson 156 Toi Toi Street Victory Square Nelson 7010
03 545 6760
Y Kids Early Childcare Centre & Y OSCAR 183 Saint Vincent Street Nelson 7010
ykids@ymcanelson.org.nz oscar@ymcanelson.org.nz
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