Leigh Melville, Trust Board Chair

Leigh Melville was appointed to the St Cuthbert’s Board of Trustees in 2017 and became Chair in August 2022. Leigh ensures the Trust Board’s vision is aligned with the College’s mission statement ‘By Love Serve’ and works to support our Principal in keeping St Cuthbert’s at the forefront of education in New Zealand. As Chair, Leigh is an ex officio member of all Trust Board committees.

A former student of the College from 1984 to 1990, Leigh was Head Girl in her final year. Leigh’s mother and grandmother both attended the College and her father Ian, was a Trust Board member from 1984 to 2000. Leigh has served two terms on the Old Girls’ Committee, most recently as President during the College Centenary in 2013 to 2014.

Leigh is a Director of Art + Object, an art auction house in Auckland and is Chair of the New Zealand at Venice Biennale Patrons Trust. In 2013 Leigh formed the New Zealand at Venice Biennale Patrons Charitable Trust, which fundraises to support New Zealand’s participation at the Venice Biennale. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies from Auckland University of Technology. Her daughter, Frances, is a former student at St Cuthbert’s.

Angela Bull, Deputy Chair

Angela joined the Board in November 2022. A former student of the College from 1986 to 1992, Angela received a Making their Mark Award from the Old Girls Association in 2016.

Angela is the former Chief Executive of Tramco Group, a large New Zealand owned property investment company which specialises in large scale land holdings, notably the Viaduct Harbour precinct and Wairakei Estate in the central North Island. Angela is also an independent director of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, realestate.co.nz, Foodstuffs South Island Ltd, Foodstuffs New Zealand Ltd, Bayleys Realty Ltd and Vital Healthcare Property Trust. Prior to leading Tramco, Angela held a number of senior positions over a 10-year period with Foodstuffs, most recently being General Manager Property Development for Foodstuffs North Island.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and practised property and environmental law prior to her executive career. Angela is married to Stephen and their two sons attend St Kentigern Boys School.

Penelope Peebles

Penelope joined the Board in early 2022 and her two daughters are Old Girls of the College. A former student at the College from 1975-1985 Penelope is a Past President of the Old Girls’ Association and served six years on the Old Girls Committee.

A governance advisor and specialist in executive, she has over 25 years’ experience working with CEOs and Board regionally and internationally. Penelope holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing/Human Resources, a Master of Commerce (Hons) degree from Auckland University, a Post Graduate Diploma of Governance from Waikato University and has attended a post graduate programme in strategic change at Columbia University.

Scott Weenink

Scott joined the St Cuthbert’s Board of Trustees in November 2022. He has two daughters who are St Cuthbert’s Old Girls, with another two currently at the College.

Scott has a background as an M&A and corporate finance lawyer, and has broad governance and executive experience and he is currently Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Cricket. Scott is admitted to practise Law in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and has a Masters in Law from Oxford University. He is also a former first-class cricketer and representative rugby player for Wellington and also Oxford University, where he gained Oxford University Blues in both cricket and rugby.

Adarsh Patel

Adarsh joined the board in late 2022 and has two daughters, Suri who has recently graduated from St Cuthbert’s and Aamani who is in the Senior School.

From an early age, he developed a passion for property and finance and mapped his tertiary education and career towards this field. His career experiences include stints at KPMG, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. On returning from London in early 2000, he set up a property finance business together with his brother. With a Bachelor of Commerce and Law from Auckland University and a passion for property, the sector was a natural fit. Adarsh is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of ASAP Finance. Over the years he has acquired deep and extensive property finance and property development experience.

Outside of work, Adarsh enjoys cooking, fishing, going to the gym, architecture and planning family holidays.

Donald Reid

Donald has many years of commercial property experience in New Zealand and Australia. Donald is one of the founding directors and owners of the commercial property firm Murchison Group Limited, and the property funding company Funding Partners Limited. He has a broad knowledge covering many facets of property.

Nancy Zhang

Nancy Zhang is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in marketing, corporate training, and customer relationship management across various industry sectors, both locally and internationally. She has a deep passion for technology and its transformative impact on everyday life. Since 2002, Nancy has served as the General Manager of Advanced Computers, a leading IT company, where she has led successful collaborations with businesses in New Zealand and abroad, delivering comprehensive technology solutions. Her leadership has driven the development of nationally recognised brands and earned the company significant acclaim for business excellence.

In addition to her corporate achievements, Nancy has a broad governance background, spanning education, music, sports, and charitable organisations. She brings valuable expertise in fundraising, community engagement, and the promotion of cultural diversity. Since 2017, she has been an active member of the St Cuthbert’s Parents & Friends (P&F) committee. As Chair of the Asian Friendship Group, Nancy has played a crucial role in helping new parents integrate into the St Cuthbert’s community, fostering effective communication across cultural groups, and nurturing a vibrant, inclusive environment.

Nancy holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from Massey University and possesses extensive hands-on experience in both local and international contexts. A devoted mother of two, Nancy is proud of her children’s accomplishments: Donald, who is currently studying in Melbourne, and Jessie, a St Cuthbert’s alumna who graduated in 2023 and continues her athletic journey at an Ivy League university. In her personal time, Nancy enjoys art, yoga, photography, and spending quality time with her family.

Alana Barron

Alana has 20 years’ experience in international capital markets, working with corporates and investors across a range of equity markets, investment banking, wealth advisor and investor relations activities. Prior to her current role as Director of Private Wealth Clients at Alvarium, she spent eight years at Jarden, and before this she worked for Deutsche Bank in Sydney and Hong Kong. She has also been NZTE’s New York Trade Commissioner and helped build Investment NZ’s first offshore presence in North America. She enjoys building trusted relationships and partnerships across private and public sector channels to drive investment and business growth.

Alana has lived and worked in Asia and North America and Australia, returning to New Zealand with her family in 2015. Alana attended St Cuthbert’s from J1 to Form 7 and enjoyed making the most of the variety of academic and sports opportunities on offer. Her daughter Olivia attended the College for seven years from 2015-2021.

She holds Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degrees from the University of Otago. Alana is a Graduate of AICD and a Member of the Institute of Directors and of INFINZ. Outside her work, she is a willing mentor, and speaker to professional groups such as Young Women in Finance and to school and university groups about careers in financial markets. She enjoys being active outdoors, driving the kids to their current passions, and doing various sports or trips with friends.

Anna Cupples

Anna joined the Board in March 2025. Anna attended St Cuthbert’s College from 1991 to 1997 and has a long association with the school, being a 4th generation Old Girl and a descendant of the Bews sisters who started Mount Eden College (which later became St Cuthbert’s College).

After graduating from Auckland University with a BCom/Bsc (Hons) she started her 20+ year career in tech at Orion Health, moving through many different roles over 17 years – software engineer, professional services, team leadership, solution architecture and senior leadership. She then moved to Air New Zealand as Senior Manager of Software Development before her current role as Head of Engineering at Trade Me. Throughout her career she has championed many initiatives to encourage women and girls into tech and believes it is vital to set up St Cuthbert’s girls for success in this digital age.

Anna is married to Simon and their daughter Zara attends the school. Anna spent a number of years competing in triathlon and now enjoys playing golf with Simon.

Lisa Crooke

Lisa joined the Board in March 2025. She holds a Masters of Commerce in Accounting and Finance (First Class Honours) from Auckland University. As an assurance partner with PwC New Zealand with over 20 years’ experience, she has worked across a broad range of clients and sectors. Her focus is primarily working with clients in the financial services industry and listed companies. Prior to this, Lisa worked with PwC United Kingdom’s financial services practice based in London for 5 years. Lisa has significant experience in financial reporting and risk management across business cycles. She is also a Member of the Institute of Directors and Global Women.

In addition, Lisa has prior governance experience as a trustee with a charitable trust and as a trustee and Chair of a local Auckland primary school. Lisa is a mother of two older sons and a younger daughter who is enrolled in the Senior School starting in 2026.