Trustees

Eric Pilling – Chair

Eric lives in Palm Beach and is passionate about supporting and contributing to the Waiheke community. He has had a distinguished corporate career and is now focused on Waiheke community initiatives alongside NZ youth development, in his work with the New Zealand Sailing Trust

eric.pilling@electricisland.co.nz

Max Parkin

Max brings vast experience and a life-long involvement with the dairy industry. A former CEO of Southland Dairy Cooperative and General Manager of Kiwi Dairy Products. Max was also the Group General Manager Manufacturing and Milk Supply for Fonterra. With numerous directorships including Hubbard Foods, Taura Ingredients Ltd, Combined Technologies, and New Image Group, Max was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science in 2010.

max.parkin@electricisland.co.nz

Roger Hunter

Roger grew up in Tutukaka and Whangarei, spent 10 years in Australia where he earned a PhD in Mathematics, and taught at the University of Sydney. From there, he and his wife Sally moved to New Mexico where he continued research and teaching as a professor. He co-founded a scientific software company and was CEO and head of research and development. He eventually sold the company to Thomson Reuters and went on to found several quantitative funds. His current work is mostly in machine learning. Sally and Roger purchased their home in Matapana Road in 2006 and are making it their permanent home. Roger has a deep interest in electric vehicles, batteries, solar power and all technologies directed towards a carbon free future.

roger.hunter@electricisland.co.nz

Betsy Whitehead

Betsy Whitehead is a direct descendant of one of the original settler families on Waiheke. Her grandparents and mother were born on the Island and when Betsy’s much-loved grandson Dominic was born he completed six generations of the Day family to have lived on Waiheke. Betsy came to the island to live here permanently with husband Vern in 1992, settling in Palm Beach and commuting each day to the city to work. She was one of the original members of FUG (Ferry Users’ Group) and with Vern was one of the founders of the annual Waiheke Homecare Hospice garden party which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Hospice over a period of ten years. She shares Vern’s interest in many island causes. Betsy believes that we must act today to mitigate the effects of climate change on our planet by moving to an all electric future on Waiheke as soon as we can.

betsy.whitehead@electricisland.co.nz

Vern Whitehead - Founder

Vern has lived on Waiheke for almost 30 years and is the publisher/director of Auto Media Group which produces the authoritative electric vehicle magazine/website EVs and Beyond for New Zealand and Australia. Vern is a former long-term president and life member of the Waiheke Island Rugby Club and and for 10 years raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Waiheke Homecare Hospice as a leader of the annual Hospice Garden Party team.

Vern.Whitehead@electricisland.co.nz

Electric Island Waiheke Trust is legally registered as a charitable organisation. It includes the following trustees as members of the board which provides governance and policy for the Action (Management) Group.