Our Team

Ben is the current Presiding Member (Board Chair) at Taumata School and is serving his second term on the Board. He and his wife Cushla have two boys, Leo and Max, who both love being part of the Taumata whānau.

Ben works at Zespri as Head of Grower Commercial Services and is passionate about helping ensure Taumata continues to be a well-resourced, future-focused school where our learners, staff and community can flourish.

He is proud of how Taumata has grown into such a positive and connected learning environment and enjoys being part of a Board that supports the school’s vision and values. Outside of work, you’ll often find him on the sports sidelines cheering on his boys.

Andrew brings extensive experience in understanding legislation and policy stemming from a career in the NZ Police where he is currently a frontline Sergeant, and is proud to serve on the Taumata School Board for a third term. Andrew believes in strong governance ensuring there is transparency and accountability where required.

He is acutely aware of the importance of a strong vision, clear communication, and community collaboration to achieve school goals. He is passionate about ensuring Taumata School continues to be a well-resourced environment where children are happy, thriving, and Empowered to Learn, Empowered for Life. In addition to the children’s wellbeing, he also places importance on staff and whanau welfare.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys spending time with family and friends, and can often be found out on/in the water, watching motorsport or playing backyard games while enjoying a bbq and beverage.

Gareth brings extensive experience in the accounting environment, having worked as an accountant for the last 15 years, and is proud to serve on the Taumata School Board on this his third term. Gareth believes in the importance of a strong vision, clear communication, and community collaboration to achieve school goals.

In addition to his governance role, Gareth is actively involved in supporting school initiatives and contributing to a positive, inclusive culture. He is passionate about ensuring Taumata School continues to be a well-resourced environment where children are happy, thriving, and Empowered to Learn, Empowered for Life.

Outside of work, Gareth enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys reading, the odd bit of computer gaming, and can often be found in the kitchen trying out a new recipe and making the occasional cocktail.

Lauren brings a wealth of expertise in law and human resources and is proud to serve on the Taumata School Board. She deeply values strong governance and passionately believes that parents are essential partners in their children’s education, with the school acting as an extension of home.

Holding Law and Commerce degrees from Otago University, Lauren spent several years in Auckland practicing as an employment and litigation lawyer at leading commercial firms. She then transitioned into people-focused leadership positions across a variety of industries, gaining a diverse set of skills that have proven invaluable during her three years as a Taumata Board member.

Beyond her governance responsibilities, Lauren is always eager to support the school community; actively participating in school activities and initiatives and helping foster an inclusive, positive culture. She thrives on building connections with staff, students, and parents, and is deeply committed to ensuring Taumata remains a safe, well-resourced, and nurturing environment where children flourish and embody the school’s values.

Outside of her professional life Lauren cherishes time spent with family and friends and can often be found at a gym class or in the pool with her husband and three daughters.

My name is Mark McIlroy. Outside of being a Board of Trustees member, I’m actively involved with the Tauranga Sports Rugby Club, coaching and serving on both the Senior and Junior committees, while also keeping fit through running and group fitness — including coaching a 5am class each Wednesday and training for the 2026 Coast to Coast, with the goal of completing it solo in 2027.

I own and operate my own Freight Management business, where skills in problem-solving and conflict resolution support my work on the Board. I take pride in a “just get it done” attitude, maintaining high standards and using my networks across New Zealand and Australia to benefit the school and its community.

Arlenna brings extensive experience in teaching, coaching, and research-informed practice to her role as the staff representative on the Taumata School Board. A foundation staff member since Taumata opened, she currently works as the Phase 1 Pedagogical Coach, supporting kaiako to use inclusive, approaches grounded in the science of learning.

She is passionate about ensuring all tamariki have the best possible experience at school – one that supports them to thrive socially, academically, and emotionally. Arlenna believes in the importance of a strong vision, clear communication, and genuine collaboration with whānau and the wider community so that governance decisions keep learners at the centre and align with our motto: Empowered to Learn, Empowered for Life.

Outside of school, Arlenna enjoys spending time with her whānau, rowing surf boats and is a lifeguard at Omanu Surf Club.