Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough

Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough’s mission is to deliver programmes that are proven to bring positive changes to the lives of young people at the top of the south.

Presently we have five transformational programmes in Marlborough:

• Kiwi Can: our energy-packed, primary school programme, teaching positive relationships, values of respect, integrity and resilience, and developing the soft skills needed for our communities and workplaces of the future.
• Stars: which pairs incoming Year 9 students at Marlborough Girls’ College with senior students, via a proven peer mentoring programme (which includes an adventure camp and a community project). Stars offer proactive measures to support enhanced resilience, mental health and wellbeing of students. 
• Career Navigator: our unique mentoring programme helping our secondary school students find appropriate career pathways, and developing strong connections between our young people and industries.

Today’s fast-paced technological change impacts on many levels within society; from education to employment, from communication to recreation. Our children need to learn skills and strategies to develop into resilient people who can cope and thrive amongst this ongoing evolution and disruption. They need to learn how to work together, understand other perspectives, collaborate for mutual success, and how to bounce back from setbacks.

Our programmes support the development of these skills and values, so our youth are able to overcome the challenges they will inevitably face in life. We want every Marlborough child to know what they have inside is greater than any obstacle.  

Our vision: “Thriving young people, strong community”

Staff

Kelvin Watt – Regional Manager

From a rural upbringing in the deep south to various undertakings around the globe, Kelvin was originally attracted to Marlborough through work at Outward Bound.  With a background in experiential education and personal development the step across to the Graeme Dingle Foundation in 2012 was a small one.

Kelvin’s an absolute ball of positive energy and to say he’s passionate about making a difference for the community and young people of Marlborough would be an understatement!

“I love talking with schools and whānau about the changes they see in their kids – I’m really proud to be part of the team bringing our programmes to over 50% of kids across Marlborough.”

Kelvin is also a key point of contact for all our sponsors, and with his infectious enthusiasm, it is no wonder we are privileged to have built up such a strong support base in Marlborough.

Kelvin enjoys adventures (with backpack, paddles or pedals) in the Marlborough outdoors – and nowadays these are usually shared with his 3 daughters, and wife, Irmi.

Tayla Hayes – Programmes Manager & Kiwi Can Coordinator

Tayla’s role, as Programmes Manager, has her involved across the five Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough programmes, supporting the coordinators and the foundation as a whole. With a focus on continuous improvement and quality control, Tayla’s also the kind of a person you can really count on to get things done!

“I love working for the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough – it’s not every job that makes it so obvious what a difference you made in the world each day. I love that my new role allows me to support the amazing team that we have here. I now get to help build and grow the programmes and the amazing people that run them. The connections I am building within the community across all programmes are amazing and I love getting to see the incredible work that our staff and supporters do with the tamariki and rangatahi of Marlborough.” 

Tayla’s background is as a marine and environmental scientist, so it is no wonder that she gravitates to the outdoors in her spare time – surfing, diving, mountain bike riding and travelling to see more of New Zealand.

Gemma Miller – Stars Coordinator

Gemma came to us at Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough (back in 2018) from an early childhood background, with experience in preschools and in-home care. As a mother herself she brings valuable life experience and a thoughtful maturity to her approach with our young people. “I came to work at Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough because I want to help kids reach their full potential. I also know what it’s like to be excluded and bullied as a kid, so if I can do something to stop that type of behaviour from happening, I want to do my bit”.

In 2021 Gemma began also working as Assistant Coordinator for our Stars Programme, working with our college-aged students. In 2022 she has stepped up into the Stars Coordinator role. “The most inspiring thing about Stars is getting to see the Year 9s develop confidence as the year progresses – because they know they have a support network in their Peer Mentors. The growth in the Peer Mentors is also incredible! By the end of the year, they can confidently stand up in front of classes and teachers, and deliver a lesson that they have developed themselves – this makes me immensely proud of them and all that they have accomplished.”

Gemma’s a keen sportsperson, playing netball, and skiing in the winter, and playing touch rugby and water sports in the summer. You might also be surprised to know she’s also an experienced scuba diving instructor – a woman of many talents!

Aimee Pickles – Career Navigator Coordinator

Aimee helps Marlborough students navigate their way through the countless career opportunities out there – to help them find a meaningful career pathway, through our Career Navigator programme.

Hailing from a small rural town down South called Duntroon, Aimee grew up spending a lot of time in the outdoors and being incredibly active. After college she completed a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education before going on to teach water-skiing at a summer camp in the USA, working on banana farms in Far North Queensland, and seeing the world. She lived in multiple cities in Australia where her personal training career progressed to gym management, eventually leading her to Blenheim to open her own group fitness gym here.

Aimee says: “Career Navigator is an exciting opportunity for me to work with our students and use my experience to bring out the best in them. It’s inspiring to be helping our young people gain the confidence to walk their own path – by learning the knowledge and skills needed in order to navigate the next stepping-stone in their life!”

Outside of work Aimee loves weekend adventuring with her partner and two “extremely hyper” dogs called Milo and Otis. She’s all about health and wellbeing, and one of her achievements includes having run a 100km Ultra Marathon (for charity) – no mean feat! 

Craig Harper – Toroa Career Navigator Coordinator

Having previously cycled the length of Aotearoa to raise funds for Graeme Dingle Foundation (non-stop in a record-breaking under 4½ days we might add!) – it felt like a natural fit for Craig to join the team ‘officially’! Craig’s official title is the ‘Industry Coordinator’ for our Toroa Career Navigator programme. This sees him not only working with our unemployed rangatahi, but also our local employers, both of whom can benefit from developing that two-way connection.

Craig is incredibly passionate about youth development, and fervently believes “all people are capable of becoming great people” given the right tools and someone to be there for them. His philosophy is that “it’s not what we are that holds us back, it’s what we think we are not.” He says he’s excited to be joining the dynamic team who are out there making a positive difference to so many young lives.

An ultra-endurance cycling legend, Craig is well-known for his sporting exploits and his resilience. When he’s not competing in high-performance sport, he has spent most of his adult life working as a qualified carpenter / builder. What you might not know about Craig is he also has a diploma in business studies (with a major in sport management and coaching) and is a qualified chef!

Bronwen Laird – Communications and Marketing  Specialist

Bronwen’s role is officially “Communications and Marketing Specialist” but we call her our “Chief Storyteller”. She’s our resident wordsmith. Her role is to prepare our materials which go out into the community in various ways and forms – for children, schools, parents and whānau, for grant funders and sponsors, and for media and social media.

“My job is really helping to share the story about what we are doing here at Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough. I really enjoy working for organisations whose values align with mine, and the Graeme Dingle Foundation is teaching children about integrity, respect, resilience and positive relationships – as well as the skillsets they need for the communities and workplaces of the future. It’s magic! I’m proud to be involved, and it’s a fantastic story to have the privilege to tell.”

When she’s not writing for us, Bronwen works part-time with a couple of other successful New Zealand companies on their marketing and communications – and she also works hard on her ‘work-life balance’ (especially making sure she keeps time for her family).

Keri Lankshear – Office Manager

Keri took up the reins as Office Manager here in early 2023. She says she was excited to join the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough team because “it’s a great opportunity to join a passionate group of people, working collectively to bring Marlborough’s young people such fantastic programmes. I wish this had existed when our boys were at school!”

Raised in Blenheim she moved “overseas” (to Wellington) in her early twenties with her husband Paddy. They came back to Blenheim in 2004 with their (then) two small boys to be closer to both sides of their families. Career-wise, she’s had interesting roles in the banking, legal and real estate sectors and, on returning to Marlborough, also worked for a number of years for a large wine company.

Keri’s Office Manager role sees her juggling logistics, financial and administrative tasks, as well as helping with event coordination for the team – and almost everything else you can imagine to keep us operating like a well-oiled engine. Luckily “efficient” is her middle name! “I love the energetic nature of the team! Everyone is genuinely so fired up about what they do, and making a difference for our young people and community. No two days are ever the same around here!

When she’s not in the office, Keri loves travelling, spending time in the Sounds with family and friends, and reformer pilates. One thing you might be surprised to know about her? She is an avid crocheter!