The Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury is part of a leading organisation in youth development in New Zealand. Our mission is to deliver programmes to children and young people that are proven to bring positive change and have a lasting impact on their well-being.
We deliver these programmes to students aged 5 to 18 in 18 schools across Christchurch. Our programmes reach over 3,370 students every week.
Presently we have three transformational programmes in Canterbury:
- 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: a peer mentoring programme that empowers year 12 and 13 students at Hornby High School and Mairehau High to support year 9 students with the challenging transition to high school. Through weekly group session lead by the senior students, adventure activity days to develop team work and trust, and a community project to enhance a sense of social responsibility and connection to community, Stars enhances resilience, mental health and well-being of all students involved.
- Project K: impacts on a young person at an instrumental time in their lives. Working with year 10 students at Hornby High School, Project K focuses on building self-confidence, life skills and a healthy lifestyle through a wilderness camp, community projects, interaction with other young people and a positive relationship with an external adult mentor.
We help our students to build positive relationships, confidence, resilience, communication skills as well as cooperative learning. Today’s rangatahi and tamariki need to be supported to develop into resilient people who can cope and thrive amongst this ongoing evolution and disruption we experience in our world. 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 young people are able to overcome the challenges they face in life. We want every child to know what they have inside is greater than any obstacle.
Sian Neary – General Manager Canterbury Region
Sian joined the Foundation back in November 2011 and brings 25 years of experience in the Not for Profit industry mostly with Youth Development. Sian is well known for her passion, drive and commitment to the communities that she works in. Sian recently won a KiwiBank Local Hero award and a was Semi Finalist for Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year for 2022 recognising those putting in the hard yards for their communities and taking extraordinary action to make Aotearoa a better place.
Sian is a keen sports enthusiast and enjoys playing hockey, cycling and walking with her partner and the family dog Mojo.
Meet our Coordinators
Karla Guerin – Programmes Manager
Karla joined the team in July 2017, bringing many years of teaching experience and having worked as a Community Support Worker for a community trust. In 2020, Karla won the Graeme Dingle Foundation National Excellence Award for Outstanding Programme Coordinator, recognising her amazing leadership of the Kiwi Can team and commitment to the tamariki in our programmes.
“I absolutely love my role here at the Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury as I feel like I am a part of a team that is making a difference. I am proud of the Kiwi Can leaders and watching them with the students and seeing the transformation is just awesome. They are incredible role models for our tamariki and I believe our Kiwi Can programme is life changing.”
Karla and her husband Wayne run a “high end” Opshop in Papanui which supports various community outreaches including the homeless, families in need and ‘Zion Hip Hop Dance Studios.’ They have recently started a wedding venue on their North Canterbury property.
Karla was raised in sunny Nelson, moved to Christchurch to attend Teachers Training College, and now calls Christchurch home. She enjoys walking with the family dog Obi, singing and watching her 18 year old son play tennis.
Email: karla.guerin@dinglefoundation.org.nz
Chris Morland – Project K Coordinator
Chris joined the team in 2018 as a Kiwi Can leader in primary schools in Christchurch. He loves working for the Graeme Dingle Foundation and we are very fortunate to have him in our team, as he is an amazing, inspiring Kiwi Can leader. In 2021 Chris became the Kiwi Can Team Leader taking on a mentoring role within the team, providing support to the Kiwi Can Coordinator.
It has been a long journey for Chris to discover how to use his skills and experience to make a difference in the lives of others. After serving in the British Army for 8 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, he decided the best way to have a positive impact was to teach and work with children and young people.
Chris loves a good adventure and getting lost outdoors in the wilderness. He skis as much as he can in the winter, surfs in the summer, and explores new mountains when he can.
Email: chris.morland@dinglefoundation.org.nz
Hayley Young – Stars Coordinator & Kiwi Can Assistant Coordinator
Hayley is our wonderful Stars Programme Coordinator and Kiwi Can Assistant Coordinator in Christchurch and has been on the team since 2018. Hayley began her journey at Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury as a Kiwi Can Leader and then moved into Kiwi Can Team Leader, Kiwi Can Assistant Coordinator and now Stars Programme Coordinator. Hayley has always had a passion for working with rangatahi and wants to be a positive role model towards those around her.
“I am often reminded that I have an awesome job. I love getting to work alongside so many like-minded people who all have the same willingness to help others. The children are always at the forefront of everything I do. I enjoy helping them to understand that they are amazing and that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to. It has been awesome seeing all aspects of this amazing organisation and I thoroughly enjoy my current role.”
In her spare time, Hayley enjoys going to the gym, relaxing in the sun and spending time with her friends & family.
Meet our Kiwi Can Leaders
Isaac Smith – Kiwi Can Leader
Isaac is a graduate of Saint Thomas of Canterbury College. He has been passionate about basketball for most of his life and has coached as well. Outside of basketball, Isaac enjoys playing guitar and is a big fan of live music. He also loves snowboarding and enjoys hitting the slopes whenever he gets the chance.
“I always knew I wanted to do something that mattered, and I am extremely happy to be working for the Graeme Dingle Foundation as a Kiwi Can leader. I love that we get to give the next generation a voice as well as a listening ear”
Isaac’s goal in life is to one day be a real estate agent. We are thrilled to have Isaac in the Kiwi Can space. Our students are too!
Kat Dempsey – Kiwi Can Leader
Kat’s mission is to bring joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging to the lives of our Tamariki. For the past 3 years, Kat has worked at Hornby High School supporting students and managing basketball and volleyball teams. Through this role, Kat has witnessed firsthand how challenges can shape a young person’s life, and it is here where Kat wants to make a difference to our young people by being a positive role model.
“I aim to nurture values such as respect, friendship, and resilience, which I believe are essential in helping young people thrive in both their personal and academic lives. I encourage Tamariki to build each other up, respect one another’s differences, and approach challenges with a positive mindset. These values are more than just words, they are actions that I strive to model and inspire every day. The future holds endless possibilities, not just for me as a leader, but for the Tamariki I work with. By teaching them the importance of respect, friendship, and resilience, I hope to inspire them to become leaders, to face challenges with courage, and to foster a sense of belonging and unity wherever they go.” We are thrilled to have Kat join us on our Kiwi Can Waka!
Jack Redman – Kiwi Can Leader
Jack is originally from England but has lived in Ōtautahi for 18 years. Jacks’ passion for helping young people began in 2014 when he became a 24/7 youth worker at Rangiora High School. Since then, Jack has worked in various roles and has volunteered at local churches and charities.
Jack says, “I wouldn’t have made it this far without my grandfather, stepfather, my faith, and other key male role models who supported me and helped me realize my potential.”
Jack is married, has two sons and Jack lives by the following motto. “I want to be a good husband and an even better Dad.”
“I believe everyone is unique and has something positive to contribute, regardless of their background. Anyone can achieve greatness!
Ella Timo – Kiwi Can Leader
Ella graduated from Christchurch Girls High School last year in 2023 and is passionate about her sport. Ella is half Samoan and half pakeha. Ella has accomplished a lot during her high school years such as representing Canterbury in touch rugby since the age of 11 years old to now playing Open Women’s Canterbury touch. Another outstanding result is that Ella represented the samoa Open Women’s touch team in the 2023 Pacific Games and together they won gol! The next adventure for Ella is when she leaves for England for the touch World Cup in July 2024.
Ella has a strong faith so church and family are very important to her and she loves being in the outdoors
From a young age Ella always had a genuine interest in helping people, and knew she wanted to be a role where she could positively impact people’s lives.
“I absolutely love tamariki and I’m so excited to meet new faces. I’m hoping through this role I can inspire our tamariki to be the best version of themselves by teaching them important life values.”
Meet our Board of Trustees
Kylie Meyer – Board Chair
Kylie joined the Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury Board as a Trustee in 2017 when she was seeking opportunities to gain governance experience. The work we do in our programmes is closely aligned and connected to her own family values, as her father founded and ran a youth trust for underprivileged children some years ago.
Kylie is a Business Advisory Partner at Grant Thornton, and oversees the finance role for GDF Canterbury. Kylie finds her role on the Board very rewarding on both a professional and personal level. She says it doesn’t cost you anything to share your professional skills and time for charity. She encourages all young professionals to use their skills to help in the community.
Kylie is a busy mum, juggling and trying to balance the varying demands of work and family life.
Charlene Sell – Trustee
Charlene became a trustee of Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury in 2017 after hearing about all the inspirational work we do from one of our other trustees, Kylie Meyer. Prior to becoming a trustee Charlene fundraised for Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury in the annual Drop for Youth event and faced her fears by abseiling down the Les Mills building!
Charlene is a partner at Wynn Williams and provides advice to the trustees on Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury’s legal obligations. She loves being able to use her skillset to help our charity with its day-to-day legal needs, but also to contribute more broadly to trustee decisions with the goal of supporting as many tamariki as possible.
Charlene strongly believes that our programmes provide life-changing lessons to tamariki at important stages of their development as young people in our community. When attending events where tamariki speak about their journey and how our programmes have helped them, Charlene is genuinely inspired by what we do.
In her spare time Charlene enjoys listening to podcasts and audio books, watching movies, and hiking, cycling and adventuring around our beautiful country.
Claire Bourne (BA) – Trustee
Claire is passionate about empowering people and communities. She is co-founder of two community initiatives: one focused on the transition into retirement (Hono Mai) and the other on connecting rural communities (Whenua Whānau). Claire is a board member of the Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury, The Period Place, St Mark’s School, and on the Women on Boards Executive Committee and since 2015 Claire has been a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor.
Claire’s achievements include being awarded the HRNZ Volunteer of the Year Award, selected as a Committee for Canterbury future leader, is a Global Women breakthrough leader alumni, and a 2022 Women in Governance Rising Star.
Claire has focused her governance career on boards that make a difference for women and for young people. She brings her culture and capability experience and Te Ao Māori expertise to her board roles and is passionate for enabling tamariki to succeed.
Kylie Williams – Trustee
Our Project K programme drew Kylie to the Board in 2018. She liked that it is offered at year 10, right when our rangatahi are often struggling to appreciate their unique value, and how the mentorship component teaches them that their potential is limitless.
“I believe we have a social responsibility to empower our young people to make their mark on the world. They have the energy and passion to create our future, but not every young person has the luxury to think big. Many battle daily challenges out of their control and we’re losing those voices. I’m proud to support a team that gives Canterbury’s rangatahi the space, confidence, and tools they need to realise their full potential – and ours.”
An Aotearoa-based global marketing consultant, Kylie enjoys volunteering her governance skillset to support charities that enrich our communities. She hopes to see Project K expand throughout Canterbury, allowing more of our young people to flourish.
When not travelling offshore, Kylie can be found exploring the South Island and its surrounds with her partner and their energetic puppy.
Nick Pope – Trustee
Nick is our newest member to the Board having joined us in 2020, and is a Chartered Accountant by day and a Community Champion by night! Nick got involved with the Foundation as he truly believes in the impact the various programmes can have on a young child’s life.
Nick has a real passion for the outdoors and thinks that the Wilderness Challenge the young people take on in Project K is a great way for them to learn some invaluable life skills, and hopefully unlock many of their hidden strengths and capabilities.
Nick has learnt a huge amount about himself through similar experiences which have shaped him into who he is today.
Mark Dingle – Trustee
Mark was inspired to join as a Board Trustee in 2016 after hearing Sir Graeme Dingle speak about the work and objectives of the Foundation. The values of the organisation resonated strongly with him and the positive impact the programmes were having in the lives of young people was clearly evident.
In 2017 Mark became the Canterbury Board Chair using his expertise in organisational governance and strategic planning to guide the foundation towards future growth. The goal is to discover new pathways to deliver added benefits to even more Kiwi youth.
In 2020 Mark signed up to become a mentor on the Foundation’s flagship programme, Project K. The rewards have been immense; “I see it as a chance to directly encourage and support my young person. Being able to make even the smallest influence has been a very humbling experience”.
Along with the wealth of knowledge and experience Mark has in his professional life, he is also a man of many talents at home. Whether it’s tending to his bee hives, marshalling races at the local speedway, hitting the slopes for a touch of skiing or spending time with his whānau, Mark keeps himself busy saying, “it’s never a chore if you are doing things you love”.