Committee & board members - Akarana Golf Club

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The Club

Committee & Board Members

Akarana Board 2023-2024

	JUSTINE O'CONNELL - BOARD CHAIR A member of Akarana since 2014, Justine served as Weekend Women's Vice Captain before being elected to the board in 2018. She is originally from mid-Canterbury, and has played a wide variety of sports including representative hockey. Justine has a law degree from University of Canterbury, and is a director of a small business consultancy - Teesdale Associates Ltd.
	GRAHAM STANAGE - PRESIDENT I have been a member of Akarana Golf Club since 1999 – joining shortly after my arrival in New Zealand from UK. I have been involved in the Construction and Property Industry for over 30 years - currently a Director with project management consultancy RCP. I have had the opportunity to serve on the Board for eight years (2009-2017) with four of those years in the role Chairman. As such I have developed an extensive understanding of the workings of the Club. As we look forward to and plan a bright future for the Club, we need to carefully meld our way forward with the traditions that have allowed the Club to flourish to the strong position it currently holds today. I believe the Club’s priority should always remain on what we offer our members and our guests.
	LACHIE SHEA - BOARD MEMBER I have been a full playing member at Akarana since 1996. I joined my first golf club as a schoolboy member at the North Otago Club, (Oamaru) in 1964. I have played senior pennants when younger (down South) and handicap pennants for Akarana in the early 2000’s. I was a member of the Golf Committee 2018 – 2020, and was Club Captain and Board Member for the 2019 -2020 season. I am especially keen to ensure that Akarana stays a very playable and enjoyable course for all members, and that we run successful tournaments and events that support the special character and the culture of the Club that we all love.
	PAUL GRACE - BOARD DIRECTOR Paul joined Akarana in 1995, shortly before his wife Wendy also joined. He previously held the position of Vice Captain for two years, and was first elected to the board in 2013, then re elected in 2015 and again in 2017. He is chairman of the Course Committee, which has been a busy role as the club drives major improvements to the drainage, bunkers, and trees. In business for thirty years owning and operating a Building and Civil Construction company, he formed (and now manages) his own Commercial Real Estate Company. Paul is a regular on Saturdays, leading a fine body of men affectionately known as 'the Marist Boys'.
	MURRAY HEALEY - BOARD DIRECTOR Originally from Palmerston North, I spewnt much of the mid to late 1980's living and working in the UK and Europe. Returning to NZ in 1993, I first joined Akarana in the mid 1990's before becoming a full playing member in 2000. I have a business degree (Accountancy) from AUT Auckland with majority of my working life being a CFO of an Insurance company based in New Zealand and Australia. I am a very proud member of this club and committed participant of the Roger's Army. With a bit more time on my hand, I would like to contribute to a greater degree wherever I can at my Club.
	STEVE WEBBY - BOARD DIRECTOR Steve has been a member at Akarana since 2000 and was first elected as Club Captain in 2010 serving for two years and returning to that role for 2018. He has now relinquished his Captain duties this year and been elected as a Board Director. Steve spent seven years at St Peter's College before going on to study accountancy in which he completed half the papers towards the ACA before moving to Papua New Guinea for 5 years to take up a contract with the local domestic airline. Steve returned from PNG to work as an accountant in the road transport industry for five years before buying a small car valet operation in 1999. Steve hovers around a 9 - 10 (another Tui's advert there) handicap and claims his only achievement at Akarana was winning the Summer Cup with Arthur Brown years ago. But that is not actually true as Steve has won the coveted Intermediate division club championship so despite recent form has some golfing pedigree. An old hand at organising national and international golf trips Steve's understanding of golf administration is a key strength he offers to the role.

Captains Committee 2023-2024

	LACHIE SHEA - CLUB CAPTAIN I have been a full playing member at Akarana since 1996. I joined my first golf club as a schoolboy member at the North Otago Club, (Oamaru) in 1964. I have played senior pennants when younger (down South) and handicap pennants for Akarana in the early 2000’s. I was a member of the Golf Committee 2018 – 2020, and was Club Captain and Board Member for the 2019 -2020 season. I am especially keen to ensure that Akarana stays a very playable and enjoyable course for all members, and that we run successful tournaments and events that support the special character and the culture of the Club that we all love.
	SCOTT ELLIS - VICE CAPTAIN Scott joined Akarana in 2014 with golf quickly becoming his passion after spending most of his sporting life playing cricket, including a stint playing in the Warwickshire League in Birmingham. Scott is an Investment Adviser with Hobson Wealth, who are proud to be supporters of Akarana. Hobson Wealth provide investment advice for professionals, retirees, or anyone looking to build or manage their wealth. Scott has an Economics & Management degree from the Auckland University of Technology. His young boys at home ensure he is never able to sit around long and dwell about that bad round.
	JONATHAN CROUCHER - CAPTAINS COMMITTEE
	BARBARA JEPSON - WOMENS CAPTAIN Barbara was elected to the position of Vice Captain Weekday Women in 2013, and then has held the position of Women's Captain since 2014 to date. In 2017, Barbara was elected as Pennant Convenor, within the Auckland Women's Management Commitee, at Auckland Golf Inc.