Inspiring students, changing lives

Inspiring young people to discover their potential in business and in life. Making this happen is what excites us. That’s why we love what we do.

The future of work is becoming increasingly more difficult to accurately predict or even imagine. Determining and focusing on the types of skills and knowledge young people need from educators is more important than ever. What is clear is that it will not be the same skills that have served us during the last century or even the last decade.

Our enterprise programmes use a combination of teachers and members of the business community to provide an experience that is both authentic and relevant to the world we live in. Adapting to changing circumstances, failing fast, feeling success and learning how to collaborate in teams helps students to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit. Our financial literacy resources teach students to be smart with their money so that they can have more choices in life.

We’re proud to work with our Regional Coordination partners, over 1,000 teachers and 1,500 volunteers.  By working together, we change the lives of more than 100,000 students every year.  How awesome is that!

View our 2017 Annual Report

The team

Terry Shubkin

Chief Executive

aka ‘Chief Excitement Officer’

04 570 0452 | 021 611 312

Robyn Frey

Head of Brand

aka 'Head of Random Stuff'

04 570 3986 | 021 826 763

Colin Kennedy

Head of Operations

aka Dr YES

021 737 609

Paul Newsom

Schools Engagement Manager

aka ‘Trailblazer’

04 570 3984 | 021 192 3355

Terry is our resident Chief Excitement Officer, and she maintains that it is the best job in the world. During her 18 years in the IT industry, Terry had a passion for helping young people – from mentoring, to her active involvement in Women in Technology, to chairing the Unisys Kidz Connect Grant programme. Since 2010, Terry has been following that passion full time at the helm of Young Enterprise.

When she’s not busy being inspired by our students, Terry can be found travelling, at her bach beating fresh paua with a 2 by 4 (apparently it’s the only way to make it tender), or training for her next half marathon. She’s a self-confessed ‘plodder’ and only runs because of her enduring love of food and wine – which serves her well as a Trustee of the Wellington Culinary Events Trust.
After running the YES programme for 5 years, Robyn has recently become our Head of Random Stuff. She works on a diverse range of projects including managing EIA and It’s Business Time conference, and sponsorship account management.

Originally from Southland, Robyn has an extensive background in Retail (she set up her own homewares store) and Events Management. She was the first Events Liaison for the foundation of Massey University’s Albany campus, before we enticed her down to join us.

A woman of many talents, Robyn worked on the Estate of the Earl of Dudley in the ‘80s and was very adept at drinks tray service in the middle of fox hunts. We think this is definitely random enough to make her the perfect Head of ‘Random Stuff’!
It took Colin all of two seconds to decide to join the team when he saw the opportunity come up. He is committed to being as useful as possible in helping all students get (and use) the same opportunities to make positive choices. He’s toe-curlingly excited about the real change so many disruptive, intrepid and curious minds can make.

Colin has a PhD in Development Studies and has lectured and researched in social inequality and social design & impact at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). He has also worked in the global migration and exchange of ideas and talent while at Fulbright New Zealand and headed up the student recruitment team at VUW. Before that he worked and volunteered in 12 different countries, teaching, working in cafes and selling T-shirts.
Paul brings a hugely varied range of experiences to the team here at Young Enterprise. He has worked on everything from solar power installations in Botswana, to food factories in England, to sewage works in Wellington, to exhibition halls in Israel. He was self-employed for many years before catching the Young Enterprise bug. Now he motivates teachers and students nationwide to get into entrepreneurship and financial literacy. His talents extend far beyond working with people – he is training to run a ½ marathon, and can always be relied upon to provide amazing baking!

Gavin Miller

Wellington YES Regional Co-ordinator

aka ‘Student Wrangler’

04 570 3981 | 022 043 1891

Ella Roche

Communications and Marketing Manager

aka 'Comms Guru'

0275224540

Alex Bass

Finance Manager

aka "Misson Control"

04 570 3982

Tаmаrа Shimоlinа

Accounts Administrator

aka "Mission Control"

04 570 3395

Gav is the champion of our Wellington Region for the Young Enterprise Scheme. He divides his time between HQ and working on the ground in schools, to back young entrepreneurs and business teachers all over the area. Prior to us enlisting him, he worked as a Careers Engagement Specialist for Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand. Gav has an extensive background in sales, marketing, and customer engagement, through roles in the shipping and real estate industries. Gav is also our office Quiz Master. He has the best red shoes ever, loves onsies, and is a massive sci fi and sports geek.
Ella is our new Communications and Marketing manager. She comes from a background in digital marketing and studied Media and Communication at the University of Canterbury.
She has a love for travel, music and backs the Hurricanes. Ella also loves wine and food so fits in perfectly here at YES HQ.
We are excited to welcome Ella into her new role and love having her in the office.
Alex has an extensive background in public and private sector finance roles. Over the last 15 years Alex has tallied debits and credits across several large national health agencies, Te Rito Maioha, Kiwirail and TAB. Alex is a Chartered Accountant and an aspiring professional tennis player who enjoys working alongside others in raising financial literacy for younger people.
Tamara joined us in 2017 and brought her international experience to Young Enterprise. She holds two Diplomas in Finance and Management.
Tamara is passionate about numbers and technology which helps her to work towards improving the quality and efficiency of our financial processes. She's a firm believe that great teamwork starts with having sweet treats together so she regularly arrives with baking.

Jessikah Cresswell

Project Coordinator

aka "Mission Control"

04 570 0452

jessikah.cresswell@youngenterprise.org.nz

Rosemary Harris

Project Coordinator

aka "Mission Control"

04 570 3393

rosemary.harris@youngenterprise.org.nz

Lucy Robertson

Lead Project Coordinator

aka "Mission Control"

04 570 0452

lucy.robertson@youngenterprise.org.nz

Lucy Wymer

Roaming Teacher - Lead & Pasifika

aka ‘Arranger of Awesome’

09 265 3230 | 022 043 0142

Jessikah is an Alumni of YES and participated in the scheme in 2013. She has recently moved to Wellington after completing a BA in Media and Psychology at Canterbury university.
Growing up in Marlborough has left Jess with a love of good wine and is a self-confessed foodie. She is excited to be a new member of our team and make the windy capital her new home.
Rosemary has previously held roles in office and accounts administration in the local government, technology, and not-for-profit sectors. Rosemary coordinates the Young Enterprise Exam, and loves to get involved in other programmes we run. She enjoys dancing modern jive, sewing, and getting into the outdoors.
Lucy is a YES Alumni and has been actively involved since she completed her YES year in 2013. Prior to joining us at HQ, Lucy was the regional coordinator of the Manawatu region and attended various young enterprise events including Entrepreneurs in Action and national awards.

Lucy is outgoing, friendly and a real team player. We love having her around the office, providing lots of laughs!

Lucy joined Young Enterprise as our first Roaming Teacher. She takes her expertise on the road to teachers, with a specific focus on schools with a high Pasifika population. Her work in this area has seen academic achievement in Business Studies grow in these schools. There have also been some wonderful success stories as enterprising students in those schools have gone on to achieve amazing things.

Originally from England, Lucy has taught for 17 years including a 9 year stint at Aorere College in Auckland, where she delivered enterprise programmes. She still largely works in the South Auckland region now, and is an inspiration to many of the educators she works with.

Yolande Rosario

Roaming Teacher - Wellington

aka 'Arranger of Awesome’

04 570 3391 | 021 520 930

Regan Powell

Roaming Teacher - Timaru and South Canterbury

aka "Arranger of Awesome"

027 414 4355

Andrea Panther

Roaming Teacher - Northland

aka "Arranger of Awesome"

021 0841 1927

Colette Mintoft

Roaming Teacher - Hawke's Bay

aka "Arranger of Awesome"

022 043 2490

Yolande is the Roaming Teacher for the Wellington region. Originally from a teaching background, she has taught at preschool, primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Yolande has a MCom in Financial Management, a Diploma in Education and a certificate in adult education. Young Enterprise is a great fit for Yolande as it utilises her enterprise and financial knowledge and still allows her to have contact with students and educators. Yolande also has a well-stocked lolly jar on her desk, which is much appreciated by the rest of us!
Regan works at Roncalli College, Timaru at the same time as supporting YES teachers and students in Timaru and South Canterbury.
Andrea joins us from Kaitaia College to support YES teachers and students in the Northland region.
Colette joins us from William Colenso College in Napier to support YES teachers and students in the Hawke's Bay region.

Yasmin Gray

Roaming Teacher - Auckland

aka "Arranger of Awesome"

| 022 657 9430

Natania Katene

Māori Outreach Coordinator

0277815861

In 2014 Yasmin discovered a keen passion for business and entrepreneurial skills. She has previously been involved with YES in her position as business teacher at Henderson High School. She was very successful in this role and has had a number of National Award winning teams in this time including El Paleo Chocolate, and Olelei, which took out company of the year in 2017.
At the age of 19 Yasmin, who has a strong passion for dance, opened her own ballet school which has continued to grow over the past 16 years. Before her time as business teacher she was Head of Department for dance curriculum at Henderson High School.
He mihi nui, he mihi mahana tēnei ki a koutou katoa. Ko Natania Katene toku ingoa, no Ngāti Toa me Tuwharetoa ahau.

Hi everyone! I’m Natania, and I’m really excited to be joining YES as the Māori Outreach Coordinator. For the past 2.5 years I have been working for Te Wānanga o Aoteaora, prior to that I worked for the Waikato District Health Board, supporting young people into health careers.
That’s the formal stuff. The stuff that makes up who I am: The Māori Outreach Coordinator is going to be the best job in the world. I’m also lucky to have another cool title… MUM. I have an 8-year-old daughter her name is Mia, and she dreams of being a Mermaid.
We love the ocean, swimming and paddle boarding. If I had a superpower, it would have to be something to do with water.
My favourite quote is 'What if I fall, ooh but darling what if you fly?' and this is written on my mirror at home. It reminds me to always look up, be brave, and think the impossible because that is where dreams come true.

Haere Mai Natania! Welcome to the team!

Young Enterprise Regional Coordinators

We have an amazing network of coordinators throughout the country who are here to help. Find your local coordinator for info on local YES events.

Our patron

Our Patron

The Patron of Young Enterprise Trust is Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor-General of New Zealand. Her Excellency was sworn in as New Zealand’s 21st Governor-General for a five year term on 28 September 2016. Her Excellency has previously worked in governance and management roles for public and private sector companies throughout New Zealand, and has contributed to the governance of many creative and charitable organisations.

Our Board of Trustees

The Board of Young Enterprise Trust provides strategic direction and governance for our organisation. Our Trustees are passionate about youth development, and see the development of enterprising young people as critical to New Zealand’s future.

Norm Thompson

Chairman

Lilias Bell

Trustee

Mark Eglinton

Trustee

Sheena Henderson

Trustee

Norm Thompson, who become our chairman in 2018, joined Air New Zealand in their Finance Division in 1968. Over his 45-year career he rose through the ranks to become their Chief of Sales, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer from 2007 until his retirement in 2013. Thompson has had extensive experience in board governance; this includes serving as Chairman of the Tourism Industry Association of NZ, Chairman of the Air New Zealand Environment Trust, Deputy Chairman of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and Chairman of Altitude Ltd. Thompson was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his services to business and tourism in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Until recently Lilias was a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, an international leadership advisory firm where she specialised in completing senior executive and board appointments.  Lilias is currently exploring new opportunities in talent and leadership development.  She gained her BSc Honours in psychology from St. Andrews University and studied at postgraduate level as Emory College in Atlanta, Georgia as a Bobby Jones Scholar. Lilias is a member of the Board of Governors of Queen Margaret College and a member of New Zealand Global Women.
Mark Eglinton is currently CEO of NDA Engineering, one of New Zealand’s leading engineering businesses. Mark previously held a number of senior positions within Fletcher Challenge Building, Fletcher Aluminium, Tenon Limited. Mark is a Director of Snapperrock International and a former Trustee of the First Foundation. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Otago. Mark was named the Emerging International Business Leader at the 2009 New Zealand International Business Awards.
Sheena is the Managing Director of Cluster Consulting Group and is a Christchurch-based consultant specialising in business leadership, branding and corporate advisory work.  She has over 20 years of business experience gained locally and internationally.  Sheena has led large businesses successfully, latterly within Fonterra where she held several senior roles.  Sheena is also a Director at Radio New Zealand.

Mark Vivian

Trustee

Rachel Taulelei

Trustee

Mark is a partner at venture capital firm MOVAC. He is also currently a director of EdCube, Zeosoft and Global Career Link, and is a Trustee of Sport Wellington. Mark was the Founding Executive Director at Kiwi Expat Association Inc (Kea), and chaired the NZI Sevens event for several years. Mark is the first YES alumni to be appointed to the Board, having completed the Young Enterprise Scheme at Scots College in Wellington.
Rachel Taulelei is CEO of Kono NZ, one of New Zealand’s top 100 food and beverage companies. Previously, Rachel founded the sustainable seafood company Yellow Brick Road, which has since been acquired by Kono’s owner, Wakatu Incorporation. In 2015 Rachel received a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to food and hospitality, and in 2012 she was the recipient of a Blake Leader Award from the Sir Peter Blake Trust, on whose board she now sits. Rachel is also a YES aluma, having taken part at St Oran’s College, and has been a dedicated mentor and judge for many years.

Our Supporters' Council

Our Supporters' Council was formed in 2004, and is made up of respected leaders from a wide range of business and community organisations. The members act as advocates and representatives of the stakeholders who are relevant to the Trust’s operations. Each Council member is elected for a term of six (6) years. Within this time they meet biannually to provide feedback support and advice, whilst also assisting the Trustees to perform their functions.

Jenny Jago, Strategy and Investment Portfolio Manager, DairyNZ
Andy Symons , Innovation Partner, PWC
Tim Alpe, CEO, Jucy Group
Lilias Bell, Independent Advisor, Leadership and Executive Search
Sharon Bryant, Angel Investor/Company Director
Tony Caughey (ONZM), Ambassador
Corinne Cole, Partner, A J Park
Tim Grafton , Chief Executive, Insurance Council of New Zealand
Andrea Davies, Registrar, Massey University
Sir. Eion Edgar (KNZM), Chairman, Forsyth Barr Group
Mark Eglinton, CEO, NDA
Tony Falkenstein, CEO, Just Water
John Fisk, Partner, PWC
Angus Fletcher, Chairman, The Fletcher Trust
Hideaki Fukutake, Trustee, Global Future Charitable Trust
John Gallagher (CNZM. JP), Director, Glenice & John Gallagher Foundation
Pauline Winter, Chief Executive, Ministry for Pacific Peoples
Sarah Wickens, Founder, Trilogy
Nigel Gould (ONZM, JP), Director, Byrd Services
Sheena Henderson, Managing Director, Cluster Consulting Group
Ali Hughes, CEO, CORE Education Limited
David Irving (ONZM), Independent Director
Bruce Le Pine
Stefan Lepionka, Director, Lepionka & Company
Mavis Mullins (MNZM), Professional Director
Brett O'Riley, Chief Executive, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
Kirsten Patterson, Institute of Directors
Marc Potter, President, Harvard Business School Alumni Association
Murray Reade, CEO, The Lion Foundation
Ken Rintoul
Graham Shaw, Director, Pushpay Holdings Limited
Russell Shaw, Chief Executive, Top Energy
John Shewan, Independent Director
Peter Shirtcliffe (CMG), Chairperson, The Margaret and Peter Shirtcliffe Foundation
Professor Barry Spicer, University of Auckland Business School
Cecilia Tarrant
Rachel Taulelei (MNZM), CEO, Kono NZ LP
Norm Thompson (ONZM), Independent Director
Dave Tibby, Trustee, David Levene Foundation
Peter Townsend, Chief Executive, Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce
Mark Vivian, Partner, Movac Limited
Graeme Wheeler, Governor, Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Ken Williamson, Director, Crombie Lockwood Limited
Debi Boffa, Managing Director, BP New Zealand Ltd
Malcolm Whyte, Deputy Chair, Todd Corporation Ltd
Stan Gregec, CEO, Tauranga Chamber of Commerce
Diane Maxwell, Retirement Commissioner, Commission for Financial Capability (CFFC)
Paul Baines, Director, Finchley Holdings Limited
Michael Barnett (ONZM), Chief Executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce
Bryan Gundersen, Commercial Barrister, Gundersen Chambers
Giff Davidson (CNZM. OBE. JP), Professional Director