Trustees
Celia Barker LLB – Trustee and Chair
Brought up in Geraldine, Celia is a qualified lawyer with a long career in private practice law. Up until 2018, Celia was partner of Cavell Leitch Law where she specialised in commercial property. In her practice she had a strong interest in trusts, wills and estate planning. She has since ‘self-deployed’, and this has given her more time to assist with furthering the interests of The Champion Foundation Trust. Celia has served on various charities over her career, including her current long-term tenure as Deputy Chair of the Opera Foundation.
Celia is very keen to see the integral work of the Champion Centre better understood and supported. Celia believes the significant difference the Centre can make for the future lives of children and their families, is in her opinion, is not well understood. Celia’s aim for the Centre is to assist it in moving forward, secure in knowing it has a sustainable future, supported by the efforts of the Foundation.
Brought up in Geraldine, Celia is a qualified lawyer with a long career in private practice law. Up until 2018, Celia was partner of Cavell Leitch Law where she specialised in commercial property. In her practice she had a strong interest in trusts, wills and estate planning. She has since ‘self-deployed’, and this has given her more time to assist with furthering the interests of The Champion Foundation Trust. Celia has served on various charities over her career, including her current long-term tenure as Deputy Chair of the Opera Foundation.
Celia is very keen to see the integral work of the Champion Centre better understood and supported. Celia believes the significant difference the Centre can make for the future lives of children and their families, is in her opinion, is not well understood. Celia’s aim for the Centre is to assist it in moving forward, secure in knowing it has a sustainable future, supported by the efforts of the Foundation.
Michael Norris - Trustee
Raised and educated in Christchurch, Michael has been a trustee of the Champion Foundation since 2010. He returned from living overseas 18 years ago, where he built up extensive overseas business experience. Michael is the founder of Sportsworld Group, a niche travel ticketing and hospitality platform, that has been used for eight FIFA World Cups, amongst other high-profile international events. Dividing his time between Christchurch and Akaroa, Michael is currently the Chair of the Akaroa Civic Trust and a trustee of the Great Christchurch Building’s Trust and the Akaroa Community Health Trust. A past Commodore of the Akaroa Cruising Club, Michael also has a strong interest in conservation and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Raised and educated in Christchurch, Michael has been a trustee of the Champion Foundation since 2010. He returned from living overseas 18 years ago, where he built up extensive overseas business experience. Michael is the founder of Sportsworld Group, a niche travel ticketing and hospitality platform, that has been used for eight FIFA World Cups, amongst other high-profile international events. Dividing his time between Christchurch and Akaroa, Michael is currently the Chair of the Akaroa Civic Trust and a trustee of the Great Christchurch Building’s Trust and the Akaroa Community Health Trust. A past Commodore of the Akaroa Cruising Club, Michael also has a strong interest in conservation and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Jeremy Crang - Trustee
Jeremy has a strong -background in the financial services industry working as an Investment Advisor at Craigs Investment Partners and having worked as an Investment Advisor at Lawerence Milton and Howarth (LMH) early on in his career. Jeremy also gained wide experience in the telecommunications industry having worked in the UK for eight years in telecommunications. In addition Jeremy holds a Batchelor of Commerce Degree, Honours in Forestry Science and a Diploma in the NZ Stock Exhange. Jeremy joined the Champion Foundation Trust as a Trustee in 2021.
Andrew Tait, LLB, BA - Trustee
Andrew joined the Champion Foundation Trust in 2022. He is a Partner at Rhodes & Co. lawyers having joined the firm in 2009. He has a broad range of experience in business, commercial and property law and provides advice to clients across a range of industries. He also provides advice to various private clients on property, trusts and estate planning structures. Andrew is a keen traveller, is married to Johanna and they have one son, William.
Georgia Heard - Trustee
Georgia grew up in the small North Canterbury village of Greta Valley. Growing up in the remote and picturesque surroundings of rural farm life inspired Georgia’a creative side from a young age. Georgia graduated with a Bachelor of Performing Arts from NASDA, and went on to write and act in numerous professional Court Theatre productions. Georgia has founded, owns and performs in The Starlets entertainment trio for the last 11 years, entertaining audiences all over New Zealand. But her greatest role to date has been motherhood, being the proud mum of two beautiful boys, with one of her sons having significant additional needs and attending The Champion Centre for 5 years, receiving vital early intervention therapy.
Having had a child go through The Champion Centre, has given Georgia a strong passion for the life changing therapy provided to her son, and the incredible organisation behind it all. Georgia is very excited about helping to raise funds to support the Centre and increasing its public awareness.
Georgia grew up in the small North Canterbury village of Greta Valley. Growing up in the remote and picturesque surroundings of rural farm life inspired Georgia’a creative side from a young age. Georgia graduated with a Bachelor of Performing Arts from NASDA, and went on to write and act in numerous professional Court Theatre productions. Georgia has founded, owns and performs in The Starlets entertainment trio for the last 11 years, entertaining audiences all over New Zealand. But her greatest role to date has been motherhood, being the proud mum of two beautiful boys, with one of her sons having significant additional needs and attending The Champion Centre for 5 years, receiving vital early intervention therapy.
Having had a child go through The Champion Centre, has given Georgia a strong passion for the life changing therapy provided to her son, and the incredible organisation behind it all. Georgia is very excited about helping to raise funds to support the Centre and increasing its public awareness.
Rachael Walkinton - Trust Administrator
Rachael has 25 years of diverse experience across government, politics, industry and not for profits. She has had leadership roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, EQC and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Rachael is passionate about supporting equitable stakeholder engagement, particularly with underserved communities and is an advocate for mental wellbeing.
Thank you for supporting the Champion Foundation Trust