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meet our board
The Village Square Trust’s Board is comprised of eight volunteer trustees who bring their knowledge and skills to overseeing the Trust’s community-focused mission.
Robert Falvey
Chair
Parnell resident Robert Falvey joined the Board of the Village Square Trust in July 2022 after a long career in the legal services industry. Robert's roles included that of Managing Partner of a leading large commercial law firm in New Zealand during his time as a senior Corporate law partner of that firm, which was followed by leadership positions with a global professional services referral network organisation based in Houston, Texas.
Simone Horrobin
Deputy Chair
Simone brings over 13 years experience of developing character and identity in social housing projects, and creating neighbourhoods of meaning with both Kainga Ora (Housing NZ) and private housing providers.
She is energetic in championing and helping form quality community spaces, connections and experiences for all people and is thrilled to have become a Trustee in October 2021.
Simone is an enthusiastic lover of nature and has developed her own urban garden providing both a haven for native birds and organic food sources for her household.
Lynne Bjarnesen
Chair of Finance & Risk
Lynne was appointed to the Board of The Village Square Trust in 2018 and as Deputy Chair in 2019.
Lynne is a Finance and Accounting professional with a career spanning a wide range of industries including property development, manufacturing, services and not-for-profit. She has extensive experience in developing nations and has lived and worked in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Middle East and the Solomon Islands.
She is passionate about and committed to fund raising for disadvantaged and needy children and has been involved with several charities to this end.
She has previously been a Director for Charitable and voluntary organisations and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Kay Madigan
Kay has an LLB (Hons) degree from Auckland University, and over 20 years experience as a business owner and exporter, taking her products and services to New Zealand and the international market. She also set up a gender equity programme to encourage more young women to work in the electro technology sector.
Kay has always been involved in management of community activities, ranging from her children’s sports and schools to community theatre and Rotary. She has lived in Parnell for 10 years and was delighted to be appointed to The Village Square Trust’s board in May 2021.
Connie Rowe
Connie brings over 20 years’ experience in public relations, communications, government relations and community engagement to the Trust, with a focus on the transport sector. She has a strong interest in how developing a well-connected and low carbon transport network can support thriving communities as Auckland continues to grow at a rapid pace and social cohesion is more important than ever.
Connie has governance experience in the Early Childhood sector, and is passionate about providing whānau with good quality Early Childhood Education opportunities in their communities. She is a mother of two young boys which keeps her busy and connected to the education sector. She was delighted to be appointed to the The Village Square Trust’s board in May 2022.
Kelvin Sim
Kelvin was appointed to the Board of the Village Square Trust, and the Board Finance and Audit Committee in June 2022. A career banker, he has 20 years experience in the industry and has held executive and senior leadership roles across a number of local and global banks. He takes pride in being able to positively contribute towards the progress and wellbeing of the New Zealand Inc through his work, and is thrilled to be involved in the great work of the Trust in a personal capacity.
Originally from Malaysia, he is proud to call Auckland home since the 90s. He had previous connections with the Trust through his son’s involvement in the various kids programs.
Kelvin is a member of the Institute of Director. Outside of work, he is a keen martial artist and had previously trained at a competitive level.
Rod Lidgard
Rod is a senior executive and strategist in the Aotearoa NZ environmental engineering sector, and has extensive experience in the delivery of complex engineering projects in Aotearoa New Zealand. He was appointed to the board in 2023.
Rod is a strong advocate for sustainability, mātauranga māori and community stakeholder engagement. He brings experience in leadership, strategy and governance from within his sector, and is an active member of the Institute of Directors NZ. As a local resident Rod has a strong connection to the local area and environment, and along with his wife and two young tamariki he loves to enjoy, promote and foster all of what the Village Square Trust has to offer the community.
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa | Let us keep close together, not wide apart.
Sam Dixon
Sam was appointed to the Board of The Village Square Trust in 2023.
Sam is an international banker and fund manager having worked for JPMorgan and HSBC in London, Hong Kong and Australia (with stints in most emerging countries in Europe and Asia) after completing a BComm (Otago) and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. Sam is a member of IFINZ, NZ Institute of Directors and a regulated banker in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia.
Sam is happy to have recently returned home to Auckland with his wife and two sons (and Chester their labrador) and is committed to giving back to the Auckland community within which he was raised. Sam is especially passionate about early childhood development and combatting loneliness via social activities having supported similar charities in less fortunate developing countries in Asia and Europe.
