Our Governance
Maa mua ka kite a muri; Maa muri ka ora a mua.
“Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead”
-Whakatauki (maaori proverb)
CHAIRPERSON - Dr. Susan Thompson - MA (History), BTheol (Theology), PhD (Theology)
Susan joined the Board of Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture ā-Hapori o Waikato, in 2013. Born in Christchurch, she trained as a Methodist minister in Auckland, was ordained in 1994 and has lived in Hamilton since 2002. She completed doctoral studies at the University of Auckland in 2002 and has a continuing interest in New Zealand history. Susan is an advocate for the acceptance and equality of LGBTQ people in church and society. She is active in the Waikato Interfaith Council and has just started learning Te Reo Maori. She is currently working as Superintendent of the Waikato-Waiariki Methodist Synod.
TREASURER and DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
Dave McEwen
Dave joined the Board in 1999 and serves as the Board Treasurer and Deputy Chairperson. Dave brings a wealth of experience from his background in the RNZAF and as an accountant in the private sector.
TRUSTEE
Cheryl Green - LLB
Cheryl has been a Trustee since 2013 and graduated from the University of Waikato in 1993 with a Law Degree (LLB) and is currently a Referee of the Disputes Tribunal in Hamilton. She was previously the Director of Clinical Legal Education and Competitions at the University of Waikato.
TRUSTEE
David Allan - LLB
David is a barrister, admitted to the bar in 1995 and has served as Trustee on the Board since 2017. His legal areas of interest include criminal, mental health, intellectual disability, and parole. David has a particular interest in improving the interview method of lawyers across the whole criminal justice system.
TRUSTEE
Ethan Jerome-Leota LLB
Ethan is a solicitor, admitted to the Bar in 2018 and joined the Board in April 2021. Ethan is one of the Waikato-Tainui representative Trustees. His legal areas of interest include Treaty Settlements, Environmental law and Intellectual Property. Ethan has a particular interest in strengthening the relationship between CLW and Waikato-Tainui. More importantly, he is passionate about access to justice for all and supporting the education seminars facilitated by CLW.
Ethan wants to make a positive impact on future generations.
TRUSTEE - Jaydene Kana CA
Jaydene is a Chartered Accountant with extensive public and private sector commercial and leadership experience, through her roles based in New Zealand and overseas. who has served in a variety of iwi, not-for-profit, public sector and private sector governance and leadership roles. Born in Hamilton Kirikiriroa, her career has taken her around New Zealand and the world, including eight years with the United Nations in Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, and the United States.
Jaydene is one of the Waikato-Tainui representative Trustees and joined the Board in 2021. Jaydene has a particular interest in strengthening the relationship between CLW and Waikato-Tainui, with a focus on access to justice for those in need, especially Maaori.
