At its June meeting, Mr John Aburn after 11 years as Chair of Kapiti Retirement Trust’s Board of Trustees announced his retirement from the Board. His years of service to the Board also included a two year period in the early 2000s.
Mr Aburn’s successor as Chair is well-respected Kapiti resident and national media and communications business advisory specialist, Mrs Norrey Simmons. As well as running her own successful company, Mrs Simmons has extensive experience at Board level which includes having being a founding Council Member of Business NZ and a current Trustee and Board member of the Wellington Community Trust.
Local business woman and owner-operator of Kapiti Business Projects Helene Judge, has accepted the position to fill the casual vacancy created by Mr Aburn’s retirement.
At the Trust’s AGM last month Mr Aburn was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Trust for outstanding service to the Trust. These are bestowed rarely and he is one of only three individuals currently holding this Award.
In acknowledging Mr Aburn’s huge contribution to the Trust, Mrs Simmons said, “John has led the Trust into becoming a highly respected business on the Kapiti Coast. Operating the Sevenoaks-Midlands Gardens Retirement Village, Kapiti Retirement Trust is one of the district’s largest employers, the oldest and largest not-for-profit in the Kapiti Region and the largest local retirement village with an aged care hospital and associated care services.”
Norrey went on to say, “Over the last decade, Kapiti Retirement Trust has moved from a Board model of enthusiastic and dedicated locals to one of governance that rivals any large professional and well-run organisation in New Zealand.”
Under the stewardship and leadership of Mr Aburn, as well as completing the Trust’s third site, Midlands Gardens which consists of 96 independent villas and associated recreational facilities for residents, the Board also approved the expansion and refurbishment of the Trust’s aged care hospital The Lodge. Along with this, the Trust has expanded its range of care to include new services available to the general Kapiti community; the Trust’s day respite unit the Nikau Club and a dedicated block respite unit – the Matai Wing which includes a dedicated end-of-life suite.
Additionally, Mr Aburn has directed and being unstinting in his support of the Trust’s management team in the transition of its compliance and regulatory activities following the introduction of new sector requirements. This has included enormous changes around external audits, compliance, Health and Safety, Legislation and the latest, implementing the changes arising from the pay equity settlement for Healthcare Assistants and Diversional Therapists. All of which have seen the Trust exceed and indeed lead the aged care sector in terms of measurable, high quality outcomes.
For more information, please contact:
Wendy Huston, CEO Kapiti Retirement Trust
DDI: 04 9740557
Cell : 0212468772
Email: [email protected]