About Us
The Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust is a not-for-profit charity.
The Trust’s Purpose
The purpose of the Trust is as follows: To undertake actions, initiatives and programmes to promote and provide affordable housing to benefit people in charitable need with significant housing needs in Marlborough, particularly those in housing need associated with age, health problems or disability.
The purpose is supported by and may include without limitation:
- To carry out land development and/or residential building in Marlborough.
- To work with organisations and parties interested in the development of affordable, accessible housing.
- To assist those referred to in 4.1 through education and advisory services to access appropriate, adequate and affordable housing.
- To acquire assets as are necessary to achieve the charitable purposes of the Trust.
- To generally do or perform all such acts, matters or things as may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the foregoing purposes.
The Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust is made up of local trustees. We build homes that are affordable, energy efficient and follow lifetime design principles, including wheelchair access, so it is a house you can grow old in. The Canterbury Community Trust has provided the funding for the Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust.
The Trustees
Bev James (chair)
Bev James has a background as an analyst in housing, resource management and community development and she currently runs her own private research business. With early family connections to Koromiko, she moved to live in Marlborough eight years ago. Her involvement with the Affordable Housing Study conducted in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough in 2006 prompted her to join the Trust to help widen the affordable housing choices available in Marlborough.
Ollie Clark
Born & raised in Blenheim, Ollie is all too aware of the need for affordable & accessible housing needed in Marlborough. Paired with the mindset of minimising waste and creating maximum efficiency, his values are closely aligned with the Trust’s purpose creating a natural fit. He is a Chartered Accountant at a local accounting firm & thus is also the Trust’s treasurer.
Brendon Burns
Brendon was a reforming Editor of The Marlborough Express, worked in the PM's Office, had a term in Parliament in Christchurch during its earthquakes before returning to Marlborough in 2012. His consultancy business has local and national clients. He chaired Business Trust Marlborough prior to helping establish the interim Regional Skills Leadership Group. Brendon also chairs the Smart+Connected Aquaculture group.
Johnny McMillan
Johnny McMillan’s career and greater interests have always had a focus on supporting others to see and release their potential. Currently he is Viticulturist for the local grape grower cooperative, but his primary industry technical experience has also spanned the wider horticulture and arable sectors. A seven-year stint saw him segue into the UK pharmaceutical industry.
He sees people in his community as individuals. The MSHT is a pragmatic vehicle to give help and hope to a number of our community in need of quality housing; an affordable, warm safe place to call home.
Janet Steggle
Janet has many years’ experience in energy and sustainability. Most recently, she has twice been a judge for the Marlborough Environment Awards, including a judge in the category "Community Innovation and Sustainable Living". Janet and her husband emigrated from the UK in 2005, and have designed and built their house in rural Marlborough. In the UK, Janet worked in the Department of Energy on a range of policies such as energy conservation and downstream oil; she also spent two years working in Ministers’ offices. She then became Government Relations Manager for Texaco, working on relationship building and on projects such as the hospitality for the Texaco Trophy one day international cricket series.
Russell Hopkins
Since retiring after a varied Civil Engineering Career in Marlborough, Russell has continued in a long time interest in Social Housing.
David Taylor
David is a former Senior Banker with experience in many sectors including infrastructure projects. He came to Marlborough in 2012 after a spell in Sydney leading the Lloyds Bank Australasian Credit Team. He Chairs a number of local Company Boards and volunteers his time to a range of community focused organisations'. His current business interests include the provision of Business Mentoring Services and an Investment Capital Fund for growing businesses.