THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEES
The appointment of directors of the Company
Conferring with the directors on and the signing off of the Statement of Corporate Intent (SCI)
Monitoring the performance of the Company against the SCI
Maintaining a regular dialogue with directors
Completing Ownership Reviews if and when required
Arranging Trustee elections
Receiving and distributing dividends
Communicating with and informing beneficiaries of the Trust
Maintaining and enhancing the value of the trust's investments
Chair - Domenic Romano
I was elected as a Trustee in March 2018.
With technology significantly impacting all industries, the Marlborough Lines business is no different and this represents both opportunity and challenges for the Trust to protect and enhance its major investments.
Having had a corporate banking background working with many leading International and NZ companies, I am currently Senior Partner at BNZ, Blenheim, responsible for leading our business and agribusiness team. This is a role that engages me with Marlborough’s leading industries, businesses
I am also involved with many community
• Current Chairman & Founding Trustee of The Marlborough College Charitable Trust
• Founding Trustee for the St Marks’s Charitable Foundation
• Treasurer for Marlborough Boys College Old Boys Assoc. and the Central Soccer Club
Our family
Deputy Chair - Lynette Rayner
I was elected to the Trust in March 2022.
Marlborough is my family’s home, and the ongoing success of our province is important to
me.
Continually building and maintaining community assets is a vital part of stability, and the role the Marlborough Electric Power Trust plays in representing the interests of power consumers (the beneficiaries) of Marlborough is a core part of that.
A reliable power supply is a basic necessity for all our Marlborough consumers as is protection of the assets.
As Trustees it is our responsibility to oversee the Marlborough Lines Group to ensure good governance decisions are made for both current and future generations of beneficiaries.
I bring to this role extensive governance experience in finance, business and trust management across community and the public and private sectors and hold and have held numerous Trustee and Directorship positions including Chairing various organisations.
I am a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), and the Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of NZ.
In a professional capacity, owning an accountancy practice gives me exposure to a wide range of experiences – not only in finance and business advisory but also a comprehensive understanding of the significance of Trustee and Director responsibilities.
Trustee - Brendon Burns
I was elected as a trustee in March 2024. My aim is to help ensure Marlborough
Lines can deliver its core business of supplying our community with resilient,
affordable power as well as invest in renewable energy.
We came here as a family in 1994. As Editor I led a reinvigoration of The Marlborough Express and ran numerous community campaigns.
I served a term in Parliament in Christchurch during the city’s earthquakes and helped form two post-quake community groups.
My local community service has included terms on the NMIT Council, Marlborough
Chamber of Commerce board, Angel Investors Marlborough board, chairing
Business Trust Marlborough and Marlborough’s interim Regional Skills Leadership Group. I am currently a trustee for the Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust and I provide media/communications support for several national and local organisations.
Trustee - Simon Bishell
I was elected as a Trustee in March 2024.
Born and raised in Marlborough, I am passionate about our local community. I have followed MEPT for some years now and am proud to have been elected to represent the interests of beneficiaries.
I am a fifth-generation farmer on our family property Caythorpe, and our business has interests in winegrowing, horticulture, arable and livestock production. My most significant governance experience includes two years as Deputy Chair, and six years in total as an elected representative of Marlborough Winegrowers Association. I have spent time on various wine industry committees and advisory groups; outside of work I am active in governance at the Marlborough Golf Club.
My wife Sara is a local GP and palliative care doctor and we have two children.
Trustee - Ian Martella
I was elected to the Trust as a first term trustee in 2014.
I am the Managing Director of Callahan & Martella Electrical Ltd and Solar Synergy Ltd, Marlborough’s largest electrical contracting company and largest solar PV Company respectively.
My wife Nikki and I have one son, Luke. Both my wife and I commit to many voluntary community initiatives, I enjoy spending what free time I have away from work as an amateur photographer or hunting in the majestic NZ Alps. Skiing with the family in winter is a favourite and if time permits fishing and diving in the beautiful Marlborough sounds. As a pilot, I am fortunate to own shares in small plane and I periodically manage to take to the skies. I am currently involved in multisport having completed the coast to coast race earlier this year.
Trustee - Belinda Jackson
Belinda has a passion for making a difference in the local community. She has contributed at both management and board levels for Riding for the Disabled (currently President), both locally and nationally, Renwick Smart & Connected and The Mistletoe Charitable Foundation. Belinda helps to deliver positive outcomes for all stakeholders through her experience, knowledge and ability to develop a shared vision, objectives and strategies for both commercial businesses and not-for-profit organisations. Her leadership style ensures teams work together to achieve agreed outcomes through integrity, transparency and
accountability.
A well-known figure in the wine industry, Belinda’s strengths include strategic brand marketing, sales and relationship management. She consults to several industry organisations. Belinda’s vision has helped Lawson’s Dry Hills Wines become a recognised leader in environmental sustainability.
Trust Secretary - Brenda Munro
Appointed to the Marlborough Electric Power Trust in April 2001.
Married with two adult children and one grandchild.
Attended Victoria University in Wellington and gained a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration majoring in accounting.
Established Blenheim Accounting Ltd (formerly Centre Valley Accounting and Taxation Services) in 1987, retiring in 2015.