role-of-trustees - mept2
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 - Nicki Stretch

Having been elected as a trustee in 2016, I am pleased to serve as a trustee of the Marlborough Electric Power Trust. 

Representing the interests of the beneficiaries (those consumers who have a power connection in Marlborough) is a privilege, and I am pleased to bring to my role a wide background in Trust Management, Governance, Banking, Finance and Business.

As trustees, we need to balance the interests of today’s beneficiaries with those of future beneficiaries. It is great to be able to pay an annual dividend to current beneficiaries and ensure the value of the Company’s assets grow over the long term for the benefit of all.

It’s also important that we receive accurate and timely information from the Company to monitor the performance of the Marlborough Lines Limited Group and ensure that not only is the power supply meeting the needs of our beneficiaries, the Company is also making sound business and investment decisions and protecting our assets.

I have lived in many parts of New Zealand and had the good fortune to be involved in many community governance and volunteering positions. This has included Lifestyle Trust, a disability service organisation in Hamilton, and Habitat for Humanity Christchurch. 

Whilst managing SBS Bank in Christchurch, I met my husband Greg and moved here in 2011. I am currently the General Manager of Churchill Private Hospital, and Chair of the Graeme Dingle Foundation, Marlborough, a charitable organisation focused on developing our young people. 

Deputy 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 and families.

I am also involved with many community organisation’s which enables me to come across a broad range of people and issues, with my current activities being;
• 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 own CPR Coffee Co which my wife Deborah manages and this means I get to satisfy my lifelong interest in coffee as a chief taster! Deborah and I were both raised in Marlborough and we returned in 2009 with our three children after establishing careers outside of the province. 

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Trustee - Ross Inder

I was first elected to the Trust in 2002 and have served as chairman for a total of four years. I retired after 40 years of law practice in Blenheim. During my time in practice I had a particular interest in trust law and led discussion amongst the trustees on the subject of trustee responsibilities. I have also played a part in revision of the trust deed. Since 2001 I has served on the executive of Energy Trusts of New Zealand, the umbrella organisation of trustee owned energy companies.

Trustee - 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 - Cathie Bell

I was appointed as a trustee to the Marlborough Electric Power Trust in July 2020, being the highest-polling unsuccessful candidate when a previous trustee stepped down.

Electricity is critical for modern life, and it is important to me that Marlborough Lines and its subsidiaries perform as well as possible.

As a consumer-owned company, with the trustees holding the shares on behalf of consumers, Marlborough Lines and its subsidiaries provide dividends and an annual distribution to its owners.

Those benefits of the company’s ownership by the consumers of the electricity supplied through Marlborough Lines’ network are important to many in Marlborough.

During my time on the power trust, I hope to be able to support those consumers and to ensure the whole community is well-informed and understands the actions and decisions being made.

I moved with my family to Marlborough from Wellington, where I worked in
communications, mostly in government agencies, including those regulating the energy sector. I worked for several Cabinet Ministers, including a stint with the Energy Minister, during a high-profile electricity supply crisis. I have a strong interest in the energy sector, and understand the issues in the electricity sector. 

I own my own business, working as a communications consultant, helping companies and organisations here in Marlborough and nationally to tell their stories. 

Since moving here 10 years ago, I have been active in school, church, and community organisations. I have held governance roles in national organisations for over 20 years, and am currently the chair of the Mistletoe Bay Trust, and a member of the Mistletoe Charitable Foundation, the Marlborough Heritage Trust, and the Friends of St Mary’s School organisation.

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.