Gaylene Finlay

Member

I am a Chartered Accountant and Director of BDO Taranaki.  Over the past 20 years I have worked in both the tax compliance and business advisory areas of accounting.  I have a passion for numbers and the stories they tell, but the most important part of my job is about people and building strong relationships and connections.  Our industry is facing many changes with technology and the need to work smarter not harder, so I can relate to the challenges of the school as a business but balancing the need of our stakeholders.

As a past pupil of NPGHS, it is a privilege to return to the school to help shape the future at a time where Education is facing some positive changes. 

After watching a recent You tube video that my daughter showed me that asked “what is school for?”, I had to think for some time about how I would respond to the thoughts presented.   While many things haven’t changed since I was at school (including some of the classrooms), I think there has never been a better time to explore this question and consider how we can work together as a community to ensure the experience is relevant and effective for every learner.

NPGHS provided me with good memories and while I was no academic, I left the school with skills that have provided me many opportunities and values that have guided and motivated me along the way.

It is important to me that our daughters continue to be equipped with the necessary values, skills and opportunities to achieve their individual goals but also setup them up for a life of learning.

I am proud to be part of a board that brings a diverse but complimentary range of skills that is willing to ask the hard questions and embrace change for good.