Board

The Board meets once a month in the Cockle Bay School Boardroom at 5.00 pm on a Thursday.

Meeting Dates for 2025 are –

Board Members

Sian Akania

I have been a parent at Cockle Bay school for three years, with my son currently in year four and have a daughter starting in 2026. I am a clinical psychologist and have had the privilege of leading a team of psychologists in a large organisation. Within this role I have been required to communicate with a range of people from diverse backgrounds, provide clinical governance, manage HR processes and lead through change. I feel that my background puts me in good stead to support the school to continue to put children at the centre of all decisions while continuing to improve its policies and procedures. I am passionate about the wellbeing of children and supporting structures which ensure no one is left behind. I have a particular interest in neurodiversity, learning difficulties, safety (particularly body and online safety), building resilience and developing emotional awareness in children. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, exploring our local community and travel.In joining the board I hope to give back to a school environment which has benefited our family greatly. I think my skillset as a health professional, parent and member of the local community would put in me in good stead, should I be elected onto the board.

Solange Bason

I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to our wonderful school community. With a son currently in Year 2 and a daughter commencing Year 0 in Term 4, I am at the beginning of my family’s Cockle Bay School journey and am eager to invest in its future. My professional background includes valuable experience on not-for-profit Boards, where I’ve gained practical skills in governance, strategic planning, and fostering collaborative environments. I understand the importance of sound decision-making, financial oversight, and upholding an organisation’s values. In addition, my past involvement as a facilitator for the Howick Seasons for Growth program has provided me with unique insights into the emotional and social development of children, equipping me to support their resilience and wellbeing during times of change. I’ve seen firsthand the power of empathetic support in a child’s journey. These opportunities have been bolstered by my professional career in communications and marketing across aviation, property, technology and manufacturing. I enjoy driving projects in a focused and collaborative way, ensuring valuable insights from key stakeholders are included in the process. I am passionate about the holistic health, safety, and wellbeing of all children, encompassing both their physical and emotional needs. Creating a secure and nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and understood is paramount. This commitment extends to ensuring robust policies and practices are in place to safeguard our students. Beyond safety and wellbeing, I am also passionate about fostering an environment that drives positive educational outcomes while fiercely protecting the innate curiosity and creativity of our children. It’s about empowering them to reach their full potential, not just academically, but as well-rounded individuals who are enthusiastic about learning and exploring the world around them. I believe in striking a balance between achieving excellence and allowing space for innovative thinking, play, and imaginative expression. I am committed to working collaboratively with the Board, school leadership, staff, and parents to ensure Cockle Bay School continues to be an outstanding place for our children to learn and grow. My blend of governance experience, dedication to child wellbeing, and passion for educational excellence makes me a committed and valuable candidate for the Cockle Bay School Board.

Mark Bramwell

I have one daughter in year 2 at Cockle Bay School and I am passionate about the school, having been a member of the PTN and the Carnival earlier in the year. I am also currently a co-opted board member. I have been involved in the commercial property sector since 2001 and am currently a Partner and Director of Commercial Realty and enjoy nurturing both the staff and organisations growth. My passion, energy and property experience will certainly benefit the school as a board member.

Nadia Dykes

I’m a barrister & solicitor with my focus being on corporate & commercial law. I started my legal career in South Africa over 14 years ago at a large corporate firm, then after a few years moved to a medium sized firm where I was later appointed as a director. I assisted with advising on legislative compliance (particularly AML/CFT as known here) and HR matters within the firm in addition to my commercial practice. We moved as a family to NZ over 4 years ago. I currently work part-time at the local firm ASCO Legal. I spend my spare time with my beautiful family (husband Chris and kids – Dorian & Belle). Dorian has just started grade 0. I’d like to be appointed to the Board to serve & support Cockle Bay School in a role where I believe I can be of service to the community. My goal is to focus on what’s best for the learners and to support the teachers and leadership. I work well in a team, with kindness, diligence, respect & collegiality being central to my actions.

Grant Webster

Kia ora, My name is Grant Webster, and as a proud Howick parent. I am enthusiastic about supporting Cockle Bay School’s ongoing commitment to guiding and educating our tamariki. Previously, I had the privilege of chairing the Board at Point View Primary School for over two terms, which gave me invaluable insights into school governance. Engaging in this work is, for me, an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded parents and help shape the school’s direction. I currently have a child and a nephew in Year Two at Cockle Bay, along with many other children I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in our community. My governance experience is shaped by several perspectives. For over seventeen years, I have served as CEO of Tourism Holdings Limited, a publicly listed company. Additionally, I have been Chair of Les Mills New Zealand for three years. My service includes roles on various industry and government bodies, such as nine years on the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Board, where I held both Chair and Deputy Chair positions. In 2020, I was co-Chair of the New Zealand Government’s Tourism Futures Taskforce. While I am not a certified accountant, I possess strong financial literacy and a solid understanding of governance as well as a general government processes. My broader background includes senior executive roles spanning tourism, hospitality, gaming, and retail. Before moving into tourism, I held directorships and general management positions in the retail sector. Academically, I hold a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University and have completed executive studies at the INSEAD Advanced Management Programme in Fontainebleau, as well as at Monash University in Melbourne. It would be a privilege to contribute more deeply to the Cockle Bay School community by serving on the Board of Trustees. Thank you for considering my application.

Kimberley Rivett | Staff Member

Nau mai, haere mai! I have been part of the Cockle Bay School staff since mid-2022, and have served on boards at previous schools. This has provided me with a solid base of knowledge about how boards operate in education. As the staff rep, my role is to provide a voice for the wonderful team who work in our school daily, and to serve the interests of the school at governance level.

I have taught across all year levels, from year 0 through to year 8, both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where I was fortunate enough to also work in teacher education at one of the local universities. Prior to joining Cockle Bay School, I was the Assistant Principal of Years 1 to 4 at Alfriston School.

My family is grown and my husband and I live in Somerville. Each of our three children attended schools locally, including Somerville Intermediate and Howick College. They have diverse careers in marketing, physiotherapy and police comms. We are grateful that they have all had such wonderful opportunities to thrive in local schools like Cockle Bay.

Dorothy Bigwood | Principal
principal@cocklebay.school.nz

I’ve been part of the Cockle Bay School Board for the past 5 years. Prior to this I’ve been on other school Boards, as Principal, Deputy Principal, Staff Representative and as Parent Representative. This has given me a good understanding of how Boards function. We are very fortunate at Cockle Bay School to be governed by such an effective Board. This is vital to the school’s success.

I’ve taught all year levels in primary schools. For several years I was involved in teacher training, and teachers’ post graduate study. I was principal at Bucklands Beach Primary for ten years prior to joining this wonderful school.
It has been a privilege to visit educational institutions in China and Japan, which has given me an appreciation of the challenges of cultural difference some of our families experience.

My partner and I live locally and enjoy all that this wonderful environment offers, with its beaches and boating opportunities. My son attended Macleans College, trained as an engineer and now works from Denmark in the bioinformatics industry. I miss him and hope he will return to live in NZ!

Board Members

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