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meet our board
The Village Square Trust’s Board is comprised of ten volunteer trustees who bring their knowledge and skills to overseeing the Trust’s community-focused mission.
Simone Horrobin
Chair
Simone brings over 13 years experience of developing character and identity in social housing projects, and creating neighbourhoods of meaning with both Kainga Ora (Housing NZ) and private housing providers.
She is energetic in championing and helping form quality community spaces, connections and experiences for all people and is thrilled to have become a Trustee in October 2021.
Simone is an enthusiastic lover of nature and has developed her own urban garden providing both a haven for native birds and organic food sources for her household.
Connie Rowe
Deputy Chair
Connie brings over 20 years’ experience in public relations, communications, government relations and community engagement to the Trust, with a focus on the transport sector. She has a strong interest in how developing a well-connected and low carbon transport network can support thriving communities as Auckland continues to grow at a rapid pace and social cohesion is more important than ever.
Connie has governance experience in the Early Childhood sector, and is passionate about providing whānau with good quality Early Childhood Education opportunities in their communities. She is a mother of two young boys which keeps her busy and connected to the education sector. She was delighted to be appointed to the The Village Square Trust’s board in May 2022.
John Hastings
Chair of FRAC Committee
John has a long background in Governance in the Finance, Property and NFP sectors. He brings leadership experience across several disciplines including strategy, finance, business development and risk management. This is combined with a passion for enterprise-wide purpose, mission and values.
John and his family have a long association with the Parnell environs and operate with a motto “it is good to be involved” . John is an active member of the Institute of Directors, participating the in Advanced Directors Course in 2024, his current governance roles include a large South Auckland based Community Housing provider, a real estate group and a startup in the IT sector.
Cilla Sausen
Cilla brings governance experience across education, public health, emergency response and community services, grounded in her Pacific heritage and commitment to equity, whānau wellbeing and culturally responsive community development. She is passionate about strengthening programmes that support children, families, and diverse communities across Tāmaki Makaurau.
She serves on the Boards of Auckland Girls’ Grammar School and Te Taumata Governance Group, and remains actively involved in community initiatives and youth development through her support across various school and community sports. Cilla joined the Board in 2026 and continues to serve with integrity, care and a strong Pacific lens.
One of Cilla’s favourite Pacific proverbs is: “E fofo e le alamea le alamea” — The solutions to our challenges are found within our own community.
Kay Madigan
Kay has an LLB (Hons) degree from Auckland University, and over 20 years experience as a business owner and exporter, taking her products and services to New Zealand and the international market. She also set up a gender equity programme to encourage more young women to work in the electro technology sector.
Kay has always been involved in management of community activities, ranging from her children’s sports and schools to community theatre and Rotary. She has lived in Parnell for 10 years and was delighted to be appointed to The Village Square Trust’s board in May 2021.
Kevin Green
Kevin brings extensive experience as a Chief Financial Officer with expertise spanning multiple industry sectors including Engineering, Healthcare, and Media & Advertising.
He is a Chartered Accountant and member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
A resident of Parnell for over two decades, Kevin and his wife have actively contributed to the local community while raising their four children. His passion for sport - particularly rugby and women’s football - has seen him take on numerous coaching and management roles, strongly advocating for participation and development at the grassroots level.
Kevin joined the Board in September 2025 and is proud to contribute to an organisation dedicated to serving and uplifting its community.
Philip Wood
Philip is an Auckland based barrister, who previously practised as a commercial partner with Buddle Findlay in Auckland, focusing on media and technology. Prior to that he worked as a solicitor at Linklaters in London. He has an interest in governance and is an active member of the NZ Institute of Directors, having completed the Advanced Directors Course in 2024. He has been a board member of a large law firm, and also on two Planning Alliances for Waka Kotahi.
Philip and his family have lived in Mt Eden/Epsom for over 30 years. Having, with his wife, raised two sons in the area, he appreciates the importance of local childcare, after school and holiday activities for children, as well as other community-based services. Philip was appointed to the Board of The Village Square Trust in 2025.
Rhett Calvert
Rhett draws on professional experience in infrastructure delivery, facilities management and operations, and commercial governance across the public and private sectors including the management of a multi-hectare site with an onsite event venue and childcare centre. As a chartered engineer and commercial advisor, he specialises in complex master planning, commercial management, and capital deployment, with strong operational oversight.
An active member of the Epsom community, Rhett and his family live moments away from many of the Trust's facilities. With two mischievous young tamariki about to transition into the Trust's school and holiday programmes, he brings a practical, parent-focused perspective to its services. Rhett is deeply connected to Auckland’s South Asian and educational communities, and is passionate about ensuring local facilities and programmes continue to support strong, connected, and resilient neighbourhoods across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Rod Lidgard
Rod is a senior executive and strategist in the Aotearoa NZ environmental engineering sector, and has extensive experience in the delivery of complex engineering projects in Aotearoa New Zealand. He was appointed to the board in 2023.
Rod is a strong advocate for sustainability, mātauranga māori and community stakeholder engagement. He brings experience in leadership, strategy and governance from within his sector, and is an active member of the Institute of Directors NZ. As a local resident, Rod has a strong connection to the local area and environment, and along with his wife and two young tamariki he loves to enjoy, promote and foster all that the Village Square Trust has to offer the community.
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa | Let us keep close together, not wide apart.
Vivien Wei Verheijen
Born and raised in China, Dr Vivien Wei Verheijen has lived in Auckland for more than two decades. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, with a diverse background in governance and advisory roles across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. With a strong sense of social justice, Vivien is passionate about supporting diversity, inclusion and equity.
Vivien is a member of the Consumer Network | Kōtuinga Kiritaki, Te Tahu Hauora-Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC), the Northern Regional Consumer Council (the RCC), and Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ). She is also an Independent Director of the Board of Comprehensive Care Limited (CCL), and a Lay Member of the National Standards Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.
Vivien holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy from the Auckland University of Technology. She brings a comprehensive understanding of the central and local government machinery and community engagement, with a focus on promoting consumer perspectives, ethnic and cultural diversity, and social cohesion.
