Our Board of Trustees 2026

​​​​​​​“I am excited and feel incredibly fortunate being Principal of Hadlow Preparatory School, being able to work alongside and lead our wonderful team, students and families. It is a privilege seeing our students and staff grow, thrive and the passion they show for learning. Hadlow School is a special character school that has a proud history with traditions but also embraces future focused education in preparation for today’s world. Our students show a growth mindset, they are creative, curious and kind. They love learning and school.”

I grew up on a sheep and beef farm near Martinborough and attended St Matthew’s Collegiate School as a weekly boarder. Following my schooling, I studied law and science at Victoria University in Wellington and started my legal career at one of New Zealand’s largest law firms, Chapman Tripp. I returned to the Wairarapa in 2015 to create my own business as a barrister specialising in overseas investment law. I live on a finishing farm in Bideford, near Masterton, with my husband Saul and two children, Charles and Claudia.  
Charles is in Hub 2, and Claudia is also now in Hub 2; both previously attended Hadlow Pre-School. One of the main reasons for returning to Wairarapa after 15 years living in Wellington was to give my children the opportunity to attend the Trinity Schools. My father and brother are Hadlow old boys, and as an old girl of St Matthew’s, I’m passionate about the continued success of the Trinity Schools. I believe a board works best in partnership with its school and its community to ensure the best possible outcome for every student.

Felicity was appointed to the TSTB – Trinity Schools Trust Board in 2025 and serves as Proprietor Appointee on the Hadlow Board. She brings a diverse background in law and governance, shaped by a cross-cultural, global perspective. Her legal career spans education, employment, property, mental health, privacy, and commercial law, and she is currently a company director of a tech start-up she co-founded with her husband. They have two children at Hadlow and one at Rathkeale. 

Over a number of years, Felicity provided advisory assistance to Mana Mokopuna – the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. As Lead Lawyer and Supervisor for the Parents Legal Infoline, she led and managed a large legal support team delivering a national service, contributed to law reform initiatives, and played an instrumental role in the review of the education law guide Schools and the Right to Discipline. She has also served on charitable trust boards and was a long-standing elected trustee of a Catholic integrated school. 

Felicity values faith-based education and brings strength in balancing strategic leadership and insight with practical delivery. In her downtime, she can be found on the music team at her local Anglican church, engaging in the arts, or embracing a lively kitchen.

Ko Te Kuri a Pāoa tōku maunga     Te Kuri is our landmark of significance
Ko Maraetaha tōku awa                  Maraetaha is the water that brings life
Ko Horouta tōku waka                    We voyaged on the Horouta waka
Ko Ngati Rangiwaho tōku hāpu     Rangiwaho is our whanau essence
Ko Ngai Tāmanuhiri tōku iwi         Tamanuhiri is our Rangatira 
Ko Jason Downes tōku ingoa         My name is Jason Downes 
Tihei Mauriora                                  Tis is the breath of life…
Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ko Jason Downes tōku ingoa, and I am proud to serve as a parent representative on the Hadlow Preparatory School Board of Trustees. 
My wife and I are grateful to have two daughters at Hadlow, Analise (Year 8 and Head Girl) and Karoha (Year 6). As a whānau, we love spending time together camping, gathering kaimoana, enjoying the moana, and making the most of the outdoors. 
I am the Head of Learning Area for Mathematics at Chanel College and have been teaching for 14 years. Alongside this, I have worked with Massey University as a Mathematics Mentor, supporting kaiako to grow reflective and responsive teaching practices. 

What I value most is connection — building strong relationships and ensuring tamariki feel known, supported, and encouraged to thrive. I believe the strength of a kura comes from its sense of whanaungatanga, where students, staff, and whānau work together as an extended family. These are values I see reflected in Hadlow, and I feel privileged to contribute to a school community that places such importance on belonging, opportunity, and care for others. 
Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou, 
 Jason Downes 

​​​​​​​​​​​I joined the Hadlow board of trustees in September 2025. I live in Wairarapa with my husband and our 6-year-old. I hold a Master of Science in Food Technology and a Master of Business Administration. Professionally, I have experience in banking operations, including team leadership, operational management, compliance, risk management, and client support. I also worked briefly in administration while in Singapore. In addition, I am involved with a non-profit organisation in the Wairarapa, where I actively volunteer.

My name is Cameron Stanley, and I have been a member of the Hadlow community since 2023. My wife and I have three kids: Lachlan, aged 4 (pre-school); Madeline, aged 6 (Hub 1); and Wilbur, aged 8 (Hub 2). We made the move from Melbourne to Masterton in December 2021, seeking a more relaxed country lifestyle and closer proximity to grandparents. Since then, we have settled into the community, built a home, and have been learning to enjoy the beautiful things the Wairarapa has to offer.  

I am a mechanical engineer by training and currently work for an engineering consultancy that specialises in energy efficiency and decarbonisation. My job often requires me to review clients’ business and energy needs, develop strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels, and then communicate these strategies with the owners and executives. My professional strengths include logical thinking, complex problem-solving, and clear and effective communication skills.

I joined the Hadlow Board of Trustees as a parent representative in September 2025. I was elected Deputy Chair and now sit on the Property and Finance and the Legislation Health and Safety Committee. It has been a steep learning curve so far with general Hadlow governance matters along with the transformational change afoot within the broader Trinity Schools system (i.e., the Trinity Futures Project). I am very grateful for the leadership and tiresome work of the incumbent board members and their patience in showing us newbies the ropes.

Please come and say hello if you see me around the school.

In 2024 our family made the decision to move to the Wairarapa, and, along with the lifestyle, our move was strongly influenced by our wish for our children to continue their education within the Trinity school system. My son, Jake, is currently in Hub 3, and my daughter, Lexi, attends St Matthew’s Collegiate, where my partner, Charlotte, is an Old Girl. Since joining the Hadlow community, I have been consistently impressed by the school’s positive, supportive and inclusive environment, as well as the wide range of opportunities available to students.

With a professional background in accounting, I have held roles across several international organisations, including HSBC and Xero, providing robust financial stewardship and commercial insight. This experience has enabled me to develop extensive skills in budgeting, financial management, performance improvement and cross‑functional collaboration.

As a Board Member and the Finance Chair, I bring this experience to the governance of Hadlow while also serving on the Trinity Finance and Property Committee. I am committed to supporting the school’s continued success and ensuring we provide our children with a high‑quality, future‑focused education. I look forward to working closely with the Board and staff to ensure that the needs of our children and wider school community are met.

I am the Staff Representative on the Hadlow School Board of Trustees and have served in this role for many years. I value the opportunity to represent the staff voice at a governance level and to contribute to decisions that support positive outcomes for both students and staff.

I have a long-standing connection to Hadlow as a former student, and I am also a Rathkeale Old Boy. My connection to the school has continued through my family, with my two sons progressing from Hadlow Preschool through Hadlow and Rathkeale, and on to the University of Otago.

This lifelong association gives me a deep appreciation for the values, traditions, and special character of Hadlow School. I am passionate about ensuring these are maintained while also supporting the school’s ongoing growth and development.

As a trustee, I bring a practical, classroom-informed perspective to Board discussions. I value open communication and strong relationships between staff, leadership, and the Board, and I am committed to contributing to effective governance that reflects the best interests of our whole school community.