Philippa Isom
Trustee
Philippa is married to Kevin and has two daughters, Naomi (17) and Oli (16). Even though she was born and bred in Howick, she had to go to the USA to find Kevin. It did not take much convincing to get him to make the move to New Zealand and a new life as a Software Architect.
Philippa has been involved in education since the beginning of her career as a primary teacher. She moved to Christian Education as her children started school, as the Team Leader for Year 7 and 8 at Elim Christian College. More recently, Philippa has worked as a game developer working on the Aetherlight (a point and click adventure game for 9-12 years olds which is an allegory of the Biblical narrative) before joining Laidlaw College as a lecturer in Initial Teacher Education and is currently lecturing for Massey University. Philippa recently completed her Masters of Educational Leadership (First Class Honours) and has embarked on a PhD using narrative to explore questions of philosophy/theology and education.
Philippa also sits as a Trustee nominee on the board of KingsGate School. Philippa is expectant of the role she might play in supporting the further development of Christian Education across the KWT network. She is especially interested in the outworking of special character education in the lives of ākonga and whānau and the significant impact this can have on communities.
Peter Wilding
Trustee
Peter is married to Rachel, and together they have three children who are all former KingsWay School students. He regularly attends church on the North Shore in Auckland.
In 2014 Peter became a Trustee of the Kingsway Trust as well as being appointed to The KingsWay School Board, where he served as Board Chairperson/Presiding Member from 2016 to 2022.
After finishing a long career as a senior manager with the New Zealand Fire Service, Peter accepted the role of Acting CEO for both the Kingsway Trust and the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust. He concluded this position in 2023 and now works as an independent consultant in governance for non-profit organisations. He currently sits as a trustee/Chairperson on the boards of several charitable trusts in New Zealand and Australia.
Peter sees the network of The KingsWay Trust schools as strategically important assets to the body of Christ. By educating young people through a framework of Christian education, these schools are growing and releasing young people to carry the heartbeat of Father God into our communities.
Luke Fenwick
Trustee
I grew up in Christchurch, and after school graduation divided my time between youth work, rugby, and studying classics and history at the University of Canterbury. I went on to read German history at University College, Oxford, where I took a doctorate in 2011. I have since worked with policy and tertiary institutions in London, Washington D.C., Moscow and Auckland. I’m currently with Venn Foundation as a teaching fellow.
I love asking and discussing questions. I’m primarily an learner. My current work inquires into resistance and conformity in Nazi Germany, and how we might think about them theologically and existentially. Both these dimensions excite me: inquiry need not remain in the ivory tower but should inform our lives as we live them coram deo.
Sport remains a passion. I played rugby for over 20 years—the highlight was running onto Twickenham in front of 25,000. I follow basketball and cycle when I can, while I also love music and foreign movies.
Most importantly, I’m married to the fabulous Olivia, whom I met through mutual friends some four years ago.
Stephanie Corban
Trustee
Stephanie is married to John and they have had three children. All three attended Immanuel Christian School in Avondale. Their eldest and youngest children completed years 1-8 at Immanuel, but sadly their middle child died in 2008 aged 6.
Immanuel was located at the site where Jireh Christian School is now located. Stephanie’s husband served on the Immanuel’s Board as Treasurer for 9 years and then Stephanie served for two years, during which time the negotiations with KingsWay Trust to relocate Jireh Christian School occurred.
Stephanie is passionate about Christian families having the choice to send their children to local Christian schools which are centred on God’s truth, where staff encourage children to grow in their love and knowledge of God, and children are equipped to live out their faith in their communities. Stephanie is a lawyer and joined the Trust in June 2018.
Allan Bates
Chairman
Allan and his wife are strong supporters of Christian Education, with their three children all graduating from KingsWay School.
A life-long journey of faith began as a teenager, attending a variety of church fellowships across Auckland, most recently as a contributing member of the Massey Riverhead Presbyterian parish.
Allan completed a graduate Diploma in Theology at Laidlaw College in 2014 with additional studies ongoing. Adding to his credentials as a Chartered Accountant, his experience in banking as a senior executive and more recently in a business advisory capacity, makes his a valuable contribution to the work of the Trust going forward.
Allan has been a board member of Jireh Christian School and KingsWay School since 2016, and he and his wife have owned and managed an early learning centre, until recently.
Allan has been elected Chair of the Trust from 2020, succeeding the retiring and long-serving Vaughan Darby, who has taken ‘one step back’ towards a well-deserved retirement in Tutukaka.
James Kimber
Trustee
James is married to Louisa and they have three children that have attended Horizon School and Kingsway School.
As a Parent Trustee at Horizon School for six years, James saw Kingsway Trust take over the proprietorship, the school’s name changed and the school gain extension to secondary. Since stepping down from Horizon’s Board he has been a Proprietor Trustee at Kingsway School. He has been a member of the finance committees for both schools.
James is a qualified management accountant (CIMA). He has held roles as the Head of Finance for a Christian ministry and as Executive Director for a Christian community organisation. James and his family are active members of Catch the Fire Church Auckland.
James’ hope is that ‘our children have the opportunity to identify, grow and fulfil their God-given potential so that they can go on to play their part in God’s great plan’.