Our Board Members
Brigid McDonald
Chair
Brigid joined the Board in November 2022, with a passion for enabling access to justice, community empowerment, and good governance.
She has worked as a lawyer in the areas of property, infrastructure, resource management, and broader local government matters, and in a central government role managing a national work programme for housing development feasibility and property acquisition. Currently, Brigid works as in-house counsel in local government.
Brigid is a Member of the Institute of Directors.
Born and raised in Rotorua and now living in Tauranga Moana (via Tāmaki Makaurau), Brigid is an advocate for a thriving Bay of Plenty region and its diverse communities.
Laura Gaveika
Deputy Chair
Laura brings extensive experience and a passion for governance that positively impacts the community. As the previous BOP Branch Manager for the Institute of Directors NZ she organised and attended hundreds of governance-focused events nationwide, gaining insight into boardroom dynamics.
Laura holds governance roles as a Baywide Trustee, Te Puke Gymsport Committee Member, Trustee for Louise Nicholas Trust and Owner/Director of TORA Limited. Her academic focus on cultural psychology fuels her fascination with people and collective impact.
Laura is recognised for her governance potential and her ability to thrive in board environments. She is dedicated to advancing diversity in governance, supported by her Māori governance qualification and commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Maz McKevitt
Board Secretary
A volunteer for the Citizens Advice Bureau Whakatāne for 7 years, Maz has worked as a secondary school teacher, tutor, and industry trainer, as well as an administrator in the education and health fields. She served as Secretary (2016-2018) and Chair (2018-2021) of the CAB Whakatāne Board, and for 4 years was a Trustee on the National Board of CABNZ.
Maz was an inaugural member of the BOPDHB Health Consumer Council 2018-2019. She has been a Baywide trustee since 2018 and has been Chair since 2021. Maz is driven to support a fair and just society and is committed to the Baywide focus on access to free legal advice, information and education.
Helen Stewart
Helen was Executive Director of the Kawerau Enterprise Agency (KEA) Inc from 2002-2018. She is interested in community development and chairs Kawerau and Districts Ageing in Place (KADAP) Inc and STEAM-ED Charitable Trust in Tauranga.
Helen has been active in the voluntary sector for many years and is involved with several non-profit organisations across the wider Bay of Plenty. She also had 2 terms on the Bay of Plenty Institute of Directors Committee.
Dale Eru
Since returning to NZ in 2017, Dale has moved from a career in commercial media to working with, for and in her community. Dale joined Baywide as a trustee in November 2022 and is a trustee for Whakapoungakou 24 (Tikitere Trust). Dale has also volunteered for numerous not-for-profits and charitable trusts in the UK and Australia. These include Magic Me (arts based intergenerational projects), Positive Lives (an international photographic project documenting the impact of HIV & AIDS around the world) and Te Reo Maioha ki Poihakena.
Ayla Naidoo
Ayla is a lawyer and works in Strategy & Policy for her local Council, channelling her heart for others into strategic planning and oversight of projects, including the creation and review of Bylaws/Policies, as well as leading the development of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy whilst being involved in human rights academia.
Ayla is also on the Board of Hope St. Charity, whose mission is to give the most vulnerable children and communities hope for the future. Ayla has been a part of advisory groups focusing on DEI and Wellbeing, and is a member of the Institute of Directors. She loves volunteering and has been passionate about community causes from a young age.
Kate Ashcroft
Kate Ashcroft is a Partner at Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers, a national firm providing specialist advice, representation and support across the full ambit of workplace law issues, including employment, health and safety and immigration. In this role, Kate provides commercially pragmatic, tailored solutions to client issues.
Kate has also always had a passion for volunteering, including holding non-profit governance roles throughout her career.
Kate is a member of the Institute of Directors and is on the Bay of Plenty Branch Committee of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ).