We are a small team of locals with a wide range of skills and experiences. Some of us have been in the Bay for generations and others are newbies. We are passionate about the Bay and look forward to working with you.
You can contact us here
Sheila Hart
Chair
Sheila originally moved to Island Bay in 2009 and enjoyed 5 years just off Severn Street. Work and medical training took her off to Toronto for a year and on her return, she headed to Southgate Road where she has lived since. She describes this as living in a tiny bit of paradise!
Sheila is an anaesthetist at Wellington Regional Hospital. She has worked there since coming to Wellington, initially to finish her training and then as a Senior Medical Officer. She is the Deputy Clinical Director of the Department of Anaesthesia and currently the Immediate Past President of the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists.
In her spare time, she enjoys keeping active on 2 feet or 2 wheels, enjoying the wealth of beautiful countryside that Wellington and NZ have to offer. You will also see her wandering the streets of the bay and surrounding areas with her wee pooch!
Sheila is passionate about creating a connected community – a connected community is a strong community. She hopes to help grow the relationships in the community of Island Bay and Southgate as she enters 2023 as the chair of the Residents’ Association Committee, bringing her values of fairness, inclusiveness and transparency that serve her well in her professional life.
Jeff McDonald
Treasurer
“It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility, and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future.”
Robert F. Kennedy
When Jeff arrived in Te Whanganui a-tara, his colleagues threw names into a hat of where he should live…..
He was hoping for a place where he felt a part of a village where he would find manakitanga. Somewhere safe, friendly, inclusive and compassionate. The majority suggested Island Bay and he indeed found the village.
Jeff and his whanau have lived here since 2013, in that time they have developed a network of amazing friends and established bonds of support and community.
Jeff is a filmmaker with a focus on creating stories that deal with humanitarian issues and inequities. He has an education in science, communications, film and management. He has worked in public relations, community care, management, governance, film producing and directing. Recently Jeff had the privilege of being the CEO of a charity for almost two years.
Jeff sees the ensuing challenges for Island Bay and Wellington being housing affordability and density, infrastructure, our natural environment, reduced opportunities, economic inequities, community support and connectedness.
As a committee member, Jeff’s goal will be to be collaborative, empathetic, consultative and connected with his local community. He strongly believes in supporting a community that celebrates its people, its diversity, mutual respect, heritage and culture.
Jeff will represent the Island Bay Community with integrity, imagination and humour, having a positive impact on current and future residents.
Jeff’s children have grown up here and he looks forward to living here for many years to come. Jeff is proud of his community and hopes that he can contribute to the preservation of its mana.
Catherine Inder
Co-secretary
Catherine has lived on The Parade in Island Bay for 14 years. Catherine has a background in law and health and currently works at the hospital in Newtown in the Strategy and Planning directorate. Catherine is supporting the implementation of a networked, community-designed, localities-based health system and wants to help foster a strong, inclusive, kind, and caring community in the Bay. Catherine has many hobbies and passions, too many to list, and is part of a large, close extended family spread throughout Aotearoa. Catherine promises to work hard for IBRA supporting and contributing where needed.
Sally Page
Co-secretary
Sally has lived in Island Bay since early 2020, when she, her husband and two children Georgia (6) and Hazel (3) moved back to Aotearoa from Beijing, China. She works at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Sally loves being involved in her community and wants to help create an environment in which children can explore safely and thrive. She is passionate about looking after our environment and taking climate action. She is keen to help create a Residents’ Association that celebrates and reflects all the different cultures, ages, and views of our community. Sally was previously involved in the Berhampore Community Association, and in addition to having lived in China, she has also lived in Fiji. She loves the outdoors and can often be seen riding her bike with her kids through the village, hiking or running in the bush, or surfing at Lyall Bay.
Riki Anderson
Committee Member
Riki always intended to return to live in Wellington after leaving as a teenager. It has been home again since 2003. She moved to Island Bay in 2011, when her son started at Island Bay School, and she really enjoyed being part of the school community during these years.
Riki feels fortunate to live in Island Bay, with its strong sense of community, local village and great amenities, and having the wonderful south coast on its doorstep.
Riki works locally as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking with the dog on the beach, jogging, gardening and spending time in the great outdoors.
She values the importance of working as part of a team professionally and knows that collaboration between people is powerful and brings a synergy that isn’t possible individually.
With her involvement in IBRA, Riki is keen to extend her understanding of current issues for the Island Bay residents and contribute to the local community.
Sonya Cameron
Committee member
Sonya has lived in Island Bay since 2010 and loves the village feel, her great neighbours, the beautiful beach and Manawa Karioi bush walks. She works as a researcher and policy analyst focusing on food security for Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective. She was a co-founder and is a steering committee member for Wellington Timebank, and cares about growing strong, inclusive communities.
Ben Everist
Committee member
As a family man who recently welcomed his fourth child, when Ben’s not working as an award-winning real estate agent, he’s parenting, involved with kids’ sports and activities, or actively working on ways he can reduce his family’s waste footprint.
Ben is well-travelled and worldly, but since moving to Island Bay has been passionate about contributing back to his community.
Ben’s focus on the committee is to encourage inclusion and kindness in our community, support WCC on ways Island Bay can take a lead on reducing waste in our community, and finally support the facilitation with the community to gather views on creating and improving Island Bay’s community assets and town centre.
Mark Henderwood
Committee member
Mark has lived locally with his family since 2009 and loves being part of this community. As Priest in Charge at St Hilda’s Anglican Church, he leads a team to serve the local parish, encouraging engagement and participation. Overseeing the earthquake strengthening the church, you’ll see a significant transformation for the building in 2022. He coordinates the chaplaincy team at Massey University Wellington and studies theology at Otago University.
As a nurse, Mark’s current work focuses on clinical education for intensive care environments, particularly with ventilators and patient monitoring.
Mark supports his wife Gillian’s music, with gigs and recording.
Andrew Lourantos
Committee Member
Kirsty Smith
Committee member
Chris Wratt
Committee member
Chris and his family have lived in Island Bay for over 20 years now. Although relatively new to ‘the bay’ compared to some, Chris loves the small coastal village feel that it has. His family is closely connected to Island Bay United Football and both Chris and his partner Charlotte are active volunteers there.
Chris is a teacher at St Francis de Sales School and he loves the historical connection between the school, church, and the original Italian families which began settling here over 100 years ago. He is beginning to learn to speak Italian and jokes that he is transitioning to becoming Italian one day.
Chris put his hand up for IBRA because he loves this place and believes that he has broad connections and a good feel for what residents want for our suburb.
Island Bay Residents' Association 