The Transition Management Team has taken a strategic approach to composition of the District Board. The role of the board is to ensure we stay focused on a future where our district thrives.

Jan Boustead

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead Rotary in the South Island, Te Wai Pounamu, in 2022-23, as the first District Governor of the newly created District 9999.

In 1998 I joined the Rotary Club of Pahiatua in District 9940 serving as President 2002-03. After relocating to Christchurch I was invited to join the Rotary Club of Ferrymead serving as President 2011-12. My district leadership involvement includes district training from 2014- 2019. From 2017-2020 I held the role of Assistant Governor in Christchurch. In 2019 I transferred to the Rotary Club of Lincoln where my husband David and I currently reside.

When I am not doing Rotary ‘stuff’ I am an avid reader and my husband David, and I enjoy catching up with our 17 grandchildren who are spread over 5 towns and cities in New Zealand and Australia. I work fulltime as a Capability Facilitator with National Library, working with schools in the greater Canterbury region around the development of their school libraries, and providing training both face-to-face and online around digital literacy and reading engagement.

I am looking forward to meeting Rotarians around the district on my District Governor travels.

Phil Gully

Phil is currently District Governor Elect for District 9999. His Rotary career began in 1989 when he joined the Hastings Rotary Club. A move to Nelson in 1991 saw Phil join the Nelson Central Club (now Rutherford) where he was secretary for several years. After a break from Rotary, Phil was a charter member and first vice President of the Whakatū Rotary Club. Phil’s Presidency was in 2004/05 which coincided with Rotary’s centenary. There have been a number of roles as Assistant Governor, initially 2011-14 and then 2016-17. 

Phil also toured India with the New Zealand IFCIR-International Federation of Cricketing Rotarians in 2012. He is a past President of Commerce Nelson. Phil’s working life included 28 years in Broadcasting including Television though mainly radio management and concluded with another 18 in residential real estate. His passions include golfing (magnificent inconsistency), watching cricket and fishing (need to emphasise that one).

Phil’s wife Anna is also a Rotarian, past President of the Whakatū Club, past Assistant Governor and currently a Regionalisation District Representative (RDR). Phil says he could never contemplate the District Governor role without Anna’s guidance and help. Together they have two adult children. Rachel is Director of People and Culture at the old Wellington DHBs and Ben has his own glass company in Greymouth. They have two grandchildren Jimmy 18 and Billie-jean 15.

Dave McKissock

Dave is currently the District Governor Nominee for District 9999. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Invercargill South where he is a Past President (2012 – 2013) and has held several directorships since he joined the club in 2006. He is currently the club’s Membership Chair. At District Level, Dave was an Assistant Governor for the 2017-2019 period for District 9980, as well he has been involved with District 9980 Membership team, and Rotary Youth Exchange. He is currently involved with District 9999 Leadership and Development team as well as being on the Board.

In his professional life, Dave is the Managing Director / Principal Career Consultant for Southern Direction Career Consultancy in Invercargill for the past 17 years. Prior to that, he was a Secondary School Teacher for 20 years. He is a member of the Southland Chamber of Commerce and Trustee of the Norman Jones Foundation; as well Dave has previously been a Board Member for Volleyball NZ and the Career Development Association of New Zealand.

Dave’s passions include golf, fishing, mountain biking and caravanning, and he enjoys spending time with his family. Dave is married to Margaret and they have two children. Mark who is a Social Media Strategist in Australia and Julie is an Administration Manager. Dave and Margaret have two grandchildren Ruby aged 7 and Hudson aged 5.

Nick Wood

Nick joined the Rotary Club of Cromwell in 2012, serving as Club President in 2015-16 and assistant Governor 2018-20, District Governor of 9980 in 2021-22, Alumni of Rotaract Club of Dunedin in 2005-6 and a RYE student in 2003 in D2400, Sweden. This year he is serving as a member of the 9999 Board, Youth and RYE Chair. Nick is supported by his Wife Beth and sons Joseph (14) & Charlie (12). Professionally Nick is a master locksmith and works in the door hardware industry selling products globally. Family, Work and Rotary keeps life pretty busy for Nick leaving only some time to enjoy the Central Otago lifestyle and hide in his happy place, the vegetable garden.

Nick Courtney

Nick joined Papanui Rotary in 1996. He was Club President in 2003-04 and has served on most committees. Nick was District Governor of D9970 in 2021-22. Nick has served on the district 9970 Club Development Committee in recent years. He was closely involved in the development and chartering of the new-style Rolleston Rotary Club along with the Otatauhi Passport Club and is passionate about growing Rotary. This year Nick is leading the district 9999 Growing Rotary Team.

After completing an Architectural degree in Auckland, Nick established his own architectural practice in Christchurch in 1986. He continues an active role in the practice with his team. Nick is married to Liz, also a Rotarian and Past District Governor of D9970. They have five children and nine grandchildren living in New Zealand and Western Australia. Spare time, when available, involves some cycling, classic cars, gardening and travelling overseas.

Mark Yaxley

Mark is from Dunedin, he joined the Rotary Club of Waitaki in 2002 as a natural extension to his work with the community as an engineer working in local government. He and his wife Stella and their 3 children migrated to Christchurch in 2004. After a brief Rotary holiday he joined the Avonhead club in 2008 serving as president in 2010-11 (the year of the Christchurch earthquakes). His ‘rotary moment’ was participating in the club’s post-earthquake project supporting families of a low decile school with simple tasks such as doing their laundry over several weeks.

A District Board member since 2012 he is also the NZ DG year group representative on the Zone 8 Regional Pilot programme. He is currently the chair of the Rotary Foundation District Grants committee.

Outside of Rotary his interests include landscaping, cycling, fishing and holiday golf, and overseas travel.

Paige Sullivan

Paige is the President of the Rotary Club of Lincoln. Her love for community service was ignited by her own club members when she was 11. After attending RYLA 2019, she joined Rotary. She served as the first Environmental Services Director for her club. She has been a member of RYLA, New Generations and Environmental District Committees. This year Paige has oversight of the Policies and Procedures committee and will be shadowing the Growing Rotary committee.

Paige recently led her first large-scale Rotary project, in which she brought together 19 Rotary Clubs and external sponsors to raise $31,000 to purchase 298 Youth Health a brand new, 2022 model car to help reduce the transport barriers young people face in receiving healthcare.

Paige is a member of eight not-for-profit boards outside of Rotary and is a member of the Institute of Directors. Outside of this, Paige is a fourth year LLB and BCom (Marketing) student at the University of Canterbury. Paige and her boyfriend Will live in Halswell with their three dogs. Paige loves shopping, Taylor Swift, and is currently learning to snowboard.

Craig Murphy

Craig has been a member of the Rotary Club of Riccarton for 12 years. He has been on the District Grants Committee and the District Vocational Training Committee for the past 6 years. Currently in his third year as an Assistant to the District Governor with responsibility for the Rotary Clubs of Rangiora, Belfast Kaiapoi, Avon- Ōtakaro, Bishopdale Burnside, Papanui and Avonhead.

From 1 July this year Craig was appointed as an elected Director of the D9999 Board with oversight of the District Finance Committee and the District Youth Committee. Craig is married to Shirley and they have two adult daughters and a grand-daughter. In his working life Craig spent 30 years with a major oil company, 13 of these off-shore, and retired as Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Tunisia in 2003.

Claire Ramsay

Claire has been a Rotarian since 1998 when she joined Dunedin South club.

She's held a range of positions in the club including various Director roles. Bulletin editor, president and club historian and club directory compiler.

She has been a counsellor for Rotary scholars and for about 10 years D9980 scholar coordinator - a role she loves and will continue in the new D9999.

Claire has been Assistant District Governor in D9980 and served on the Foundation and PR committees at various times.