Westburn Te Kura o Hereora School Board

Board of Trustees — March 5th, 2025

Welcome to the Westburn Te Kura o Hereora School Board's webpage

School Boards were established with the introduction of Tomorrow’s Schools in 1989. They consist of elected, selected and/or co-opted members from the school community and their role is to govern the school. The Board is responsible for establishing goals and priorities and ensuring that the Principal has the necessary resources to manage the school day-to-day.

Board meeting minutes are available on request from admin@westburn.school.nz

2025 BOARD MEMBERS

Chair/Presiding Member

Tamsyn Isherwood

Kia ora e te whānau. Ko Tamsyn tōku ingoa.

I’m proud to be the Presiding Member (Board Chair) of Westburn Te Kura o Hereora. I have been a member of the Westburn community since returning to Christchurch in 2021 after three years in Malaysia, where my husband taught at an international school. My daughter is currently in Year 7, and my son loved his three years at Westburn before moving on to high school.

I love being part of this welcoming school community and bring experience in communication and governance through my background in radio and my role at Perennial, a local sport and turf equipment company. It’s a privilege to support the school and help create the best opportunities for our students.

Board Members
Catherine Woodward	I am proud to serve the Westburn Te Kura o Hereora community as a member of the School Board. I have two children currently attending the school (Years 2 and 5 in 2024), and our whānau has called Ōtautahi Christchurch home since 2010. With a background in psychology and over 13 years' experience in Human Resources, I currently work at Christchurch Airport. I am passionate about how people work together and look forward to supporting the school through this lens.
John Willetts	As a parent and active member of the school community, I am committed to supporting our students, teachers, and families. I believe in fostering an environment where every child has access to high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed. With experience in strategic leadership, I aim to contribute to the Board in a way that strengthens our school’s future and ensures our children are well-prepared for the world ahead.
Allen Hou	Kia ora 大家好, my name is Allen Hou (侯祖德) and I’m excited to join the Westburn Primary School Board. I grew up in Christchurch after migrating from Taiwan as a child, and I’m now raising my own family here. Much of my work centres around supporting young people and migrant families, especially through my role as the founder of Asian Community Transformation Trust—a local charity focused on mental health, education, and building stronger communities. I believe every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and confident in who they are—both in their learning and in life. I’m passionate about fostering inclusive environments where families from all backgrounds feel a sense of belonging and partnership with the school. I look forward to serving the Westburn community and helping our school continue to grow as a place where every child can thrive.
Jimmy Franks	Living nearby, I’m excited to walk my first of two children to Westburn School in 2026 and become part of a community known for its great reputation and strong learning outcomes. My family has a long standing connection with Westburn - my father is a former student, and my niece and nephew currently attend. As a Chartered Accountant with over a decade of experience in finance, I will bring a strong foundation in strategic planning, financial oversight, and leadership to the Westburn School Board. Through the Board, I aim to support Westburn’s financial sustainability and ensure the school continues to deliver outstanding academic and extracurricular opportunities for today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders. I’m excited by the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the school community.