TWO DECADES OF QUIET STEWARDSHIP

After two decades of dedicated service, Jenny Casey has officially stepped down from her role as a Trustee of The Tindall Foundation.  

Since joining the Board in 2006, Jenny has helped guide the Foundation through much of its 31-year history, providing thoughtful leadership, strong governance, and an unwavering commitment to the values and hopes of founders and friends Margaret and Stephen Tindall. 

A qualified lawyer, Jenny spent much of her career in the legal sector, including as Information and Research Manager for a national law firm. In 2005, she made a conscious decision to shift her focus away from the corporate world and towards work that would contribute more directly to the community. 

For Jenny, becoming a trustee of The Tindall Foundation was not a responsibility she intended to take on lightly.  

“If I was going to do it, I wanted to give it my full commitment.”

That commitment was grounded in a long-standing friendship with Margaret and Stephen Tindall. The families had known each other for many years, raising children through similar life stages, serving together in school communities and building a strong friendship based on shared values and trust. Jenny says it immediately felt like an organisation she could wholeheartedly support.  

“I remember thinking that everything about it appealed to me. It aligned with what I felt was important and the kind of difference I wanted to contribute to.”

“I was totally on board.”

“From the beginning, I was attracted to the idea they had of helping ensure that people weren’t left behind. Sometimes that means meeting immediate needs, and that’s important, but I’ve always believed the greatest impact comes from helping people build capability and opportunity for themselves and their families – as Stephen would describe back then, a hand-up not a handout.”

Of all the causes supported during her time as a Trustee, Jenny speaks most passionately about the Foundation’s focus on children and families. 

“The more I see and read, the more I believe that if you look after children in those early years, many problems simply don’t eventuate later.”

An early Board retreat, including a lead researcher from the Otago longitudinal studies, reinforced a belief that lasting change comes through prevention rather than intervention. This thinking helped shape the Foundation’s more intentional commitment to supporting children and whānau during the critical early years of life. 

Whether through parenting programmes, early childhood support, health initiatives, housing improvements, or family financial wellbeing, Jenny saw the greatest value in approaches that addressed the wider socio-economic circumstances surrounding children.  

“It isn’t just one thing,” she explains. “Research shows that if you want better outcomes, you need to look at the whole picture.” 

And that’s what the Foundation has always done, focused on the essential conditions for whānau wellbeing.  

Jenny recalled some of the Foundation’s most meaningful initiatives supporting children and young people, including SPACE, Brainwave, Engage, and a range of maternal mental health programmes. She also pointed to initiatives such as JobFest and Pūhoro STEMM Academy, helping rangatahi explore career opportunities and succeed in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and mātauranga Māori.

Like all Foundation Trustees, Jenny’s time was voluntary, and while much of her contribution happened behind the scenes, her professional expertise was incredibly valuable and played an important role in helping the Foundation navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment. 

“I always felt my role was protection and accountability,” she says. “You need to understand what’s changing and make sure you’re doing things properly.”

Throughout her time on the Board, Jenny closely monitored developments in charitable governance and legislation, regularly reviewing legal updates and helping the Board understand new requirements and maintain strong oversight. 

Stephen Tindall recalls the reassurance this brought to the Board. 

“She kept us up to date and kept us out of trouble,” he says with a smile.

“The charitable sector became much more heavily regulated during Jenny’s time as a Trustee. She was constantly reading, researching, and making sure we understood what was changing and what our obligations were.”

For Jenny, that was never about being “cautious for the sake of it.” 

“Good governance provides a foundation that allows organisations to pursue their purpose confidently and effectively.”

Looking back over 20 years, Jenny says one of the Foundation’s greatest strengths has been its willingness to trust communities and back local leadership. 

She points to the Local Donation Manager network as one of the Foundation’s superpowers, enabling donation decisions to be guided by people who know their communities best and understand local opportunities and challenges. Working within The Tindall Foundation’s strategic focus and donations guidelines, these trusted partners help to direct support where it is needed most. 

“It would be impossible to achieve that reach otherwise,” she says, “those local relationships matter.”

She also recalls the Foundation’s role in supporting the establishment and growth of Community Foundations across Aotearoa, creating enduring sources of local generosity and community investment. 

Jenny has been encouraged by the Foundation’s growing focus on long-term, systemic change, supporting initiatives that address the root causes of challenges rather than responding to their symptoms. This included supporting the NZ Housing Foundation and supporting partnerships with Community Finance to help create pathways to safe, affordable housing. 

“I’m very supportive of the work that has been done through focused efforts in the regions – recognising that many social challenges are intertwined with housing, economic opportunity, remoteness, and access to resources.”

Growing up in Te Tai Tokerau, Jenny took particular interest in projects that combine environmental protection with community wellbeing such as the restoration of Lake Omapere or efforts to protect Te Warawara and Waipoua Forest.  

She reflects on the strength of initiatives that have brought together iwi, landowners, environmental groups, and local communities, adding that “the collective effort is always greater, and when people come together around a shared purpose, that’s where you see real change.”

Jenny has also valued the Foundation’s support for nationally significant environmental initiatives such as Trees That Count, Reconnecting Northland and Pure Advantage, which have helped elevate the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainability across Aotearoa. Together, these experiences have reinforced her belief that resilience will be increasingly important for future generations. 

The future will bring enormous change. Technology, economic shifts, climate impacts, and geopolitical uncertainty. 

“In an increasingly unpredictable world, we need to proactively search for and anticipate not only the potential challenges but also the advantages that these developments may bring.”

“Readiness for both will help to focus on what is essential: the wellbeing of people, the strength of communities, and the health of our planet.”

“And perhaps most importantly, we need to foster a sense that we’re all in this together.”

When asked what makes The Tindall Foundation unique, Jenny returns to its people. 

“Margaret and Stephen.”

“They have always had a purity of focus. They genuinely want to help people thrive and help New Zealand thrive. There’s no ego about it. It’s about others.”

“I hope those values continue to be infused throughout the Foundation.”

As she steps down, Jenny says her decision reflects a belief in succession and stewardship. 

“I could happily have continued but there comes a time when you need to step aside and make room for others to learn, contribute, and carry things forward.”

She leaves heartened by the Foundation’s commitment to young children, families, communities, and long-term impact, trusting that these values will continue to guide its future. 

Asked to sum up her 20 years with The Tindall Foundation in a single word, Jenny doesn’t hesitate. 

“Rewarding. It was a privilege to be able to help.”

“It has been hard work sometimes, “she laughs. “But it’s also been enriching, fulfilling, and a lot of fun.”

Over two decades she has witnessed extraordinary examples of generosity, innovation, resilience, and community leadership.  

“Jenny has been a wonderful Trustee and a dear friend. She has given so generously of her time over the past 20 years, offered us wisdom and guidance through periods of change, and helped shape decisions that have made a meaningful difference for communities. I will greatly miss having Jenny around the Trustee table, but we were so blessed to have had her alongside us for as long as we did,”

– says Margaret Tindall. 

As Jenny steps away from the Trustee table, she leaves behind a legacy of thoughtful governance, quiet stewardship, and an unwavering commitment to help create a better future for others.  

And for The Tindall Foundation, twenty years of service is something far greater than a milestone.  

It is a gift.  

Thank you Jenny.