Introducing our team

By John Blaikie | Posted: Thursday October 24, 2019

The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation was established in 2005 with the sole purpose of benefitting the school.

It is widely accepted that the school needs another means of providing financial support for its ever-growing programmes and opportunities. It is for this reason the Foundation seeks the support of the wider Otago Boys’ family and beyond.

The strategy of the school is very future-focused. The education experience does not just relate to academic achievement, although that is vital. Nor does it relate solely to cultural or sporting success. It relates to the collection of experiences that produce a confident, resilient and resourceful adult with the skills and motivation to prosper in what is likely to be a complex and challenging 21st century world. An adult with a strong sense of achievement but also a strong moral compass.

We acknowledge trust in the Foundation needs to be earned and confidence rebuilt. We are in the process of conducting a strategic review to make sure we are positioned well for the future to ensure the boys further their education, learning and development.

As a newly formed group we are committed to doing this through hard work, more meaningful engagement with the wider Otago Boys’ High School community, and an underlying passion for the school.

On that note, I would like to introduce the new members of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

John Blaikie - Chair

John attended school from 1987 to 1991 before completing degrees at the Otago University and at the University of Cambridge (UK). He also had a nine year professional rugby career in New Zealand and France. John is married to Tara and has three children.

John is now an Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners and has been involved in the financial services industry (both in New Zealand and overseas) since 2008.

He is passionate about the school and wants to ensure the right structures are in place to enable the school to continue to provide an outstanding education and experience for our pupils.

Paul Twemlow - Deputy Chair

Paul attended Otago Boys 1991-1995 and then the Dunedin College of Education. A keen interest in Tech saw him working in computer hardware and then the finance and insurance industries.

In 2009, together with his wife Rebecca, he started the Marketing Digital Transformation Agency, Firebrand. Providing business strategy, branding and full service digital marketing and technology solutions,  tailored to start, build and grow NZ businesses and not for profits.

Paul is kept busy with 2 tweenagers, Tayla and Mason,  and can often be found coaching or supporting from the sidelines of the courts and fields around Dunedin.

Geoff Bates - Old Boys' Society President

Geoff is currently the President of the OBHS Old Boys’ Society (1972-1976). This followed a six year stint on the Board of Trustees (three as Chairman) where he had the pleasure of appointing our current Rector, Richard Hall.

From this association Geoff has a very good understanding of what makes the school tick, the financial challenges we face as a state school, and an even greater appreciation of the demands placed on the educators of the young men our fine old school produces.

In business life Geoff is the Managing Director of Terramark Ltd, a Surveying, Land Development Engineering and Resource Management consultancy with offices in Dunedin, Mosgiel and Balclutha. He holds a Bachelor of Surveying degree from Otago University and has been a principal in private practice for 30 years.

Geoff is married to Heather and has a daughter Samantha (30) and son Josh (23), now a young Old Boy of Otago Boys and about to embark on a teaching career.

Jamie Cargill

Since finishing school Jamie has gained degrees in commerce and information science from the University of Otago. Following university Jamie worked for Ernst and Young in Auckland, before travelling overseas, and settling back in the Otago region in 2004. Jamie is married to Jo and has two sons, Thomas and Henry.

Jamie currently owns a company providing project management services for construction and has been involved in a number of large projects across the Otago region over the last 15 years.

Jamie is a trustee of Balmacewen School, a Council member of the Society of Construction Law, and recently completed an 18-month director programme with DCHL.

Jamie is excited to be involved with the Foundation as it re-establishes and focuses on supporting a number of strategic capital projects for the school.

Tim Doherty

Tim attended the School from 1994 to 1998 before attending both Lincoln and Otago Universities, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce.

Tim is married to Lucy, a solicitor at Gallaway Cook Allan, and has two children Georgie and Edward. Tim has had a 15 year banking career, both as an agribusiness banker, and currently as Manager – Strategic Business Services for a large New Zealand Bank, devising and implementing business turn-around and working out strategies for high risk exposures.

Des Smith

Des was educated at Otago University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1966. He taught at OBHS from 1968 – 1995, being Deputy Rector in his final five years at the school. He was the first Manager of the Edgar Sports Centre before managing both the Highlanders and Otago Rugby Teams from 1997-2004.

Before retiring in 2014 he held the position of Operations Manager for the NZ Secondary Schools Sports Council, overseeing secondary school sport throughout the country. For the past 4 years Des has been President of the Otago Rugby Football Union.

In 2017 he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Rugby and the Community. During the past four years Des has been assisting the school in a number of ways, including being on the Fundraising Committee to redevelop the Hostel,  and has raised money to assist families who struggle financially. Des is married to Raylene and has three children and ten grandchildren. Both of his sons are old boys, while his oldest grandson is in year 9.

Jon Foote

Jon attended the school from 1991 to 1995 going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Otago University. He is the founding director of local business intelligence and data analytics consulting practice, Flock Consulting.

Jon has 13 years’ experience in business intelligence and data analytics,  both locally and overseas,  and is passionate about using this experience to support the school through the school foundation board. Jon is a member of the Institute of Directors.