about us

Nova’s vision is to change life for better, helping people affected
by alcohol, drugs and other life changes to change their lives and
fulfil their potential. Nova service-users will live better, healthier
and more independent lives.

At Nova we aspire to make a real impact and change life for the better, driven by our values.

Ambition
Nova is ambitious for service-users, supporting them to reach their full potential.

Service-users ﬁrst
Nova’s service-users & customers are at the centre of what we do; responding ﬂexibly to their needs is our focus.

Partnership
Working with service-users, partners and other stakeholders is the preferred Nova way of working. Nova seeks to fulﬁl ambitions and sustain outcomes, inclusively and together.

Integrity
Nova people operate with integrity, honesty and openness.
No question goes unanswered; no explanation is withheld.

Responsibility
Nova people work responsibly and are accountable to our service-users, to each other, our communities and other stakeholders. Our service-users develop personal responsibility & accountability whilst at Nova.

Engagement
Nova actively engages its People, service-users, whanau and communities in what we do. Working together we achieve so much more, fulﬁl potential and sustain real change.

Leadership team

Chief Executive
Steve Rossell

Operations Manager
Norman Mene-Vaele

Chief Executive
Steve Rossell

Steve is a Psychology graduate (Brunel University London), with post-graduate qualifications in Management (Kingston University) and Direction & Leadership (Institute of Directors). He’s an Innovative and determined leader, with 30 years’ experience of leading and developing NGOs & social enterprises in the social and health care sectors. Steve has a wealth of governance experience and has operated at a strategic and senior management level, leading service organisations in the UK, across Europe and New Zealand, joining Nova as CE in 2017. He’s a Chartered Director, Chartered Member & Fellow of the IoD (UK), Chartered Member of the IoD (NZ), and, Fellow of the RSA.

:steve.rossell@novatrust.org.nz
:03 349 2053

Operations Manager
Norman Mene-Vaele

Norman is a graduate of the University of Otago (National Addiction Centre) and WELTEC with post-graduate training and education in Health Sciences and AoD studies. Norman is an accredited DAPAANZ AoD practitioner, a visiting lecturer and trainer, teaching on the Te Taketake ‘Diploma in Addiction Studies’, at Otago Polytech, as well as guest lecturer in Pacific Engagement within University of Otago’s National Addiction Centre. Norman has 13 years’ experience in the health and AoD sectors, in a range of settings. Norman joined Nova in 2019, as the Manager of Nova Recovery, becoming Operations Manager in 2020.

:norman.vaele@novatrust.org.nz
:03 349 2053

our board

Chairman

Stu Myles

Stu is a well-established commercial business owner and leader. He has over 30 years’ experience in finance, marketing and general management and brings a passion for governance and business strategy. Stu is currently an active director of a number of successful commercial ventures, including MTF Finance, Myles & Fairhall Ltd, and was a founding Trustee and Chair of TOC Ltd, an organisation that provides development and performance opportunities for talented Cantabrians. He is a Chartered Member (CMInstD) of the Institute of Directors and joined the Nova Board in 2011. In 2021, Stu was elected as Nova Trust’s Board Chair.

Board Member

John Cumberpatch

John is a proud Cantabrian, educated in Christchurch and holds an MBA from Massey University. Until retiring John was GM Operations at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) having starting as GM Establishment in March 2011. Previously John has held a number of senior commercial and public roles, with the Department of Conservation, Noel Leeming and the Firestone Tire & Rubber. John has a keen interest in management and leadership and developed significant skills in governance and management that equip him well to support the Trust as a Board Member, assuming the Chair’s role between 2018 and 2021.

Board Member

Gerard Fairhall

Gerard is a registered medical practitioner and Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He has worked for many years as a General Practitioner in Kaiapoi. Gerard has been a Board member of Nova Trust since its inception in 1981, having started as one of the founding Board members of the Trust. He has had a career long interest in the management and treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, having seen and worked with the impacts of such on the communities and individuals he has worked with in his practice.

Board Member

Glenda Harvey

Glenda is General Manager, People Culture Safety, at WorkSafe New Zealand. Glenda has 25 years’ experience as a broad based results oriented Executive Manager in supply chain, health and safety, human resources and governance roles within the construction industry and health sector. She brings strong leadership and change management capability, governance and risk management skills and well developed business acumen to her executive and governance roles. Glenda joined Nova’s Board as a Trustee in 2019.

Board Member

Murray Donald

Murray is a business owner and farmer based in Southland, with a wealth of experience in farming, the agri-sector and property management. He is passionate about productive enterprises that contribute to the NZ economy and, outside of his business interests, brings over thirty years’ experience of Governance, in the farming, agri-business and education sectors. Murray is involved in a number of community organisations local to his home and is a Chartered Fellow (CFInstD) of the Institute of Directors New Zealand. Murray joined the Nova Board in 2021.

Board Member

Justine White

Justine is currently the Chief Financial and Commercial Services Officer, at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, an economic, cultural development and tourism agency, in her current role, she has executive responsibility for the strategic and operational financial management, procurement, risk and assurance, legal, facilities and commercial portfolios. Justine has over 25 years experience leading finance, corporate services, and commercial functions in large scale organisations across a variety of sectors, most notably in health & social services, banking, and financial services. Justine is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the New Zealand Institute of Directors and joined Nova’s Board as a Trustee in May 2022.