>>> BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
The Philips Search and Rescue Trust that operates and manages
the air ambulance in Hamilton and rescue helicopters in
Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo and Palmerston North is governed
by an independent board of trustees, and is a charitable
trust approved by the Inland Revenue Department.
Errol Millar
Executive Chairman
Errol Millar is an experienced company director and management consultant based in the South Island. He is chairman of Aquestra Ltd, a Government appointed director of the Otago District Health Board and deputy chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. Previous directorships have included the Airways Corporation of NZ. His exposure in matters of finance, aviation and health provides the Trust with invaluable governance experience.
Patricia Bayley
Trustee
Patricia joined the Trust in 1996 and has spent some 16 years working with Federated Farmers. She is a member of the Otorohanga District Development Board and continues in partnership with husband, Michael, to manage a 1600 hectare sheep and beef property in Otorohanga.
Stewart Davies
Trustee
Stewart’s relationship with the Trust commenced with the establishment of the Palmerston North base. He brings to the Trust an emergency management focus with lengthy service in the NZ Police Force. Many years of search and rescue work saw Stewart the recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal in 2003. He is currently engaged at the Palmerston North City Council as the Emergency Management Coordinator.
Terry Burcher MBChB (Otago) 1972 FRACS 1980
Trustee
Terry is a General and Laparoscopic Surgeon. He was a surgeon based at Taupo Hospital at the time of the light plane crash that initiated the search funded by Philips NZ Ltd. An interest in trauma surgery saw Terry appointed a Trustee at the inception of the Trust. He has been in private practice in Hamilton for many years.
MANAGEMENT
John Funnell MBE
Chief Pilot / Operations Manager
John is one of New Zealand’s most experienced and qualified aviators. He piloted the helicopter on the search and rescue mission to locate the missing executives of Philips NZ Ltd and was instrumental in developing the Philips Search & Rescue Trust. In 1983 he received an MBE for his services to search and rescue and in 2000 an NZBM for a remarkable rescue from Campbell Island.
David is a director in a chartered accountancy practice in Taupo and has played a major role in the financial operations of the Trust since 1987. He gained considerable insight into health-related issues as a former director on both the Lakeland Health Board and the Health Waikato Board and is a trustee on the board of Ambulance New Zealand - an organisation that represents the general ambulance sector.
