Board of Trustees
John Elliott – BCom, CA
Chairman
A seasoned international executive with an extensive leadership record across several industries, John combines global experience in a variety of retail businesses with particular strengths and interest in strategy and planning, corporate governance and change leadership. Having played an important role in the establishment of Maxim Institute during 2001 as a founding Trustee, John relinquished his role as a Trustee of Maxim Institute while he was based in Chicago from 2002 to 2006. He returned to Auckland with his family in mid-2006 and rejoined the Board of Trustees, and accepted the appointment as Chair upon the retirement of Peter McNee in December 2006. John is married to Debbie and they have two sons.
John Graham – CBE, MA (Hons)
Founding Trustee
A former All Black Captain, Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School and Chancellor of Auckland University, John has invested his life in training and inspiring young New Zealanders. His considerable concern with this country's social and educational indicators led to him playing an instrumental role in founding Maxim Institute. John is married to Shiela and they have three children and four grandchildren.
Spokespeople and Key Personnel
Greg Fleming – CA, BCA
Chief Executive Officer
Greg leads the team at Maxim Institute, which he co-founded with Bruce Logan (now retired) in 2001. Greg studied at Victoria University and began his career in finance as a chartered accountant before spending four years as General Manager of Parenting with Confidence (now Parents Inc). In July 2005, Greg was honoured to receive a prestigious Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award. Greg is married to Kirsty and they have four children.
Alex Penk – LLM, LLB (Hons), BSc
Policy and Research Manager
Alex is responsible for managing Maxim Institute's policy and research work. This includes policy analysis and submissions and our research reports. Alex joined Maxim Institute in December 2005 after completing a Master of Laws at Cambridge University. He also spent time as a Pegasus Scholar in London, working with experienced barristers of the Inner Temple. Alex also holds degrees in law and science from the University of Auckland. Before leaving for Cambridge, he practised law with Chapman Tripp in Auckland. Alex is married to Angela and they have two children.
Contact Alex Penk for all policy and research related enquiries
Annette Pereira – BA (Hons)
Communications Manager
Annette has a first class honors degree in Communications majoring in writing and cultural studies from the University of Technology in Sydney. Prior to joining Maxim Institute she worked with a number of community organisations in supporting "at-risk" youth, most recently in the role of co-facilitator of a "Links to Learning" programme, helping adolescent boys to re-engage in their education. Annette joined Maxim Institute as an intern in 2008 before joining staff and assuming the role of Communications Manager in 2009.
Contact Annette Pereira for all media enquiries or phone 09 627 3261
Rachel Langton – LLB, BA
Internships Manager
Rachel has a LLB, BA majoring in Psychology, from Auckland University. For the three years prior to joining Maxim Institute she worked as a lawyer in Auckland, both at Simpson Grierson and as a Criminal Barrister. She has also worked at the Los Angeles Dream Centre caring for homeless people living on the streets. Rachel joined Maxim Institute in October 2007.
Contact Rachel for all internship related enquiries
Michelle Young – BSc
Events Manager
Since graduating from the University of Auckland with a degree in geography, Michelle has worked in the fields of youth work and event management. Over the last five years her work has seen her mentoring youth, coordinating events and running programmes including taking groups of young people on trips to India. Michelle completed an internship at Maxim Institute in 2008 and joined the staff in July 2010.
Contact Michelle for all event related enquiries
Steve Thomas – MA, BA (Hons)
Researcher
Steve joined Maxim Institute as a researcher in 2005, shortly after graduating with a Master of Arts, with distinction in European Studies, from the University of Canterbury. Steve’s background is in political studies, international relations and history. Steve received several awards while at university, including a University of Canterbury Senior Scholarship in 2002 and a University of Canterbury Masters Scholarship in 2003.
Jane Silloway Smith – PhD, MA, BA
Researcher
Jane holds a PhD and an MA in history from Northwestern University, Illinois and a BA in history with highest honours, summa cum laude from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining Maxim Institute as a researcher in July 2009, Jane taught in the history departments at both Auckland University and Northwestern University. Her doctoral research on communities and political change in Hanoverian Britain earned her a number of awards and honours, including the T. W. Heyck Award for Research in British Studies in 2009.
