GOVERNANCE
First Steps Himalaya is a registered charity in New Zealand, governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees. The Board provides strategic direction and oversight to ensure that our mission is delivered effectively, ethically, and with accountability to our stakeholders and partner communities in Nepal.
The Board focuses on:
Defining and monitoring the organisation’s mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
Approving budgets and ensuring sound financial management.
Overseeing compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
Monitoring organisational performance and impact.
Ensuring effective risk management and safeguarding our reputation.
Day-to-day management is delegated to the Directors and their team. The Board meets several times a year to review progress and provide guidance.
MEET OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JENNY DANIELL
CHAIRPERSON
Jenny had a long career as a primary school teacher, and is keenly aware that education is the most powerful way to raise living standards and lead to a better quality of life. She is a long standing board member with a vast amount of knowledge and has visited the First Steps projects in Nepal. She is a keen singer and cyclist.
NICKY CRAWFORD
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
Nicky moved to New Zealand from the U.K in 2002 and trained as a teacher. She has taught in rural and urban schools for 15 years and is currently a classroom teacher and satellite coordinator at a day specialist school in Nelson. Nicky works with the Nepal team to develop and implement its teacher training programmes and has visted the projects on a number of occasions. She has a passion for literacy, music and the arts and she is one of the few qualified Philosophy for Children practitioners in NZ. Nicky is also the author of Sita’s Search a story book for young Nepali children.
PAUL HOWORTH
BOARD MEMBER
Paul is a lawyer and strategist who has spent most of his career focussed on delivering economic, social, cultural and environmental impact, especially for Indigenous, developing and disadvantaged communities. He is also a co-founder of two businesses that focus on providing hands-on support and investment for early stage and emerging impact enterprises around the globe. He lives in Nelson, NZ with his partner and two daughters.
PIP SOUNESS
BOARD MEMBER
Pip has a longstanding connection to Nepal through her support of education initiatives for girls and young women. She believes education has the power to significantly improve lives and expand opportunities, particularly for those facing disadvantage. As a business owner and consultant, she has led strategy, marketing, and financial oversight, and has served in governance roles within education, focusing on building organisations that are resilient and positioned for sustainable growth. She lives in Queenstown with her family.
ANNE USSHER
BOARD MEMBER
Anne has a passion for education, having built a long and rewarding career as a teacher in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand. She has visited our projects in Nepal, gaining firsthand insight into the communities we support. In addition to classroom management, curriculum design, and student engagement, Anne has extensive experience helping students plan their future pathways in both New Zealand and Singapore. She has also mentored many young educators, reflecting her belief in the transformative power of education to improve lives and communities.