Ā Mātou Whānau | Our Whānau
The lived legacy of alumni and volunteer Peter Kyle
The visit of Outward Bound alumni and long serving volunteer Peter Kyle in May 2023, brought together a dedicated and passionate group of alumni and revived many old friendships and memories. The reunion dinner in Auckland at the Waipuna Hotel saw a great deal of reminiscing about Outward Bound Council meetings and AGM’s, while also celebrating Peter’s notable history of volunteer work for Outward Bound in New Zealand and internationally.
The gathering included Outward-Bound-friends-for-life, Marg Robinson, Jan Moore, Pam Troughton, Bonnie Roger, Shelley Clark, Rebecca Ewert, Grant Faber, Chris Maguire, Euan Little, and Peter Corner and partners, and several notable Past Presidents of the Trust, Tony Rhind, Alan Scarfe, Brien Mahoney, John Patterson.
Chris Maguire also called upon those involved with the Bernard Fergusson Adventure School, so the attendees included many Auckland Outward Bounders who ran this school during the 70’s: Ramon Neilson, Richard Oliphant, Lance Blyde, Neil Kendall, Colin Burgess, Alan Strid, Alan Mandeno, Robert Burrow and partners.
Pictured: Peter (front row, second from left) and Scott watch 44, 1967
After completing course #44 in February 1967, Peter went on to become actively involved in the administration of Outward Bound New Zealand. He created and served as President of the New Zealand Outward Bound Old Boys Association, and was one of the first two alums to serve on the Outward Bound Trust Council. He served on numerous committees including those for the selection of Executive Directors Mac Morgan and Des Lyons.
After attending the 3rd International Outward Bound Conference in Upstate New York in 1988, he was invited to draft the charter for the Outward Bound International Advisory Board (IAB) and subsequently served as a member of that Board. In 1991, he was selected as First Vice President of Outward Bound New Zealand. Shortly before assuming the Presidency the following year, Peter moved to Washington, DC to take up a position as Senior International Attorney with the World Bank.
In 1994, the International Advisory Board decided that the time had come to establish an independent body to oversee the development of the global Outward Bound community. Peter spent a year negotiating with the then 25+ Outward Bound Centres around the world. The culmination of this exercise was the chartering of Outward Bound International (OBI) in 1996. The inaugural OBI Board meeting was held at the Thompson Island Outward Bound Centre in September 1996. Peter was appointed as the Founding Chair, a position he held for 6 years.
During his tenure, the OBI Board met twice a year at different Outward Bound centres (including Anakiwa), expanded the network, developed safety protocols, and established itself as a strong and viable organisation. Peter reported annually in person to the then Patron, HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Following the completion of his term as Chair, Peter was appointed as Outward Bound International Chair Emeritus and joined the Board of Outward Bound Peacebuilding. He continues as an OBI Global Ambassador. He retired from the World Bank in 2009 and became active in Rotary International (RI).
Peter recently completed a 2-year term as RI Director. Peter and his wife, Margaret, live in Maryland, USA, in a house designed by Margaret and close to their two children and two grandchildren.
Outward Bound is truly honoured and privileged to be the beneficiary of Peter’s many years of service and commitment to the Outward Bound ethos.
Marg RobinsonOutward Bound Archivist
Above: Members Council reunion dinner attendees.
Left: Peter Kyle, Pam Troughton, Jan Moore, Bonnie Roger, John Patterson, with Alan Scarfe standing behind.
Tim WattsTrust Chair
Tim stepped into the Chair of the Board role in December 2022 after a decade contributing to the Outward Bound Trust and Foundation Boards.
“My first experience with Outward Bound came while at university where I completed a 21 day Classic Course in semester break. It was a life changing experience which helped me refine my life goals and values of how I wanted to live my life.”
Outside of Outward Bound he is an Owner/Operator with Foodstuffs and is passionate about youth development.
Amy Murphy
Amy attended an Outward Bound Classic Course on leaving school in 1996. Amy found herself married to a winemaker, working for her family business Mount Riley Wines and based in Marlborough.
She reconnected with the Outward Bound school as a director of the local First Light Foundation and has served as a director since 2021. Based in Renwick with her husband Matt and four young children, she loves nothing more than spending time with her kids in the outdoors.
Cheewei KwanTrust Deputy Chair
Cheewei was appointed to the Board of Outward Bound New Zealand in 2021 and is now the co-Deputy Chair. Cheewei leads the Leadership Practice at Kerridge & Partners. As a keen student of leadership, he has spent the bulk of his career working with leaders and leadership teams across Asia Pacific.He feels extremely privileged to be able to contribute to the cause of developing future leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Steve Hall Trust Deputy Chair
Steve joined the Trust Board in 2022 and has a long connection with Outward Bound. He was the organisation’s Training Manager from 1998 and then School Director from 2003-2009.
Steve is a qualified ski instructor and glacier guide and has held a number of leadership positions including Chief Executive of the Halberg Trust.
Most recently Steve held the role of Principal, Whakatipu High School. He is excited to continue to contribute to the organization as it looks to the future.
Grant Faber
From his initial course at Outward Bound in 1972 Grant followed a career path across Corporate and SME roles in New Zealand and Internationally.
Having built, then sold, his group of companies, he followed a long standing ambition to give back to the community, assuming a number of NFP Governance roles.
This has included 16 years serving Outward Bound including, Members Council, Foundation, Board member and Chair. Grant is also on the Board of Outward Bound International.
Iaean Cranwell
Iaen (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Irakehu, Kāti Kuri, Kāti Makō) has been involved with Outward Bound since his 21 day Classic course in winter 2003. Since then, along with his whānauka, Craig Pauling, they helped establish Aoraki Bound, a partnership course developed and delivered alongside Ngāi Tahu. He has been a board member since August 2022.
Iaen has built strong relationships with his hapū, iwi, papatipu rūnanga, communities and environmental organisations. Iaean is currently one of two Ngai Tāhu councillors on Environment Canterbury.
Jo Robinson
Jo first connected with Outward Bound while working in Oman where she joined Outward Bound Oman Board. There she contributed to their organizational focus on risk and crisis management.
On repatriating with the family back to Aotearoa in 2022, Joe took the opportunity to join the Trust and currently chairs their Risk and Compliance Committee. Joe works internationally in the energy sector on a range of environmental, climate, risk and compliance management issues. She is a proud OB alumni and has a strong passion for outdoor education.
Roz Mexted
Roz has an extensive experience in secondary school education sector and has held principal roles at large public and independent schools around the country.
She has experienced firsthand the life-changing impact Outward Bound has had on rangatahi|youth and is a passionate advocate for young New Zealanders. Roz currently works in an education advisory capacity as a Ministry of Education commissioner, governance advisor and undertakes school investigations across Aotearoa New Zealand. Roz joined the Trust Board in 2021.
Andrew Smith Foundation Chair
Andrew was inspired by his daughter’s experience whilst on an Outward Bound course, prompting him to challenge himself with a Discovery course for adults.
Thrilled to achieve this personal milestone as an adult student, he was subsequently given the opportunity to join the Outward Bound Board.
Andrew has actively served on the Outward Bound New Zealand Board, the Foundation, and the board of Outward Bound International, describing this journey as one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
Brien Mahoney
Brien's Outward Bound journey began in 1966 with Course 32, sponsored by his employer. He later joined the Old Boys Association and, in 1988, the Manawatu Association through Rotary where he focused on actively recruiting students.
After attending the AGM at Anakiwa that year, he swiftly became a Committee member, which was then the governing body of the Trust.
In the mid-1990s, the Trust transitioned to a Board model and Brien served for several years before becoming the Board Chair for a two-year term. He retired from the Board in 2003 but remains a member of the Foundation.
Del Hart
As the Head of External Investments and Partnerships for the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Del manages a team overseeing a diverse portfolio in public and private markets.
Her passion is to invest where social and environmental outcomes can be achieved alongside strong investment returns.
She was appointed as a Trustee to the Outward Bound Foundation and strongly believes in the transformative power Outward Bound for rangatahi | youth, highlighting its role in fostering resilience, adaptability, self-esteem, and lifelong connections.
PATRONLate Sir David Levene
GUARDIANSBruce Cardwell (Chair)David TibbyBrien MahoneyJohn PattersonDick HubbardAndrew SmithGrant FaberHelen FletcherMarina AdamsMargaret RobinsonGlenys CoughlanTim Watts
KURT HAHN AWARD RECIPIENTSDick Hubbard (2013)Ron Faber (2014)Sir David Levene (2018)Dave Tibby (2018)John Patterson (2019)Margaret Robinson (2022)
ADVISORSHolland Beckett (Solicitor)Grant Thornton (Auditor)Donaldson Brown (Insurance Broker)Simpson Grierson (Legal)
