Our Team
The Big Buddy team is a small but tight-knit group from a range of backgrounds and professions who are drawn together by the vision of finding a Big Buddy for every boy that needs one.
Paul Burns
- Chief Executive
Paul is married to Maryanne and is a proud dad to Brooke, Caleb and Aston. He feeds, walks and pats Baxter and Tobee (dogs). Paul grew up in the UK, Singapore and East Auckland and feels privileged to be part of a team making a real difference at Big Buddy. Paul is a ‘chef by trade’ and a qualified football referee and enjoys the challenge of building trust and respect with players and coaches during a match. He has very fond memories of mowing the lawns and cutting the edges by hand with his dad and one day wants a ride-on mower. He has a real soft spot for great cafes and acronyms.
Steve Sobota
- Operations Manager
Steve is married to Joanne and father to Benjamin. They live on a bush clad section at the edge of the Waitakere Ranges. Steve is into music, particularly singing and percussion, is a runner, trying to compete in the odd half marathon. He is passionate about wine and all things made local.
Martin Hosking
- Mentoring Manager for Central Auckland
Martin has been involved in men’s group work for many years. He lives in Westmere with his partner Pam, has two sons who are well grown-up, and a wonderful granddaughter. He enjoys music, is an avid cyclist, and has recently bought a tinny to get out fishing on the Waitemata.
Dave Burcher
- Mentoring Manager for Wellington
Dave Burcher was born and raised in Wellington and lives in Upper Hutt with his wife Judith. They have 2 daughters & he is a proud grandfather to his 4 grandchildren. He came to Big Buddy from a 25-year teaching career. He is an avid fisherman & you will often find him fishing some the rugged beaches of the Wairarapa coast.
Nic Heywood
- Support Navigator, Māori/Pacifica communities
Nic is married to Catherine and lives in central Auckland. He has lived in Northland for the last 20 years – working in the Health and family violence sectors.
Nic has many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and spends a lot of time trying keep up to date with their “goings on”, as they are scattered all over the country and a number them are overseas.
Nic has a keen interest in issues surrounding and or effecting the Maori and Pacific Island communities and has ties with Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua and the Samoan communities.
Mark Sanders
- Mentoring Manager for North and West Auckland
Mark was born and raised in Lower Hutt, Wellington. He is married to Claire and has two daughters Holly and Emma, who are the 5th generation on Claire’s side to live in Laingholm in the Waitakere Ranges.
Mark loves fishing, hiking, plants, cooking, DIY, movies, music, and spending time with family. He is also passionate about participating in men’s self-development.
He is a proud ex-tradesman and NZ Customs Officer but has now made a change so he can help make positive change in the lives of others.
Mark firmly believes everybody deserves a fair chance in life, and this starts with our young ones. 'I want to be part of making that chance a reality'.
Brad Fleming
- Mentoring Manager for Tauranga & Hamilton
Brad is married to Meghan and is the father of Maia and Leo. They have recently moved their lives back to the Tauranga area where Brad grew up. He loves to exercise, surf, play golf, watch sport and spend time with his whanau.
Brad retired from professional rugby in 2010 and moved back to New Zealand where he began working in primary and secondary school sports departments in the Tauranga area and more recently in Queenstown. This is where he developed a desire to work in a more impactful role that helped his community, and provide a positive influence for youth which has led him to Big Buddy.
Shane Brown
- Mentoring Manager for South & East Auckland
Shane is married to Tayla and lives on the border of Papakura and Takanini, not far from where he spent his childhood growing up in Wattle Downs.
Shane is a Big Buddy to Isaac and has spent time working with other youth and adults in the mentoring, justice and mental health sectors. Shane has seen the powerful impact Big Buddy has and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join the team. He firmly believes in putting people first and giving everyone the chance to succeed.
Shane enjoys training in Mixed Martial Arts, working out, cooking, exploring our beautiful country and spending time with family and friends. He is looking forward to starting his own family in the coming years, which will be great company for his energetic ginger cat, Roku.
Becs Weber
- Programme & Events Coordinator
Becs was born and raised in Auckland and she is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of Aotearoa’s young people.
She has a background in programme development and event management and has volunteered with a range of youth-based organisations, including her current role with Radio Lollipop at Starship Hospital.
Becs enjoys travelling and getting outdoors, especially experiencing the many incredible hikes NZ has to offer. In her spare time, she can be found at the gym, enjoying a meal out with friends or spending time with her niece and nephew.
Mia Meckel
- Volunteer & Events Co-ordinator
Originally from Germany, Mia has lived in Aotearoa for many years and considers this beautiful country her home. Mia studied psychology for four years and has worked in both the tertiary and not-for-profit sectors, primarily in the health and well-being space. While Mia’s interests are broad, she is particularly passionate about fostering community health and supporting our tamariki and rangatahi to thrive.
Outside of work, you will find Mia outdoors in nature, taking short trips to explore new places, and spending time with her friends and family.
Lettie Bright
- Partnership Manager
Lettie is originally from the UK but is now well and truly settled in West Auckland with kiwi husband, Chris and their two boys, Jack and Luke. She has been in the NZ not-for-profit sector for over a decade and loves supporting Big Buddy’s great work “at the top of the cliff”.
In her life before children she loved to travel but is now happy to go to the beach with the family or curl up with a bottle of wine and the latest Marvel series.
Josie Sutherland
- Marketing Manager
Josie was born and bred near Cardiff in Wales but now calls Auckland home. Josie lives with her daughter Sidney and their rescue cat Pip.
Josie joins the Big Buddy family after a long career working in marketing communications. She loves knowing that her work at Big Buddy generates ripples of positive change in the lives of so many.
Megan Horsburgh
- Publicist
Megan Horsburgh lives in Whangaparaoa where she enjoys a relaxed lifestyle. Megan began her working life as a journalist and over the years moved into publicity and PR. She specialises in not-for-profit and loves sharing the great work that Big Buddy does in the community. She considers it a privilege to have met so many incredible Big and Little Buddies and is constantly inspired by them.
In her spare time, Megan enjoys running around hockey fields and tennis courts.
Erica Godfrey
- Fundraiser
Erica is married to Jayde, and they have a much-loved son with high medical needs. Their son inspired them both to be involved in the community as an advocate for youth; Jayde as a Social Worker and Erica as a fundraiser/trustee/administrator for various NGO’s. Erica’s passion is helping others to raise their awareness of what’s going on for youth in New Zealand, so that they in turn become passionate about helping others. Erica loves talking to people around the country and inspiring them to do good deeds and get involved.
Russell Joyce
- Fundraiser
Russell lives in Cambridge with his wife Janine. He has two grown-up children, one living in Scotland and the other working in Wellington. He is a keen cyclist, regular yogi and he enjoys learning Mandarin. He runs online language classes, teaching English in exchange for lessons in Chinese. He also teaches English face-to-face, helping recent migrants and refugees improve their language skills. At Big Buddy he helps find the grants and donations we need to keep our mission going.
Kim Bramwell
- Finance Manager
Kim proudly joined the Big Buddy team approximately 10 years ago. Married to Carl, they have 2 adult children - a son & daughter, living locally and overseas.
Living in West Auckland, Kim enjoys her local community and the beauty of the Manukau Harbour & West Coast beaches. In her spare time she loves getting together with family & friends, boating, and spending time on creative projects.
Jean Green
- Administrator
Jean enjoys doing Big Buddy’s admin, walking the local West Coast beaches with her partner and their dog, trying to tame their wild garden and having fun with their extended family and grandchildren.
Trustees
Travis Field
- Chairman of the Trust
Travis has been a trustee since early 2011. Married for more than 25 years, he has two young adult children. Travis has interests in hospitality and leadership consultancy and is involved in men's community work. In his spare time he loves travelling, socialising, keeping fit and a wee dram of Single Malt.
Mark Talbot
- Trustee & Treasurer
Mark lives on Auckland’s North Shore with his wife Claire and their three children Tom, Molly & Charlie. He has been a Big Buddy mentor since 2007 and joined the board of trustees in 2011. Mark works with various growth-focussed companies seeking to expand globally and in his spare time loves the game of golf, although his handicap always seems to be heading in the wrong direction!
Emma Butcher
- Trustee
Emma is married to Warren and is Mum to son Tate. She has lived in the Grey Lynn/Westmere area for most of her adult life. Emma is a lawyer and loves her work. She has been specialising in employment law for the past 25 years and is a founder and partner of BE Employment Law in the CBD. Emma is trusted advisor to many public, private and not for profit organisations and puts this experience and expertise to work in her role as trustee with Big Buddy.
When not working or cheering on Tate from the sidelines at football, Emma loves to travel overseas or chill out in the family bach at Port Waikato.
Amanda Wilson
- Trustee
Amanda is a busy working mother - with a fabulously hectic household on Auckland's North Shore. She has more than 20 years experience in branding and marketing - largely built within media and tourism initially. As a strategic communication and branding consultant through her own business These Guys I Know - she is involved in many industries - from natural makeup to transport technology, and everything in between. Amanda is passionate about New Zealand, purpose-led business and smart people doing good things. She is involved with Big Buddy so as to make a difference for young people in New Zealand - and help our boys become great men, great partners, and great contributors in the future.
