“Skylight felt like the right fit for me from the outset. I have a strong connection to its work supporting children’s mental health—both personally, through a friend’s experience, and professionally through my background in education, where the growing need for support is clear.
The resilience skills Skylight fosters in tamariki and rangatahi are essential for navigating life. By working with specialist counsellors and facilitators, and focusing on early support for mild to moderate mental health challenges, Skylight fills a critical gap—strengthening individuals and contributing to a more resilient society.”

Lesley brings extensive senior executive and governance experience across the public sector, including eight years as Chief Executive of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. Her background spans IT, e-learning, change management and education, enabling her to contribute strong strategic thinking, planning and delivery to the Board.

She holds a Diploma in Te Reo Māori, a Master’s in Public Sector Management, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management & Leadership from Oxford University.