05 February 2025
Get to know your KickStart Breakfast Relationship Managers
Tags:
At KickStart Breakfast, we believe in the power of nutrition and community to set students on the path to success. Our dedicated team of Relationship Managers plays a vital role in bringing our vision to life by supporting schools throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. We’re not only passionate about tamariki and rangatahi health and well-being but also bring a wealth of experience and a unique set of skills to our programme.
Introducing Lorren
Lorren looks after the South Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty schools for the KickStart Breakfast programme. Lorren’s professional background includes teaching and a long-term commitment to supporting others, as a founding board member and long-term volunteer for community-focused charities.
Lorren’s journey also includes co-founding a small business, working with a paediatric dietitian, and providing workshops and support for parents and teachers, with a strong focus on nurturing children’s healthy relationship with food. Lorren has been a member of the KickStart Breakfast team since 2021 and loves getting out to see how our schools bring their KickStart Breakfast programme to life to meet the needs of their local school community.
One of Lorren's favorite parts of her role are the inspiring conversations with tamariki and rangatahi at the breakfast table. From creative jokes to world-changing ideas, these interactions highlight the incredible potential of every child. Breakfast clubs provide a wonderful space for children to share their thoughts while being nourished for a day of learning.
Introducing Ross
Born and raised on a farm in western Southland and now based in rural Otago with his wife Lynn, Ross has been a part of the KickStart Breakfast whānau since 2022. Ross’s patch of schools stretches across the South Island and recently has taken on Wellington and Wairarapa. Before joining the KickStart Breakfast team, Ross worked as a tanker operator at the Fonterra Clandeboye site. His background prior to this experience is quite diverse, encompassing various pursuits.
After training at Dunedin Teachers College, Ross held the position of principal at three schools in Otago and South Canterbury. Additionally, he had a tenure at the Dunedin College of Education, where he served as an Advisor to Schools. Ross's entrepreneurial spirit led him to engage in various ventures, including three businesses. Among these, he established a transport company in 2004, which stands out as the most intricate. Apart from his professional engagements, Ross also spent twelve years as a pastor and youth advocate. He served as a chaplain for the Timaru Hospice and was on-call as a chaplain for Timaru Hospital.
While Ross's hair may be a bit grey on top, he has always embraced life to its fullest. With a blended family consisting of five children and six grandchildren, his zest for life remains unchanged.
Ross' fondest memories of KickStart Breakfast is the day-to-day interactions with the incredible people who make the programme such a success. This includes everyone from the dedicated team of Relationship Managers who oversee the programme, to the staff and volunteers in schools and community groups, and the Anchor franchisee teams we work directly with. We all share the same goal, and it's truly inspiring to see such a diverse range of skills and talents come together to deliver KickStart Breakfast term after term.
Introducing Rosy
Based in Auckland, Rosy has been part of the KickStart Breakfast whānau since 2020 and looks after our schools in Central & Lower North Island stretching across from Tairāwhiti, Taupō, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, and Manawatū-Whanganui.
As well as having a background in sustainability, Rosy is a keen sailor and tramper, and outside of work, you'll likely find her on an excursion somewhere off the beaten track. Rosy loves nothing more than getting out on the road to connect with KickStart Breakfast schools and the wider community, so make sure to tell her all about your favourite hikes when she's visiting your region!
She is also our self-proclaimed data nerd on the team and loves working through all the amazing feedback you give us - helping us steer our priorities to keep making the programme better each term.
Rosy couldn’t choose one favourite memory, but particularly loves visiting our small rural schools and learning about the awesome resilience our rural communities have!
Introducing Tracey
So then there’s me – I’m Tracey, Programme Manager for KickStart Breakfast. Based in Auckland, I oversee our schools in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), as well as most of Auckland.
Born and raised in the Waikato and studying Human Nutrition and Sport Science at Otago University where I found my passion for health & wellbeing for our tamariki and rangatahi. I have been involved in Sport Waikato primary & intermediate schools programme, Project Energize, before moving abroad to London to work for Danone in their Early Life Nutrition team.
Returning to Aotearoa in 2016, I started a role at Fonterra as a Liaison Advisor and have been part of the KickStart Breakfast whānau for 6 years. I have visited so many amazing schools and kura across the motu and currently head up Governance with our proud partners from Ministry of Social Development, Fonterra and Sanitarium, I am proud to be involved in this amazing kaupapa - Together, nourishing minds to support thriving communities.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is meeting incredible individuals from our KickStart Breakfast schools. Chatting with tamariki and rangatahi and hearing about why they love coming to breakfast club. It's equally inspiring to learn what drives our dedicated volunteers who selflessly help run the programme each day. These experiences truly give me a buzz and remind me of the impact we are making together.
Your Relationship Managers are looking forward to connecting and meeting more of you this year!