Ken Whitney is the newly elected Chair of ASB Community Trust, replacing Ann Hartley, who has stood down from the role.

Ken Whitney is the newly elected Chair of ASB Community Trust, replacing Ann Hartley, who has stood down from the role.

An Auckland solicitor, Mr Whitney has more than 30 years of experience in property and trust work, including trusteeship of a number of local and off-shore private and superannuation trusts. He is also a trustee of the private Chisholm Whitney Family Charitable Trust.

Trustees have also elected a new Deputy Chair, Auckland lawyer Lyn Lim. She replaces Brian Lythe in the role. Ms Lim has been in private practice for more than 20 years and is a principle in the law firm Forest Harrison.

She is the Chair of the New Zealand Chinese Youth Trust, a not-for-profit organisation for young Chinese people, and a Council Board Member at Auckland University of Technology. She has been both a council member and committee member of the Auckland District Law Society. She chaired the Auckland District Law Society Ethics Committee in 2007 and has been an executive on the boards of the New Zealand China Trade Association and the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Council.

Mr Lythe remains on the Board as Chair of the grants panels, and Ms Hartley, who is also a councillor on the Auckland Council, remains an ASB Community Trust Trustee.

Mr Whitney praised both of their contributions to the community trust.

“Ann Hartley has represented the Trust with dignity and brings a depth of knowledge from local government which is invaluable,” Mr Whitney said. “The trust is a dynamic organisation with many new initiatives under way and these would not have been possible without the tireless work of Brian, Ann and their fellow trustees.”

About ASB Community Trust

ASB Community Trust decides on grants for groups and projects in Auckland and Northland each month. Using funds from the sale of its shareholding in the Auckland Savings Bank, the Trust has granted almost $700m since being formed in 1988.

Any incorporated or charitable trust in Auckland and Northland can apply for funds, provided they are a not-for-profit organisation.

For more details about applying, visit the Trust’s website: www.ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz