OUR TEAM
MARIE PATERSON
GENERAL MANAGER
Marie lives in Mount Maunganui and between her and her partner, they raise three children and 2 kuri! In 2021, she stepped into the General Manager role at Kura Kai. With over 20 years of experience working and volunteering in the community sector, Marie is deeply passionate about supporting others. Through her work at Kura Kai, she is dedicated to empowering volunteers and schools, and making a positive impact on the lives of rangatahi and whānau.
KELLY KINGSTON
GENERAL MANAGER
Kelly brings over 13 years of experience in business ownership and team leadership, with a strong passion for community engagement. As a business director, she fostered an award-winning workplace culture and her experience as a business mentor! Kelly is also deeply involved in the community as a Board Member of the Mount Business Association and a Facilitator for She is Unleashed – Tauranga. And if you think Kelly isnt busy enough, she still finds time to volunteer cook for Kura and is our Volunteer Coordinator for the Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa area
KATIE THOMAS
TRUSTEE
Katie Thomas lives in beautiful Titahi Bay, Porirua and has been involved with Kura Kai from the very beginning as the Wellington CBD volunteer coordinator. Katie was also our Kura Kai Engagment Manager from 2023-2024, sharing our kaupapa across the motu! A Senior Consultant working mostly within government, Katie has always had a passion for supporting her community and has been involved with a number of charities and non-profit organisations outside of her day to day job for a number of years
JARED RUMBALL
ACCOUNT AND IT SUPPORT
A self-employed IT consultant originally from Dunedin who now calls the Bay of Plenty home with his partner and two energetic tamariki. Family is first and foremost for Jared, believing in lifting others up and putting people before profits. With over 20 years in the IT industry, Jared has learnt a lot and enjoys his work most when helping others. Jared is the business owner of 42IT and by partnering with Kura Kai, we can use his skills to help feed our rangatahi and their whānau, and be part of the solution.