Elected Board Member

Dna Wells is an experienced equestrian professional with a lifelong involvement in the NZ Pony Club system, both as a rider and in various leadership roles. She currently serves as the District Commissioner of Hamilton Pony Club, overseeing a club of approximately 120 members across four branches. Dna is also the Director of Equestrian at St Peter's School in Cambridge, where she has improved the facilities and opportunities for students in their equestrian activities. She has led successful fundraising initiatives and events, including the annual One Day Event. Dna's experience in governance, strategic planning, and continuous improvement is well-established. She is also a member of the HETI ethical focus group and has served as the National Training Manager for NZ Riding for the Disabled.

Toni is a dedicated and highly accomplished business manager and marketing leader with a successful history for conceptualising, developing, launching and managing business development initiatives, marketing campaigns and change management projects. She has a strong track record in strategic planning, people management, partnership building, operations management and staff development gained from 15+ years in the not for profit, agricultural, tourism, IT, retail, real estate and sports industries. As a proactive and committed leader, she has been instrumental in shaping and executing innovative strategies that support long-term business and financial growth whilst anticipating and understanding customer, stakeholder and organisational needs.

Toni has been on a variety of committee’s and national sporting boards over the last 20 years. She has been riding from a young age, with a strong affinity for showing, dressage and showjumping. While she rides for recreational pursuits only, her daughter is a keen competitor and pony club member in the South Island. Toni is also an RAS judge and has a keen passion for breeding. 

The Board welcomes Kelly as a new appointed member to the NZPCA Board. Kelly was fortunate as a young rider to participate in pony club and earn her C+ certificate. Up until recently, she has been on the committee of her local pony club, dedicating nearly 10 years of service and holding the head coach role for 3 of those years. Currently, her children are attending pony club, allowing her to maintain a hands-on involvement. With her recent registration as a ESNZ National Level 1 Show Jumping course designer, Kelly contributes to pony club events through this avenue. Her personal strengths include being a big picture thinker, thriving on problem-solving, and believing in finding solutions for challenges. She values open conversations, even when they're difficult, and strives to infuse fairness and responsibility into her decision-making process.