Home / Our Trustees & Staff

Philippa Christie
Programme Co-ordinator

Philippa works alongside Chris to keep our programmes running smoothly and our websites and social media up-to-date.

AS well as working for the Trust, she works part-time as a primary school librarian and uses her creativity and 'out of the box' thinking to inspire children to read.

Philippa lives on a small lifestyle block with her husband and three children. When not busy, working or ferrying her children to after-school activities, she loves running, gardening and photography.

Chris Cole
Learning Differences Advisor

Chris is the Learning Differences Advisor for the Trust. In this role she manages the main programmes, Dyslexia Support Southland and Growing Stars, plus other initiatives that have been developed. In all her roles she provides expert information, understanding and support to parents, caregivers and organisations with on learning differences. 

Chris also is a Learning Differences Specialist with her own business, Unique Minds and an author of the child’s book about learning differences 'All a Part of Me'.

Chris lives in Invercargill with her husband Steve and four boys. She enjoys travelling with her family, playing sport and reading crime novels.

What drives Chris in her work is wanting everyone to feel valued and accepted for exactly who they are, for them not to feel wrong for thinking and learning differently. 

Pam Fleck
Trustee

Pam is a Leadership Advisor to schools in the Southland region. She works primarily with beginning principals, and other principals when required.

Recently retired as a principal, Pam has mentored beginning principals for a number of years and has informally supported Southland principals for some time.
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Pam lives at Thornbury, just a few kilometres from Riverton, with her husband Ray on a lifestyle block where growing most of their food is a hobby. They have four adult children and ten grandchildren. Pam’s interests include family, gardening, reading and renovating an old villa.

Scott Lindsay
​Trustee

Scott is thrilled to be part of Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust to help guide and support the trust whilst building confidence for a brighter future for families and individuals.

As a senior manager with Fire and Emergency Southland, he has 28 years of operational experience, of which nine years have been in operational command and strategic leadership.

Scott lives in Invercargill with his fabulous partner, Tatiana, sharing care of his two teenage sons, Jack and Harris, and their vizsla dog Nixs.

​Committed to being a lifelong learner, Scott regards change as a positive force and embraces the opportunities it creates.

Lyndal Ludlow
​Trustee

Lyndal gets a great deal of pleasure from encouraging and enabling people to learn, grow and feel good. In this rapidly changing world, keeping people connected to and involved with their communities through arts, sports and education is important to her.

Working within the local government sector has enhanced her governance skills, which she brings to the trust. She has 25 years' experience working in education, event management and marketing. She supports a number of community groups and initiatives in a volunteer role.

Lyndal lives in Invercargill with her husband, teenage boys, cat and far too much lego.

Lisa Tou-McNaughton
Chair

Lisa is the daughter of a Polar PI and Southland gal. She is married to Andy and they have two wonderful children; Fin and Kate. 

Lisa has been an educator for nearly 30 years and is passionate about giving young people and their families opportunities. She believes in equity for all and in the power of creativity and kindness to make the world a better place.
If you would like to get in touch with our trustees, you can email them at trustees@learningdifferences.org.nz.