About the development office

About the Auckland Grammar School Development Office

The responsibilities of the Auckland Grammar School Development Office are threefold:

1) To raise funds for the Auckland Grammar School Foundation Trust's Academic Endowment Fund, where the School can recruit, retain and reward top master teachers;
2) To organise and manage events for the School, Old Boys and the wider Grammar community; and
3) To establish effective and engaging communications with all Grammar stakeholders (students, staff, parents, Old Boys and the wider community)

Ultimately, the activities undertaken by the Development Office are directed towards the advancement of education at Grammar by charitable means. The top priority is to grow the Academic Endowment Fund (AEF), and in doing so, grow the School's ability to recruit, retain and reward top-performing teachers.

Meet the Development Office team

DANIEL REDDISH

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE MANAGER

Daniel is the Advancement Manager and leads the Development Office team. Daniel started at Grammar in 2014, starting in the role of Advancement Officer before progressing to Bequest Manager and then taking on the Advancement Manager role in early 2020. Daniel is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Development Office and is the School's lead fundraiser, He is responsible for furthering the Foundation Trust’s Academic Endowment Fund to support our talented staff as well as programmes to support our young men through scholarships and hardship support. His current priority is the fundraising efforts for the School's 150th capital project: Te Ara, New Library and Pool. Daniel is a born and raised Wellingtonian and a proud Old Boy of Rongotai College. Daniel is a passionate rugby man having been involved with coaching at Grammar for the past 7 years, coaching the Under 15A, 1st XV and 2nd XV teams. Daniel is also the Assistant Boarding Master at Tibbs House. When not doing something Grammar related Daniel will be spending time with his five siblings and his 12 nieces and nephews whenever possible.

Phone: 09 623 5412
Email: d.reddish@ags.school.nz

GEMMA KNIGHTS

EVENTS AND PR MANAGER

Phone: 09 638 0554
Email: g.knights@ags.school.nz

AMANDA BOOTH

DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER

Amanda started at Auckland Grammar School in 2015, in the role of Digital Content Producer. With a younger brother who is an Old Boy (class of 2003), she is well instilled with the School's traditions and values. Amanda's role consists of updating the various School and community websites, sending out parent emails including the monthly Headmaster's Bulletin, and looking after the School's social media presence, ensuring the wider community is aware of all that are going on. She is a keen photographer, seen at various events and sports games, and is always looking for Old Boys to interview for stories (get in touch!). Previously, Amanda was an Account Manager at an email marketing company and got her start in the social media realm as part of the Multi-Channel team at the Noel Leeming head office. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys reading crime thrillers, catching up with friends and family, and heading to the beach. She also loves spending down time with her 18-month-old daughter, Caitlin-Amelia.

Phone: 09 638 0552
Email: a.booth@ags.school.nz

NATALIE USHER

DATABASE AND DIRECT MAIL MANAGER

Phone: 09 623 5400 extn 671
Email: k.davidson@ags.school.nz

KATE OLSON

EVENTS AND ADMINSTRATION ASSISTANT

Kate joined the Development Office team in February 2021 as the Administrator and Events Assistant, as well as the Secretary for the Old Boys' Association. Kate's role includes assisting with all School and Old Boy events, along with administration support for the Auckland Grammar School Foundation Trust and the Old Boys' Association. Kate has a background in event management and administration in membership organisations including Chartered Accountants ANZ. Outside of work, Kate and her family enjoy traveling, exploring the beaches and green spaces of Tāmaki Makaurau and further afield when the world reopens.

Phone: 09 623 5633
Email: k.olson@ags.school.nz

JUDE DOBSON

PUBLICATIONS MANAGER

Jude loves telling a story and is responsible for putting the biennial Ad Augusta magazine together that goes out to the School community. Her role is to keep readers abreast of the myriad of goings on at Grammar and what the extensive Old Boy community is up to. Jude’s 20-year background in communication is as a content producer for factual broadcast media. Content ranges from full length documentaries on Aotearoa's part in World War I and the history of the RNZAF, to short form content such as the digital parenting resource supported by the Ministry of Education. Her spare time is limited, but spent with family, good friends and a loveable (but loopy) Weimaraner dog. A mother of three young adults (including Old Boy Jack '12), her father also attended Grammar from 1937-1939, leaving to help look after the family farm with an older brother off to World War II.

Phone: 09 623 5400 ext. 576
Email: j.dobson@ags.school.nz

PETER STANES '58

ARCHIVIST/HISTORIAN

Peter started at Auckland Grammar in 1958 and was a Prefect, a University Entrance Scholar and receive the Torch of Tradition in his final year in 1962. After graduating, he attended the University of Auckland where he received a double degree - a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Maths and Physics) and a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, specialising in Mechanical and Aeronautical. Peter started as the Archivist/Historian in 2017 and is responsible for preserving the myriad of items the School has in its possession. He was also instrumental in setting up Recollect, the online archives where members of the community can browse and search for photos, objects, video and audio files, and documents from today right back to the School's official opening in 1869. Peter co-authored "Remembrance - Auckland Grammar School WWI Roll of Honour" with past parent Andrew Connolly, with exquisite detail on every Old Boy who fought in World War I. Outside of work, Peter's interest include historical research, playing tennis and spending time with family, including his three sons who are all Old Boys (Warwick '88, Jeffrey '90 and Richard '94) and his grandkids.

Phone: 09 623 5400 ext 590
Email: p.stanes@ags.school.nz