Board Members
Meet the Board – The governance team behind WALSH Trust
WALSH Trust is a charitable trust and leading provider of community mental health and employment support services in West Auckland. A vital part of the community for more than 30 years, the Trust’s commitment to its clients and their families, as well as the wider community, has been recognised by the awards achieved, attesting to how much value this group brings.
Chairperson
Gail Tongs
Gail is a skilled facilitator and communicator with a deep commitment to mental wellbeing, adult literacy, and inclusive governance. Serving on the WALSH Trust Board since 2016, she brings expertise in plain language, leadership, and community-centred practice. Her professional background spans adult education, financial and life coaching, pastoral care, workshop delivery, and public service—anchored in clarity, empathy, and integrity.
Known for her thoughtful and inclusive approach, Gail fosters collaborative processes grounded in fairness, transparency, and care. She values authenticity, accessible communication, and practices that deepen constructive engagement and shared understanding.
Finance Risk & Audit Committee Chairman
Madhavan Raman
I have extensive experience in public service (Fiji and New Zealand) including finance, public housing and community development. I was invited to join the WALSH Trust Board in 1993 and am currently Chairman of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.
I am involved with a number of other charitable and community organisations in addition to serving as a Director of Tamaki Redevelopment Company Limited and its associated companies. I am a proud resident of West Auckland.
Bram Kukler
MBS: Management; Dip. Social Sciences: Psychology, RN
I trained as a nurse in the Netherlands and since arriving in New Zealand in 1990, have worked in the disability and mental health sectors where I managed community, residential and vocational services. Roles have included positions as Funding and Planning Manager for Mental Health and Addiction at the Waitematā DHB, Sector Relationship Manager for the National Depression Initiative, Regional Manager aged residential care services and General Manager, Operations for Plunket NZ. I have also been actively involved in local, regional and national primary mental health development.
At present, I am General Manager for Early Childhood Education Kindergarten Associations in Auckland.
My association with WALSH Trust goes back to early 2000 and Funding and Planning Manager for WDHB, and later as a WALSH Trust Board member since about 2012.
Sonya Russell
I am of Croatian, Pakeha and Ngāpuhi descent and live in Tamaki Makaurau with my whānau.
As an experienced leader in mental health and wellbeing, I have broad experience across the health and community sector. I have worked in a range of roles, from Principal Advisor and Programme Director for the Ministry of Health, to Senior Planner and Funder with Counties Manukau DHB, through to National Operations Manager for a large community care provider.
My professional qualifications include a BSc in Psychology & Biology, PGCertHS Community Development, PGDipSc in Psychology and am currently completing my MSc in Psychology.
I have an in-depth understanding of the New Zealand health system and a strong commitment to strength-based approaches that enable people to enhance their health and wellbeing and thrive. I am passionate about addressing inequity and understand the importance of working collaboratively to ensure the best health outcomes for our communities.
David Lui JP
I am a graduate of the University of Canterbury, starting my career in marketing before making a career change in 1995 to work in mental health. I am a believer in the marketing concept that the “customer is always right” and have advocated for consumer and community to be front and centre in the design and delivery of health services. I have been involved at all levels, from a frontline worker and practitioner to manager and governance level.
In recent years I have been involved with consumer issues. I have served as Chair of the Consumer Advisory Committee for Pharmac (2014 -2020) and was the inaugural Chair of the WDHB Consumer Council (2019-2021).
I have experience at governance level, having served on the Board of Mental Health Foundation for 12 years, HealthWest PHO (3 years), school BOT (32years) and am a current member of the WDHB Board. When not spending time with my family of seven children and 14 grandchildren, I serve as an active volunteer for church and community organisations.
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