Kay Spencer Chairman - AUS & NZ Board Member since 2009 Expand Kay is the Chairman of the buying group NARTA, the National Association of Retail Traders of Australia and New Zealand. An accomplished leader, Kay joined NARTA in 1998 after rising through the ranks at Sharp Corporation of Australia where became the first female director in a Japanese company. Kay also held the position of Sharp’s general manager of sales and marketing. She joined the Hands team after hearing Peter Baines speak at NARTA’s 2007 conference. Under Kay’s leadership at NARTA, the organisation’s annual turnover has grown from $350 million to more than $3.4 billion. Today NARTA is the largest buying group of independent retailers in Australia and New Zealand. As an accomplished leader, Kay sits on other boards and brings to Hands her extensive knowledge of the business sector, as well as compassion and care for the children. Kay is pictured with Prateep Ungongtham Hata (right) and the late Rotjana Phraethrisong (left)
Peter Baines Founder and Director of International Operations Expand Peter is the Founder of Hands Across the Water. His passion for helping others, especially Thailand’s children, has inspired people around the world to have the courage to make a difference. In addition to leading Hands, Peter is the principal of Peter Baines Consulting. Peter helps businesses build effective sustainable leadership programs through a unique mix of leadership and corporate social responsibility initiatives. His corporate social responsibility platforms create goodwill, staff engagement and sustainable change. Peter was awarded the Order of Australian Medal in 2014 for service to international humanitarian aid in Thailand. Peter delights in the opportunity to return to Hands’ homes in Thailand. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, cycling and snowboarding.
Scott Stein Founding Board Member - AUS Expand Scott helped start the Hands Board in 2006. He was deeply moved by Peter Baines’ story and commitment to helping Thailand’s children and volunteered to help establish the charity. Scott plays a pivotal role in helping Hands identify strategic opportunities and projects. In addition to being on the initial Hands Thailand bike ride in 2009, he has participated in 12 rides—so he is a familiar face to many in the Hands community. Scott has helped thousands of leaders around the world implement fast-track strategies that improve results. He is a leading international speaker and expert on leadership and influence who helps many of the world’s best-known brands to mobilise their leaders and their people. He has a Masters Degree in Communication, is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) and is a director of a number of businesses, including a registered training organisation (RTO) and a property trust. He is the author of four books including his latest: Leadership Hacks: Clever strategies to boost your impact and results. Scott loves spending his spare time with his wife and three children traveling and camping.
Willie Moulden Board Member since 2010 - AUS Expand Willie met Peter Baines in 2008, after learning about Hands through a friend. For him, Hands ticked all the boxes for involvement in a charity. Hands has a strong inspirational leader, is committed to children (and all children deserve a chance in life), and every dollar donated goes to the children. Originally from the UK, Willie came to Australia in 1974 as a 10 pound Pom. Willie is enjoying retirement after a successful career in the insurance industry in Australia, the Asia Pacific and the UK. A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Willie oversees Hands’ accounts and administration requirements and brings a broad range of business skills to the charity. Willie completed a Hands bike ride in 2010 and another one in 2014 aged 61 and 65 respectively. When he’s not giving his time to Hands, Willie loves traveling, skiing, fishing, golf and collecting/drinking good Australian wine.
Grant Morse Director - NZ Expand Grant Morse is the General Manager of a retail chain in New Zealand called Storage Box. Grant first became aware of the Hands Across the Water charity in 2011 when he attended a conference in Fiji where Peter Baines was the Keynote Speaker. His involvement with Hands Across the Water commenced in 2012 when NZ held the very first Night of Celebration Charity Ball in Auckland. He has been involved in the organising and running of this annual event ever since. Although not a cyclist, in 2016 Grant rode in the first ever all New Zealand team when a corporate group went over to Thailand and completed a 500Km / 5 Day Bike ride. He loved every minute of that ride and the total experience. Grant became a Board Member of Hands Across the Water New Zealand in 2017 and is very passionate about this great charity particularly after personally experiencing the work that has been completed in the homes in Thailand during the 2016 bike ride. He is a ‘motor racing nut’ who loves all forms of car racing and race a speedway midget for a bit of fun which my wife describes as a midlife crisis!
Andrew Blair Trustee/Director - NZ Expand In 2009 Andrew, together with his wife Sue, volunteered for 3 months at Baan Tharn Namchai (“BTN”). They returned in 2010 to take part in the inaugural HATW Task Force at Home Hug. Since then Andrew and Sue have spent time at all of the homes that Hands supports. Andrew has been involved with organising annual NZ Nights of Celebration fundraising dinners since 2012. In 2013 he helped to set up the HATW NZ Trust and register it as a New Zealand charity. Since 2012 Andrew has ridden 6000 kms on HATW bike rides in Thailand and NZ, 800 of those kms with Sue. Together with family & friends they have raised around $130k in sponsorship for those rides. In 2012, 2013 and 2015 Andrew and Sue hosted young adults from BTN in Wellington to study English. HATW NZ funds English language teaching in the Hands homes and providing educational opportunities to the children remains our passion. In 2009 Andrew volunteered without any thoughts of an ongoing involvement. Their intention was simply to spread a little aroha to some children who might need some. Once there they realised that it wouldn’t be fair just to walk away and that the children deserved their commitment. That remains their motivation today.
Sue Blair Trustee/Director - NZ Expand Sue's involvement with Hands was firmly planted in 2009 when she concluded a six month sabbatical with her husband with 11 weeks volunteering at Baan Tharn Namchai. The bonds we formed with the kids and staff were such that they became family and they both wanted in some way to continue to contribute to their lives. Bike rides, task force, fashion parades, New Zealand Nights of Celebration and and hosting students in New Zealand while they study English language have all formed part of this contribution. The development and growth of our commercial sewing room and craft shop, and now the launch of the Hands Designs initiative, continues to be exciting and a key focus for Sue, working daily with our Thai based Manager and team. Thailand is now a home away from home, home being Wellington where the focus is on family, friends and consulting in recruitment and career development. Passion for the work we do is easy when you see great results (and smiling kids). Results speak for themselves and witnessing first hand the positive impacts Hands makes to the lives of the kids and their communities, and now seeing many of these kids grow into proud young adults is everything.