Ken’s given much of his life to St John and other community service organisations. He’s served, and serves, as a governor on a diverse range of Not-for-Profit boards, including within tertiary & secondary education, and in the health, philanthropy, special needs, broadcasting, women's refuge, science, and local body sectors. For his community service Ken was awarded a QSM. In addition, Ken’s an independent director of several successful businesses including within the distribution, manufacturing, and engineering industries, as well as the property investment sectors. In recognition of his governance contribution Ken has been made a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors, the IoD’s highest award. For his co 

Ken commenced his involvement with St John in 1969 as a volunteer ambulance officer in Auckland. He helped to establish, and then manage, a volunteer officer roster and a training program. The roster ensured a trained Volunteer was available for every first and second running ambulance within Auckland, weekdays between 5pm and 7am, and for 24 hours over the weekends - a real challenge before mobile phones and the internet. This training program became recognised as being more effective than the training given to full-time officers. 

After marrying Julie in 1976 and moving to Hamilton, Ken joined the Hamilton Area Committee and served the Area for almost 20 years. He was responsible for fundraising for the Seddon Road Regional HQ & Hamilton Area Station, and the establishment of the Ngāruawāhia Area. Ken was appointed a trustee of the Midland Regional Board, and helped to drive the merger with the then Central Region. Ken retired as Central Region Trust Board Chair at the 2020 Triennium, and also from the Priory Board after six years’ service. He was elected as a member of Chapter in 2020. And he has returned as a member of the Hamilton Area Committee, to serve our ‘grass roots’.  

Ken’s believes the heart and soul of St John is our Volunteers. He views the challenge of ageing volunteers as a real threat to our future, and is an advocate of focusing on the importance of our Youth, aiming to have them become our future ambulance officers, administrators, volunteers, and governors. 

Ken married Julie in 1976 and they consider their Hamilton home as their Turangawaewe. Their daughter Kate is a graduate of the University of Waikato and also lives in Hamilton. 

Ken believes the strength of St John is its people; and what makes St John people so special is they all really care about people. He believes the words of Winston Churchill aptly describe their commitment and service, "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."