Our Patrons / Kaitautoko
LAURIE BURDETT QSM
PATRON
Key Skills: Health Governance, Strategic Leadership, Public Sector Governance, Community Leadership, Risk & Decision-Making, Regional Governance, Stakeholder Engagement, Conservation Governance.
Laurie has served as Patroness of the Society since 2017, bringing decades of leadership across healthcare, governance, conservation, and community service. A registered nurse and midwife, she held senior clinical and management roles at Taupō Hospital for 23 years, including Charge Nurse, Principal Nurse, and Manager, before moving into regional health leadership with the Regional Health Funding Authority.
Her extensive governance experience includes elected service on both the Hospital Board and Waikato Regional Council, along with appointments to the Tongariro Taupō Conservation Board and Regional Lottery Welfare Committee. Laurie also served with distinction in the Territorial Army, retiring with the rank of Major after overseas deployments in Tonga and the Solomon Islands.
LES WINSLADE
RETIRED PATRON
Leslie ‘Les’ Winslade QSM celebrated his 106th birthday surrounded by family, friends and memories of a remarkable life of service.
Born in England, Les migrated to New Zealand in 1926. He served as an RNZAF wireless operator during the Second World War, including time in Guadalcanal, before building a long career with National Mutual.
Community service has been central to Les’ life. After moving to Taupō in 1983, he became involved with Lions, established the local Neighbourhood Watch and raised more than $2 million for health and medical improvements across the Taupō and Tūrangi districts. He also strongly advocated for geothermal heating at Taupō Hospital.
Les received the Queen’s Service Medal in 2009 and has been recognised with both Rotary International’s Paul Harris Award and Lions International’s Melvin Jones Fellowship—a rare achievement. Believed to be the region’s oldest surviving veteran, Les remains an inspiring example of service, generosity and commitment to his community