John Williamson
Chairman of Northland Road Safety Trust (NRST), John Williamson, is an enthusiastic and much welcomed integral member of the NRST team, bringing strong support and guidance on all aspects of quality control related to programmes. He has volunteered his time to the Trust since 2003 but he has been involved with NRST, and as District and National Councillor for the NZ Automobile Association for 25 years. He brings enormous experience in governance to the Trust including positions held as Chairman of Chamber of Commerce, Council of Social Services, Kiwi North, Kamo Home Aged Care, and Presbyterian Support. He is an International Jaycee Senator.
John holds degrees in Agricultural Science and Marketing, plus a Masters degree in Management. He was a Whangarei District Councillor for nine years, a Lecturer in Marketing and Management at Northtec, and held a position as Northland Regional Manager of a stock and station agency. He has also held positions as Independent Hearings Commissioner, and District Licensing Commissioner.
As a consultant in 2009 he developed the Northland Safety Strategy for Northland Regional Council and has written a column on Roading and Road Safety matters for the Northern Advocate since 2010. John is passionately interested in investigating the means by which we can make our roads and drivers safer, and looks forward to innovative solutions making the difference we need to see on our roads.
Ashley Johnston
Ashley took over the role of Programme Manager for Northland Road Safety Trust from Gillian Archer in 2020. She was with the New Zealand Police in a variety of road safety roles prior, most recently as Strategic Advisor on the Road Safety Team and Police National Headquarters. She spent many years on the front line however, seeing the real effects of road trauma. Her road safety roles with NZ Police enable her proactive approach to the development and delivery of road safety programmes throughout Whangarei and Kaipara Districts. She thrives as part of the proactive team developing and making educational strategies available to the Whangarei and Kaipara communities which will result in safer roads for all road users.
Ashley says, “I seek ways to continually improve NRST’s delivery through proactive relationship management, enhancement of current services and the identification of new, innovative programmes that specifically target the highest prioritised risk as set out by Waka Kotahi.”
Stephen Moore
Stephen Moore has been a board member with Roadsafe (Northland Road Safe Trust) for three years. He has a wealth of experience in the motor industry as a mechanic, then, with a shift of perspective also in vehicle sales and service. In total Stephen worked in the Motor Industry for forty years. He brings to NRST all of that valuable practical knowledge of vehicle operation and safety, along with a good understanding of driver attitudes when it comes to their vehicles and the way in which they use them. He wants to ensure New Zealand roads are as safe as they can be.
Stephen says, “I want to make a difference through driver education in bringing the road toll down.”
Gerry O’Connell
Gerry O’Connell has been on the Roadsafe board since 2015 contributing significant expertise and knowledge. He worked for twenty-three years as Senior Driving Instructor for St John Driving Academy. He retired in 2018. As secretary for Whangarei Men’s Shed Inc. and with his involvement in church activities he has a number of community connections he can call on for the benefit of the Northland Road Safety Trust.
He says, “I hope to see a real reduction in trauma on our roads, particularly helped by improved driving standards.”
Trish Madison
Trish has been the Northland Road Safety Trust Administrator since 2017. She brought with her professional expertise as an accountant for fourteen years and two years as a certified Anti-money laundering Specialist. Like all organisations the background services which enable them to function are crucial and for NRST good practice to Roadsafe administration tasks ultimately contributes a vital service to all road users.
As an experienced accountant and business owner, Trish says, “Continuing to educate and improve users’ behaviour on our roads is a vision to champion.”
John Bain
Greg Martin
Now in my 21st year with NRST, I remain committed to reducing deaths and injuries on our roads. With 48 years as a farm owner-director and 18 years as a Whangarei District Councillor—including 12 years chairing the Infrastructure Committee—I bring deep knowledge of Northland’s transport network. My experience on the Northland Regional Transport Committee and various community trusts supports my vision: safer roads where every road user wears seatbelts and uses proper restraints—because safety only works when you use it.
Gordon Lambeth
Appointed to represent the Kaipara District Council, I bring over 27 years of experience as a Police Officer with a strong focus on road safety, traffic education, and crash investigation. Now the director of an architectural design firm and a board member with Blue Light, I continue to support youth driver licensing and education. Through my work with NRST, I’m committed to helping reduce Northland’s road toll through practical, community-focused safety initiatives.
Steve Simpkin
With a 27-year career in the NZ Police and 34 years in the NZ Army Reserve, I’ve seen the tragic impact of road trauma first hand. Now working in the Criminal Justice Support Unit, I joined NRST to help reduce Northland’s high crash rates through smarter investment, driver education, and community engagement. Having lived and worked in Whangārei my entire career, I’m deeply committed to making our roads safer and ensuring our efforts lead to real, measurable results.
Frank Lundberg
With over 50 years of experience in vehicle safety and compliance, including 20 years in the NZ Army and roles with the Ministry of Transport, VTNZ, AA, and NZTA, I am passionate about keeping our roads safe. Now, as a WOF Consultant, I work closely with vehicle inspectors to uphold safety standards. Joining NRST allows me to contribute to strategies that enhance road safety across Northland, reducing accidents and fatalities while supporting those who provide road safety training.
Craig Crawford
With over 30 years at the Ministry of Justice, six years at ACC as Northland’s Injury Prevention Partner, and now serving as Community Engagement Co-ordinator at Hato Hone St John, I’m passionate about creating safer journeys for all. I joined NRST to help build a culture of education, awareness, and preparedness—because reducing road trauma starts with informed and considerate road users. My vision is bold: a Northland where road safety is so effective, NRST is no longer needed.
Simon Reid
Nastasja Windlebourne
With a background in early childhood education and community engagement, I now serve as the Programme Coordinator for NRST. My passion lies in promoting road safety and expanding licensing access, particularly in rural areas. I bring over a decade of teaching experience and a strong community focus to the Trust, helping strengthen connections and drive meaningful outcomes. I’m committed to seeing NRST grow as a trusted leader in road safety education and advocacy across Whangārei and Kaipara.
