Our Mission

The Front Foot It Foundation is a charitable trust whose primary objective is to provide not-for-profit organisations that advance charitable purposes with high quality content creation, social media and marketing strategy and services to help them effectively tell their story and increase brand awareness enabling them to focus on their charitable work.

A Brief Introduction

A group of young professionals all based in Tauranga with a common goal to help charitable causes read our bios below for a bit more of an insight into the trustees

  • JAMES GIBB

    I work as a Geotechnical Consultant within the mining industry on projects all over the world but mainly in Australia and New Zealand. My work focuses mainly on new project feasibility studies, helping active operations on site, due diligence on acquisitions/mergers and review of mining operations to identify gaps and improvements to the geotechnical function on site.

    I have worked in mining in both New Zealand and Australia since leaving university in 2010 and prior moving to Tauranga in 2017. The move to Tauranga was for both a change in job back in New Zealand at Waihi and also to open a fitness business in Mount Maunganui with my partner. Through this process of building, helping to run and then selling a small business I learnt invaluable skills across the whole process as well as seeing the challenges for a small business to achieve success in an ever-competitive location.

    I feel my key skills and experience in growing businesses and helping large companies develop projects from the ground up as my main attributes to the Front Foot it Foundation. As well as the business side of things, I truly enjoy helping people and being involved in progressing, improving and seeing projects of all sorts through to a successful outcome, so I am really excited about being involved with the FFIF to utilise these skills to really help out our local charities to achieve their goals.

  • JAROD MASON

    I have an extensive background in the events management industry working on some of the world's largest sporting events including the Olympics, Nitro Circus, Monster Energy Super X, The Australian Open and Wimbledon to name a few. I spent more than a decade overseas during this time working in many challenging environments and for several different companies.

    Since returning home to New Zealand from California, I have changed career paths and I am now working in my own business as a videographer and content creator. I'm a highly passionate and creative person who loves to help businesses get on the front foot with their content and media. Although setting up my own business has been a huge challenge, it has been one of the best decisions of my life. Throughout this process I've been able to see first hand how hard it is for businesses to tell their story. It has also become apparent how difficult it is for charities and small businesses to be seen and heard and this is why I am so motivated to be involved with the Front Foot It Foundation.

    I feel I bring a lot of energy and passion to the group along with experience in various different industries. I love helping people and I have worked with several charities in the past. I am super excited about being involved with a charity organisation at a higher level.

  • STEVE BLAKE

    I have been involved in the construction industry for my whole working life in various roles and mainly specialising in Project Management and Sales in most types of residential construction from subdivision and development of land through construction of multi dwelling developments, townhouses and design and build bespoke homes as well. I have spent the last 4 years at Golden Homes BOP as a sales consultant and also picking up overflow project management.

    I enjoy taking an idea and turning into a finished product and property development is a great platform for this. If I am passionate about something I will work as hard as I can and put as much effort, energy, blood sweat and tears into it as it takes to get a result.

    I enjoy sports and team camaraderie and I was a competitive rugby player until multiple injuries put a stop to my dreams of being a professional rugby player and after finding the sport of strongman recently I have spent the last 3 years training and competing.

    I am also very passionate about helping others where I can and giving time where I can and I am very excited about the impact that FFIF can have.

  • JAKE RYAN

    I grew up on a farm in Hawkes Bay and studied in Palmerston North through Massey University. I graduated with a sports massage diploma, a bachelor of education and diploma of teaching. I have been living in Tauranga for 10 years. In this time I have taught at Tauranga Intermediate and currently at Te Kura o Manunui, leading the middle school team with 4 leadership units.

    I have been involved in many events around Tauranga Moana. These consist of AIMS Games organisation across many codes, local girls cricket coaching and primary aged tamariki events.

    I am an honest, hard working, passionate, and open minded guy with a hands on approach. I see the big picture and work well in a team. I am all about the community and helping people with confidence to explore their personal potential.