General Manager

Leighton Evans

Qualifications: Bachelor of Science majoring in Physical geography. Postgraduate diploma in Business excellence. National diploma in Civil engineering.

“The people are what Gisborne’s about. It’s also a great place to bring up kids with the slower pace of life, close facilities and focus on community good”.

Leighton has been at the ECT since March 2010. Leighton has a passion for the area and having grown up in Gisborne considers the East Coast to be home. He brings to the role a range of local experiences including ten years at the Gisborne District Council. At the council he worked in a number of roles from looking at natural resource issues to being the water engineer responsible for the city’s clean water supply.

After leaving the Council Leighton took on the role of establishing and managing the Gisborne branch for a regional civil contracting company. Having been involved in delivering a number of significant infrastructure projects Leighton enjoyed being a part of helping shape our region.

Leighton is excited he’s in a role that is making a difference to our community. He believes one of his biggest challenges is changing the community perception about the role of the Trust and managing the expectations of the stakeholders.

Family life is very important to Leighton. He and his wife, Cherith, have four daughters and one son. At the weekends they enjoy spending time together fishing, and playing soccer and cricket. Leighton also runs a youth programme with his brother-in-law.