This is a 2 year term from September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2024.
Rev. Dr. Theo van der Nest (OStJ) hails from the windy city of Port Elizabeth, also known as the friendly city. After marrying Lynnro 26 years ago, they moved to Aotearoa New Zealand and settled in Hamilton. They have 3 children: Carla who is a graduate from Waikato University, Wilma who is a second year at Waikato University and Darius, 9 finding his feet in education.
He has been in ordained ministry since 2010, serving in the Anglican Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, under the care of Archbishop and Primate for Aotearoa New Zealand, Most Reverend Phillip Richardson. He has close connections with the Apostolic Churches who emerged out of the Catholic Apostolic Church in the 1820s in England and Scotland. His experience includes being a military officer, an educationist for correctional services, teacher of Mathematics, Statistics and Calculus and lecturer for the Catholic Institute of Theology. He is currently attached to St George and St David’s Anglican parish in Hamilton.
His family has a lavender farm just north of Hamilton where they grow and distill lavender. He is a member of the Order of St John and serves as Chaplain for Saint John’s Ambulance services in Aotearoa New Zealand. His area of academic focus has been on faith-based schooling in Aotearoa New Zealand and he has published several academic articles in relation to this. Initially appointed as a Mathematics teacher, he completed his Masters in Religious Education and PhD at the Catholic University of Australia. He strives always to live by Hebrews 12:14.