Management Team

Ric Balfour, CEO

Ric takes over as Chief Executive Officer from Amy S. Thaler, who returned to her home country of the US to persue new challanges.

Bringing over 35 years of forestry, outdoor recreation and environmental education to the role, Ric is passionate about helping local communities, clubs and organisations thrive in their efforts to get kids and families actively engaged in the outdoors. Ric comes to the YMCA having been the TECT All Terrain Park Manager for Western Bay of Plenty District Council since January 2008.

Prior to that he lived in Oregon, USA, for 19 years where he worked with state agencies, local government and small non-profits with great success. As Director of Forestry Education for the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Ric coordinated state-wide environmental education programmes, teacher training, and natural resource training programmes for landowners and professionals.

As Oregon’s first Public Use Coordinator, he was responsible for establishing recreation, education, and interpretation programmes across 850,000 acres of Oregon Department of Forestry lands. A resident of Welcome Bay, Ric lives with his wife Holly and two daughters Fiona (10) and Lillian (8).

Judy Kane, Education Manager

Jude has broad experience of teaching and management within the early childhood sector in Tauranga, both at a National and Local level.

She is a fully Registered Teacher, holds a Diploma of Teaching (ECE), a Bachelor of Education, has completed Post Graduate studies in Evaluation and Research Methodologies  and is currently working towards a Master of Education.   She is currently the Education Manager for the YMCA and has held this position since 2006. She is very passionate about education and believes it is the key to happy and healthy futures.

Jude has had extensive working relationships and has been involved in partnerships with Tāngata Whenua throughout her career (as whānau, with colleagues, as management of early childhood services and as an Adult Educator). 

Jude’s personal interests include her family, grandchildren and friends, gardening, reading for pleasure, socialising with good friends, walking and nurturing, preserving maintaining and being grateful for all things beautiful and good. 

Theo Ursum, Operations Manager 

Theo comes to Tauranga from the YMCA Hawkes Bay where he held the position of OSCAR Manager from November 2009 until August 2011.

His role there saw  him responsible for 16 holiday programmes (hosting up to 350 kids per day) and 7 After School Care centres. He also sat on the Volunteering Hawkes Bay Board, helping to develop the organisation’s administrative systems and contribute to its business & strategic plans.

A Dutch native, Theo moved to New Zealand with his wife, Iris, in 2009. Prior to his emigration, he held various positions in several commercial companies, including the Dutch equivalent of Mitre 10 (maybe he can be our new handyman too!)

In his spare time, Theo enjoys tackling DIY projects, bike riding (no surprise there - he's Dutch!), swimming and tramping.

Karen Bark, Finance Manager

Karen is an Associate Chartered Accountant who has worked as the Finance Manager for the YMCA Tauranga since 2008. 

Having worked in the accountancy field for the past 17 years, she has experience in various fields, from the provision of training for small business accounting packages to preparing financial statements and filing tax returns. 

In her time at the Y, Karen has brought our accounting system into the new millennium and is always striving to keep up with technology so she can introduce further improvements.

Karen’s spare time sees her looking after her three extremely energetic boys who love to swim, surf and play soccer.  She also enjoys going to the gym, walking on the beach and volunteering at the Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service.