The Team
Tui Edwards
Service Manager
(Qualified Financial Mentor)
PGDip PH, MPH (1st Class Hons)
Iwi: Whakatohea, Ngai Tai, Ngati Awa
I commenced with the Financial Mentoring Service (Formerly Budget Advisory Service) in June 2018. Over the past 30 years I have worked for Government, Non Government organisations and Iwi providers in many different roles.
I have been fortunate to have been involved in some awesome community projects in the past, locally, regionally and nationally. In my role as the Service Manager I have been able to utilise my skills to help the service move forward, to connect and enhance service delivery to the Whakatane community.
It’s been an awesome journey so far and I am proud of the wonderful team we have here at Financial Mentoring Service as we all strive to provide this much needed Financial Mentoring service to the Whakatane community.
Susan Atkinson
Volunteer Financial Mentor (Trainee)
J.P., MSW App (Hons), BA, Dip Tchg
Phone: (07) 307 1390
Iwi: Ngati Kahungunu
I joined the financial mentoring team in February 2026 as a volunteer, after moving to this area from Waikite Valley. I completed the online Financial Mentoring training in June 2026, and am now a practicing volunteer financial mentor.
My hometown is Murupara and is where I started my careers as a secondary school teacher, dairy farmer, and mum to six children. I also trained in social services and recently spent 12 years as a health social worker in Rotorua. I loved the mahi in the social services sector, and am looking forward to helping whanau here in Whakatane work towards financial independence.
Theo Duyvestyn
Volunteer Qualified Financial Mentor
Phone: (07) 307 1390
I was born and bred in Tokoroa and 3 years ago, after selling a business I owned and operated, my family and I moved to this great area permanently. I spent my years in Tokoroa operating a Drainage business, and also on various committees and boards, as well as being a father to 3 children. I miss my old town but love it in the Bay of Plenty!!
After completing the FinCap FMIC (Financial Mentoring online training), I began volunteering with the Financial Mentoring Service in May 2020.
I work Mondays and Wednesdays, I really enjoy helping clients and seeing the positive changes they make. Find this really rewarding.
Mary Hermanson
Volunteer Qualified Financial Mentor PGDMS(Waikato) NCB
Phone: (07) 307 1390
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Piri McConnell
Snr Financial Mentor (Qualified Financial Mentor)
Total Money Management
Certified Bookkeeper
Phone: (07) 307 1390
I began my journey with Financial Mentoring Service in July 2020, and I love it. My background has been in Financial Planning and Bookkeeping with preparation of Financial Statements, tax returns, accounts payable and receivable, GST, PAYE and so on – my working life has been filled with sums and figures.
My role as Coordinator and Financial Mentor leaves me feeling fulfilled. I really enjoy meeting and empowering people to achieve their goals. I’ve never worked in a Community Service before, and It has opened my eyes to what a wonderful place we live in, surrounded by other Services with so much to give.
I enjoy keeping fit and like to encourage others to do the same! See you in the sunshine.
Scott Innes
Volunteer Financial Mentor
(Trainee)
Phone: (07) 307 1390
I'm originally from Vancouver Island in Canada. My father is from Whakatāne, and what started as a whakapapa journey to reconnect with that side of my family turned into finding our home to raise our three boys here, in a place that still values community.
I work as a practicing financial adviser and financial wellbeing specialist, so numbers and budgets have been part of my working life for years. I wanted to give something back to this community by using that experience in a different way.
I believe every financial situation is solvable. I love sitting down with people and working through theirs with them, seeing them go from feeling stuck to having a plan.
Sandie Hill
Financial Mentor/Receptionist (Qualified Financial Mentor)
Phone: (07) 307 1390
I’m originally from Bulls, Rangitikei region, and was raised on a dairy farm where life was tough but built great character. In 2001, I moved my 2 children to Whakatane to be closer to extended family.
My background is in banking, and I have done 38 years in this field, so when the opportunity of working at the Financial Mentoring Service came up, it seemed the perfect fit. I joined in January 2023 and my role here is a mixture of being the Receptionist and a Financial Mentor.
I find the whole process of helping people very rewarding – it’s so lovely to see clients leave my office with a positive mindset that they can achieve their financial goals.
I have been working as a financial mentor since 2017 and am enjoying being part of the friendly team at the Financial Mentoring Service. I find community development work really rewarding having previously spent three and a half years with the Kawerau Healthy Homes project. I have also been involved for a number of years with business mentoring, Enterprise Training and the BIZ service. The information provided to clients by the budget service is excellent and so useful to people wanting to improve their circumstances.
