18/08/2026
‼️ IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP UPDATE 📣
After eight years of service to Zeal and young people across the motu, it’s with sadness but also gratitude that we share Jesse Boyce will be stepping down as Chief Executive of Zeal Youth Trust Aotearoa.
Since joining Zeal, Jesse has led the organisation through significant opportunity and change - navigating societal challenges, building new partnerships, strengthening our presence across Aotearoa and, most importantly, keeping us focussed on our deepest ‘why’ - the care, support and empowerment of rangatahi. 100,000’s of young people have come through Zeal’s doors and programmes in the last eight years, finding connection, belonging and a community that cares deeply about their current worlds and their future. During this time young people continue to tell us Zeal is having a positive impact on them and they feel cared for and supported at Zeal.
Under Jesse’s leadership, Zeal successfully navigated Covid-19, further championed inclusion and participation, took proactive steps in its commitment to Te Tiriti O Waitangi and embedded Zeal in its whakapapa, strengthening its ties to its origin story, values and longterm mission. True to his commitment to Zeal, Jesse will remain focused on ensuring a strong transition through to the end of the year, and supporting the organisation through to its next chapter. The Board will begin the process of finding Zeal’s next Chief Executive shortly and will share further updates in due course.
For now, we simply want to acknowledge and thank Jesse for his eight years of service, leadership and aroha for the ranatahi that we serve.
Ngā mihi nui, Jesse. Thank you for everything you have given to Zeal, and for the young people of Aotearoa.
