From Lindisfarne to Leadership - Andrew Clark

“Lindisfarne taught me to work hard, lead well, and leave things better than I found them.”

For many Old Boys, Lindisfarne College shapes character long before its influence becomes obvious. For Andrew Clark, those years didn’t just form a foundation, they set the direction for a life defined by service, discipline, community leadership, and high performance. Today, Andrew is one of Hawke’s Bay’s leading real estate professionals, but long before the awards, his story began on an orchard in Havelock North.

Growing up with his two brothers, Andrew learnt work ethic early. Orchard life was physical and routine-driven. He attended Te Mata Primary and Hereworth before moving to Lindisfarne, where he stepped into leadership as a Prefect and Head of House for Durham. These roles demanded responsibility and revealed strengths he would carry into later chapters.

After finishing school in 1996, Andrew spent a gap year at St Stithians College in South Africa, coaching cricket and rugby and playing for the Wanderers Under 21s. The experience broadened his perspective and reinforced his belief in sport as a pathway to connection and opportunity.

Returning home, he completed a Bachelor of Business Studies while persuing his rugby aspirations. His performance earned him places in the Hastings Premier Team, Hawke’s Bay Under 21s, and a nomination for the NZ Marist Under 21s. During this period he also represented Hastings in Premier Rugby League and later won a Premiership with Tamatea in 2008. In 2002 he was selected for the Hawke’s Bay Development Squad, which led to a semi-professional rugby contract in Northampton, England. An achievement marked by commitment and discipline.

Back in New Zealand, Andrew completed a degree in Sport and Recreation and moved into coaching and fitness. He worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for Central Districts Cricket, spent 15 years personal training, and owned his own gym, Xtreme Fitness. A career highlight came when the China National Sevens teams trained at his facility. After witnessing his coaching firsthand, the Chinese Rugby Union appointed him National Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Women’s Sevens team preparing for the Rio Olympics.

When Andrew entered real estate in 2016, he brought with him the discipline and communication forged through years of sport, leadership and building relationships. His first year set the tone: Rookie of the Year. Every year since, he has placed in the Top five, often inside the Top three, eventually receiving the #1 Sales Agent title and the Kel Tremain Memorial Cup.

Andrew’s commitment to community began long before real estate. The culture of Lindisfarne emphasised service and contribution, values he carries with intention. For the past eight years he has been the main sponsor of the Clive Premier Rugby Team. He has continually invested in junior sport through sponsoring and coaching the Clive Cougars Rugby League Team, also coaching the Hereworth u11s, u12s and u13s Rugby.

Now, with his son Victor entering Lindisfarne, Andrew’s connection to the school has strengthened again. He has committed to sponsoring the Lindisfarne First XV for the next six years and is coaching the Lindisfarne Under 16 Rugby League team, continuing the leadership tradition he once benefited from.

For Andrew, supporting Lindisfarne is personal. It represents returning to the place that shaped his expectations of himself. The leadership roles taught him to step up. The sporting culture taught him to chase excellence. The community values taught him to give back.

These threads have influenced every chapter of his life, from elite-level coaching to becoming one of Hawke’s Bay’s top real estate agents. Today, Andrew is proud to be involved not just as an Old Boy, but as a parent, coach, sponsor, and mentor, energised for what lies ahead as Victor begins his own journey