She was the social club chairperson. No one noticed the money was gone until she left

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Debra Anne Winders, 51, worked as an executive assistant at Synlait from 2019 to 2025, and was the social club chairperson.

On Monday she admitted stealing just shy of $40,000 from the social club’s accounts, in more than 300 transactions that weren’t noticed until she left.

Winders was remanded on bail and will be sentenced in December.

An executive assistant who became chairperson of her employer’s 300-strong social club gave herself sole access to the finances before spending almost $40,000 on herself, including for beauty treatments, online subscriptions and booze.

Debra Anne Winders, 51, worked for Canterbury-based dairy company Synlait from 2019 to 2025.

Her fraud was not discovered until after she left the business, when the treasurer who took over discovered more than 300 unauthorised payments and other irregularities.

Winders pleaded guilty at the Christchurch District Court on Monday to three representative charges - two of accessing a computer system for a dishonest purpose, and another of using a document for a pecuniary advantage.

Synlait is a dairy processing company that manufactures and exports milk powders, formula and other dairy products. It was founded in Dunsandel, Canterbury, in 2000.

According to the summary of facts, the Synlait Dunsandel Social Club has more than 300 members - employees of Synlait Milk Ltd based in both Dunsandel and its Christchurch central office. It has an executive with a chairperson, treasurer, and secretary, and up to 11 committee members.

It was the treasurer’s responsibility to keep record of the finances. Every payment was meant to be authorised by two signatories - the treasurer and another executive member.

Two bank accounts belonged to the social club - one which received members’ subscription fees, as well as contributions from Synlait. Invoices for functions were paid from this account. The second account had a debit card used for purchases, to cover additional expenses, and for when certain events were not invoiced.

Winders began working at Synlait as an executive assistant in April 2019.

She became secretary of the social club the following year, and was appointed its chairperson in 2021.

In June 2023, she changed the authorisation requirements on both ANZ bank accounts, and the second signatory was removed after that person left the company.

By this point, Winders was in full control of the finances and was the only person with access to the social club’s accounts.

In March 2025, Winders left Synlait and the social club.

It was not until the new social club treasurer took over that they noticed more than 300 unauthorised debit card payments, and a number of online bill payments made from the other account.

Between 2022 and 2025, Winders spent $39,692 on herself, including for beauty treatments, booze, restaurants, a vet visit, retail shops, supermarkets and fuel. She did not keep receipts or notify the social club of any of the spending.

Using the social club’s online banking, she also set up automatic payments to Sky TV, Spark, Afterpay, Elgas Limited, Powershop, Woolworths/Countdown, Escape Artist, EventHire, Christchurch Adventure Park, Uber and Parkmate.

Winders, who has no previous convictions, declined to comment when questioned by police.

In a DVD-recorded interview she made spontaneous comments, admitting that the social club’s debit card was used to purchase vouchers at businesses including liquor stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and Mitre 10.

“The card was also given to other committee members to purchase vouchers,” the facts record. “The vouchers were valued at $50 or more and were approved by the social club committee. No receipts were produced.”

In a statement to Stuff, Synlait’s director of safety, people and culture Steph Manning said:

'The fact the funds stolen were collected from Synlait's employees makes this theft particularly upsetting. Thankfully the company reimbursed the social club so it has been able to continue its great work for our people.'

Winders was convicted and remanded on bail by Judge Mark Callaghan.

She will be sentenced in December.