Until 2010, Dr Lyndon Drake was a Vice President at Barclays Capital, trading government bonds and interest-rate derivatives. Since then, he has served as pastor of Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, taught theology of work at seminaries, served in regional and international church leadership, and has served on a number of boards, including chairing Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Trust Board (a Māori social work agency) and Te Kaunihera (the governors of St John’s Theological College, the Anglican seminary in Auckland). He is the Archdeacon of Tāmaki Makaurau within the Māori Anglican bishopric of Te Tai Tokerau.

Lyndon has degrees in science and commerce from the University of Auckland, a PhD in computer science from the University of York, and two degrees in theology from Oxford.

Lyndon is of Ngai Tahu descent, from Kati Kuri in Kaikoura. He and his wife Miriam have three children and occasionally foster children.