Board of Directors

I have been a company director for over 15 years, and am currently a director of The Warehouse Group Ltd, director of Steel and Tube Holdings Ltd, deputy chair of Kordia Group Ltd, and chairman of McLarens Young New Zealand Limited. I am also a Principal of The Boardroom Practice Limited which specialises in boardroom practice and organisational development and change issues for boards and management. For the past 15 years I have worked in the manufacturing and food sector with companies such as Tip Top ice cream and Arnott’s NZ of which I was also an executive director. I have a Master of Philosophy on governance and a Bachelor of Commerce with majors in finance and marketing, and am an alumna of the University of Auckland and London Business School.

I am an independent professional director with extensive experience in the international food and beverage industry. My previous roles include CEO and senior executive positions with Whitbread UK, Lion Nathan, Kraft General Foods, Rio Beverages, Cerebos, Columbus Coffee, Bell Tea and Foodstuffs Auckland. I have degrees in Engineering and Commerce from Auckland University, and am currently director of Tasti Products, Living Nature, Integria Healthcare and a trustee of Medicine Mondiale.

I am a well known Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer and an acknowledged farming leader. I was a former chairman of Richmond Ltd and am currently chair of AgResearch. My previous governance roles include chair of the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT), director of the Port of Napier and Farmlands, a member of the Prime Minister's Growth and Innovation Advisory Board and a member of the Government's Food & Beverage Task Force. I bring a diverse knowledge of the food and beverage sector to the AsureQuality Board.

At the end of 2010 I completed just over ten years as the Chief Financial Officer of OfficeMax New Zealand Limited, having previously held a senior finance role at TVNZ. I qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in London and have a Bachelor of Science degree (Mathematics). I worked in the oil and gas exploration industry including 10 years with BP Plc working on a variety of their UK and international projects, prior to emigrating to New Zealand in 1998. I have significant experience in strategic planning, organisational development, and have membership to the Institute of Directors. I am also a member of the board of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled.

I have wide-ranging experience in the farming and dairy sectors. My governance roles include being a member of the Fonterra Shareholders Council, a director at Balance Agri-Nutrients, a trustee Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) and a trustee for Maori-owned assets. I have been involved with industry leadership for 20 years and am a past winner of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy “Maori farmer of the year”.  I have completed the Kellogg programme.

I have extensive experience in R&D and the commercialisation of science and technology in food and agriculture in New Zealand and internationally. I have worked with many of New Zealand’s leading companies in their business development, including working with ZESPRI International for five years as an innovation manager. I have also consulted with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) and the export sector on reviewing, designing and implementing product certification systems. I am a professional member of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science and the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, and a member of the Institute of Directors. I have a B.Sc.Hons 1st class from Canterbury University and am currently a director of Catalyst R&D Ltd, and former authority member of Environmental Risk Management.

I was appointed to the Board in May 2010. I have a diverse background in New Zealand business, health and rural communities, and over 20 years’ experience in funds and investment management. My previous role was head of Wholesale Distribution at ASB Group Investments. I currently work as a director of PSIS Ltd, chairman of IRIS Limited, deputy chairman of Workplace Savings NZ, and a founding trustee and chairman of Helensville District Health Trust.