Otago Southland Branch

Our Director Dialogue series is an initiative born from member feedback requesting events for new and emerging directors. These informal bi-monthly sessions run for an hour from 8am. Participants discuss governance topics following presentations from senior directors. We also run lunchtime and evening speaking events throughout the year. These reflect governance interests and global trends, and attract members at all levels of experience. We are fortunate at the branch to have some highly experienced directors who share their knowledge and passion for governance.

The Otago Southland Branch of the Institute of Directors Emerging Director Award is open to Otago Southland Branch members in the early stages of their governance journey.

• Are you newly engaged on a directorship path and aspire to enhance your governance experience?
• Can you demonstrate a commitment to development and a high level of integrity?
• Are you committed to development of your governance pathway?

The focus of this award is to foster the discipline of good governance through the acquisition of technical knowledge in addition to creating opportunities for networking via branch events and functions. 

2023 award recipient

• Joanna (Jo) Hay  (2023) has been named the Institute of Directors Otago Southland Branch Emerging Director 2023. Read more

Past recipients

• William Clarke (2022)
• Brad Hurndell (2021)
• Professor Jessica Palmer (2020)
• Kate Hesson (2019)
• Desiree Williams (2018)
• Jeffrey Broughton (2017)
• Professor Richard Barker (2016)
• Richard Thomas (2015)
• Clare Kearney (2014)
• Tony Allison (2013)
• Dawn Sangster (2012)
• Doug Hill (2011)
• Mike Horne (2010)

Trish Oakley CFInstD

Trish is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD, Otago-Southland Branch committee chair, a representative on the National Council and director of the IoD's board.  She is an executive at Forsyth Barr Ltd and has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, working across marketing, product development and people focused initiatives.

She is chair of the Financial Services Council Strategic Research Committee and co-chair of their investment and KiwiSaver committee. She is currently Pro Chancellor of the University of Otago, and director of University of Otago Holdings. Trish is also a member of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission. Trish holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago and is a member of Global Women.

Duncan Fea CFInstD, BCom CA

Duncan is a Queenstown based Chartered Accountant who has strong links across the Central Otago and Southland areas. He has particular expertise in advisory, strategic planning, and business acquisitions and sales. As well as his busy accountancy role, Duncan has considerable governance experience. His earlier board roles include Pioneer Generation Ltd, Queenstown Airport Ltd, Goldfields Jet Ltd,  PowerNet Ltd, The Power Company Ltd, OtagoNet JV and Southern Generation LP. Duncan’s current governance roles are with Shotover Canyon Swing Ltd, Rotorua Canopy Tours Ltd and the Walker Group. Duncan has held the latter role for many years, working closely with the late Bill Walker since 1985. Focused to seek continuous improvement, Duncan completed the week-long Company Directors’ Course in 2012 and has since completed courses on Audit and Risk Committees as well as three Boards in Action courses, including ‘Leadership in the Boardroom’. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the branch.

 Jeffrey Broughton

Jeff is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors based in Dunedin. He is a Chartered Accountant by trade and is an Associate Partner at Findex where he specialises in strategy development and performance improvement. Jeff’s governance career has been building over the past decade. Highlights include the Institute of Directors Otago Southland Emerging Director Award in 2017 and a future director position with Ngāi Tahu Holdings from 2017 - 2019. His current roles include Sport Otago, Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki and Adventure Development Limited and holds multiple advisory boards positions with privately held companies. Jeff completed the Companies Director Course in 2017 and has completed a number of the IoD training courses over the past five years. 

Jeff Grant

Jeff has been in governance roles fulltime for 24 years with previous roles including a Director for SBS Bank, Finance Now, PF2050, Southern Institute of Technology and Chairman of Mt Linton Station, OSPRI Ltd, AgResearch and Milford Sound Tourism.  In July 2018, Jeff was seconded to the New Zealand meat industry for two years and was based at NZ House in London to oversee Brexit EU28 and UK Free Trade Agreement process on behalf of NZ Red Meat Industry.  For eight years until 2018, Jeff was the Independent Chair of Southland Shared Services. Jeff is an External Appointee at Invercargill City Council responsible for guiding the organisation through its response to a recent Government Review. He holds directorships at Lakeland Wanaka, Great South and Thriving Southland and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Jon Foote CMInstD

Jon is the Managing Director of Dunedin based Business Intelligence consultancy, Flock Consulting. He has been in the Business Intelligence industry since 2007 working across the health, manufacturing, transportation, tourism and retail industries. Jon began his governance career in 2018 by joining the Otago/Southland branch of the IoD. He has completed a range of IoD courses, including the Company Directors Course.  Jon completed an 18-month intern director role with Aurora Energy in June 2021 and is a trustee of the Otago Boys High School Foundation.  Jon is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.

Rei Ishikawa

Rei is the Chief Operating Officer of health software and informatics organisation, BPAC Clinical Solutions. An environmental scientist and project manager by training, Rei has a varied background working across the engineering, environmental science, and ICT industries. Rei has recently started his journey in governance with a trustee role with the Otago Physio Pool Trust, and has recently completed an internship director role with Dunedin International Airport Ltd. Rei is also a committee member of the IoD Otago Southland branch. Rei has been an IoD member since 2017 and has attended the GDP along with many of the local events.

Scott Mason FCA CFInstD AAMINZ

Scott Mason has been a Chartered Accountant in public practice for over 30 years, specialising in advising medium/large businesses and HNWI, and is a qualified mediator/ADR practitioner. Scott’s governance career has been building over the last 15 years, and he is now primarily a professional director across a range of industries and entity types, with a special interest in early/mid-stage tech companies (soft and hard). Current roles include directorships with City Forests Limited (Dunedin City Council owned), NomosOne Limited (leasing SaaS), Southern Motor Group Limited, Banqer Limited (children’s financial literacy), Get Home Safe (lone worker H&S SaaS), Wofo (Gig-economy platform), and Bison Group Limited (container weighing/lifting). Scott has a passion for ensuring learning and personal growth opportunities are available to everyone who wants such, and has been actively involved in a range of education and training entities as a speaker and governor. He also has a strong interest in public policy, and is the current Chair of the CAANZ Tax Advisory Group, advising Government/IRD on tax policy matters.

Sarah Ottrey B.Comm (Mktg), CFInstD

Sarah is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD and a graduate of the University of Otago. In Sarah’s 20-year executive career with Unilever and DB Breweries/Heineken she held senior marketing roles in New Zealand and internationally. Sarah created the Tui Yeah Right Campaign. Sarah is currently a director of The EBOS Group Ltd, Skyline Enterprises Ltd, Christchurch International Airport, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, The Whitestone Cheese Co and Sarah Ottrey Marketing Ltd.  Past directorships include Comvita, The NZ Public Trust, Blue Sky Meats, The Smiths City Group, Inland Revenue Risk Assurance Committee and Wellesley College and its Foundation as Deputy Chair and Chair.

Rowena Davenport BCom (Finance) MInstD

 Rowena is a graduate of the University of Otago and has been a member of the Dunedin branch of the IoD since 2013.  In the past decade she has gained significant governance experience and is currently a director on the New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Board, the Board appointed representative on the New Zealand Rugby Foundation, and in 2021 was on the Women's Rugby World Cup 2021 organising committee (played in 2022). 

Prior to joining the NZR Board she was the Chairperson of the Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU), the first female Chairperson of a major Provincial Rugby Union in New Zealand. Rowena gained valuable governance experience when she was selected to participate in the Graham Crombie Intern Director Programme in 2018, participating on the Board of Dunedin City Holdings Limited and Dunedin City Treasury Limited.  Rowena’s professional experience includes executive roles at MTF Finance, and more recently as Chief Executive at Gallaway Cook Allan Lawyers, leaving early in 2023 to establish herself as a contractor to provide strategic support to organisations and pursue further governance opportunities.