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 very early stages of their governance journey. Applications for 2025 have now closed. Find out more about the award and past recipients below. 

• 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. 

2024 award recipients

Carla Harper MInstD, Kate Faulks MInstD   Read more

Past recipients

• Joanna (Jo) Hay (2023)
• 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)

Scott Mason  FCA, AAMINZ, CFInstD 

Scott is a professional director based in Dunedin.  He has been a specialist tax and commercial advisor to HNWI and owner-managed businesses across many industries for over 30 years, and is a senior partner at Findex.  However, these days Scott spends 80% of his time in governance, again across a wide range of industries mostly in the private sector. He is also the Chairperson of the CA ANZ Tax Advisory Group which advises Government on tax policy matters, as well as being a trained mediator, undertaking expert witness roles, an investor in early-stage companies, and a keen (albeit frequently broken) sportsman.  

Trish Oakley  CFInstD

Trish Oakley is a purpose-led governance leader who combines a people-first approach with strategic oversight to drive organisational performance and positive outcomes.

She is President of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Fellow.  She brings over 25 years of experience from the financial services industry, working across marketing, product development and people focused roles.

Trish is Chancellor of the University of Otago, director of University of Otago Holdings Limited, a trustee of the Hocken Collection and the University of Otago Foundation Trust.

She is also a member of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago, and is a member of Global Women.

Jeffrey Broughton  CMInstD

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 he holds multiple advisory board positions with privately held companies. Jeff completed the Company Directors' Course in 2017 and has completed a number of the IoD training courses over the past five years. 

Jeff Grant  MInstD

Jeff has been in governance roles full-time 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 the 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.

Rei Ishikawa  MInstD

Rei is the Chief Executive / Kaiwhakahaere at Aotearoa-based digital health company Karo Data Management. Rei is an environmental scientist by background with an M.Sc from the University of Canterbury, but considers himself a ‘generalist’ in delivery, with an extensive track record in project and programme management across the health, IT, engineering, environmental science, and retail industries. Rei holds several governance roles with Mainland Angel Investors and the Otago Physio Pool Trust. Rei is also a committee member of the IoD Otago Southland branch and a strong supporter of early-stage governors developing their careers. Rei has been an IoD member since 2017 and has attended the CDC along with many of the local events.

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 Institute of Directors since 2013. 

She is an experienced independent director with governance expertise across the financial services, legal, and sporting sectors. Currently, she serves on the boards of Finance Now Ltd, AWS Legal, and the New Zealand Rugby Foundation. Rowena is also a member of Global Women. 

As the first female Chair of a major Provincial Rugby Union in New Zealand (Otago), she went on to be a director of New Zealand Rugby, and chairing their People, Safety & Wellbeing Committee, until January 2025. In 2022, her contributions to rugby were recognised with a World Rugby Executive Leadership Scholarship, allowing her to complete the Women Transforming Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford. 

Rowena’s professional experience includes executive roles at MTF Finance and as Chief Executive at Gallaway Cook Allan Lawyers. Her early governance experience included roles at Dunedin City Holdings Ltd and Dunedin City Treasury Ltd, through the Graham Crombie Intern Director Programme.

Sarah Brown  CFInstD

Sarah is a former commercial lawyer who is now a professional director with extensive governance experience as a director, chair, and committee chair. Sarah is currently a director of Blue Sky Meats and a former director of SBS Bank and PGG Wrightson Ltd. She brings a wealth of cross-sector experience at multiple organisational levels, and we are delighted to have her represent the Southern region. 

Rachel McLauchlan  CMInstD

Rachel is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in practice and industry in Auckland, London and Dunedin for over 25 years. Currently in public practice at REM Financial Consultancy Limited, Rachel previously held senior roles at a US-listed company in London and KPMG in Auckland.

Since returning to Dunedin at the end of 2010, Rachel has developed a strong interest in governance across sectors including property, FMCG, manufacturing, technology and education.  Rachel has served on the board of Whitestone Cheese Limited and is currently on the boards of Otago Innovation Limited, Hillcrest Properties Limited, Columba College Board of Governors and is a Trustee for the Transition to Work Trust.

A Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Rachel has completed the Company Directors Course and the Regional Director Development Programme.  As an active member and committee member of the IoD Otago Southland Branch, Rachel regularly participates in governance events and has attended the national IoD Leadership Conferences since 2013.

Clare Kearney  CFInstD

Clare has a background in agriculture. She has had a 30 + year involvement in governance, starting, as many do, with a school board of trustees.

Based in Oamaru, Clare has held  positions on a variety of boards, including Chair of  Network Waitaki and Sport Otago, President and Chair of the New Zealand Alpine Club.  Currently, she is on the boards of the Observatory Village Group and  SouthPort.

Clare welcomes the opportunity to join the Otago Southland Branch Committee and support the professional organisation that has provided her with so much.