Waikato Branch

The Waikato Branch of the Institute of Directors Emerging Director Award is open to Waikato 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?
• Can you demonstrate a commitment to development and a high level of integrity?
• Are you committed to the development of your governance pathway?

The focus of this award is to identify executives, managers, and directors, individuals with potential and 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 recipient

Claire McDonald MInstD

Past recipients

• Amanda Hockley, Andrew Corkill (2023)
• Claire van der Most (2022)
• Greg Johnston (2021)
• Kelvyn Eglinton (2020)

• Megan Campbell (2019)
• Carla Muller (2018)
• Daniel Shore (2017)
• Alison Shanks (2016)
• Maree Haddon (2016 - Winner for the Disability Sector)
• James Yearsley (2015)
• Sarah Morton-Johnson (2014)
• Paula Baker (2013)
• Simon Lockwood (2012)
• Erica Amon (2011)
• Pam Roa (2010)

Simon Lockwood MBA, CFInstD

Simon Lockwood JP MBA, BA (Hons), NZCertFinServ, CFInstD is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD, Waikato Branch Committee Chair, and a representative on the IoD’s National Council. He has worked in insurance for over 27 years in both the UK and New Zealand and is Regional Branch Director of Crombie Lockwood Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Simon’s governance roles include Gallagher Insurance (Regional Branch Director), Enrich+ Services Chair and Enrich+ Deputy Chair, director of Habitat for Humanity (Central North Island) Ltd and Hatch Property Management. Simon is the presiding member of the Waikato Lottery Regional Grants Committee. 

Simon holds a degree in International Management, Postgraduate Diploma’s in Marketing and Insurance, an MBA from Leicester University and recently completed the International Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management. Simon also lectures on the MBA course at the University of Waikato.

Natasha Harvey CMInstD

Natasha Harvey is a Chartered Accountant with a professional career spanning accounting and commercial finance across a variety of sectors. She is also actively involved in the not-for-profit sector and is currently chair for the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust and director with Habitat for Humanity Greater Auckland. Natasha was a participant on the IoD Mentoring for Diversity programme in 2017.

Ken Williamson OStJ, QSM, JP, DistFInstD

With his partners, Ken built Law Mooney Williamson Insurance Brokers (est. 1974) into one of NZ's largest commercial insurance brokerages. After selling 'LMW' to Crombie Lockwood (now Gallagher Insurance), he remains a salaried employee. Ken’s a Fellow of the Insurance Brokers Association of NZ. He’s given much of his life to community service, including St John, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II making him a Knight of St John in 2020. He’s served, and serves, as a governor on a diverse range of Not-for-Profit boards, including within the tertiary & secondary education, and in the health, philanthropy, special needs, broadcasting, women's refuge, science, and local body sectors. In addition, Ken’s been a director of several successful businesses, including within the distribution, transport, manufacturing, property, and engineering industries. In recognition of his contribution to the IoD Ken was awarded a Distinguished Fellowship of the IoD in 2022. Ken and Julie consider Hamilton and the Waikato as their Turangawaewae. 

Megan Campbell CMInstD

Megan is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has worked in public policy, political and government relations roles. She currently oversees the qualitative research programme for Curia Market Research and provides mentoring services to senior leaders in business. Megan is the current Chair of the Rototuna Indoor Recreation Centre Trust, Changing Minds Charitable Trust, and Northern Health School. Megan has served as a trustee or board member on the Home of Cycling Trust Board, Medical Radiation Technologists Board, Medical Sciences Secretariat, Psychotherapists Board, Sport Waikato, Te Kuranui o Rototuna (junior and senior high schools) and other boards. Megan received the Waikato Emerging Director award in 2019 and as part of the award served as an intern director of St John New Zealand. 

Prof. Brad Jackson MInstD

Dr Brad Jackson is Professor of Leadership and Governance and Programme Director of the Community Enterprise Leadership Foundation (CELF). He co-teaches the Governance and Responsible Engagement course on the Waikato MBA programme with Simon Lockwood

Prior to joining the University of Waikato, Brad was Professor of Social Innovation at the Griffith Business School based in Brisbane, Australia; the Head of School Government and the Head of School of Management at Victoria University of Wellington; and the Fletcher Building Education Trust Chair in Leadership at the University of Auckland Business School.

Jackson has published eight books including two books on governance: The Board as the Nexus Between Leadership and Governance and Responsible Leadership in Corporate Governance.

He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Akina Foundation and the International Leadership Association and has been a board member of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government; Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School, Volunteer Wellington and the Kupe Leadership Scholarship Advisory Board.

Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau CFInstD

Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau is an experienced independent strategic and business director for FaceNorth Promotions, overseeing key relationships in the public and private sectors internationally, including across the Pacific region. Her broad commercial experience includes numerous projects between New Zealand and the Pacific relating to trade and investment promotion and facilitation, international research expeditions, public relations, marketing management, government and NGO advisory.

She is an independent director for Habitat for Humanity NZ, Activate Education Group Ltd, Deputy Chair for Ember Wellbeing Trust and Chair of WEL Energy Trust.  Rachel holds various NGO governance roles in the Social Housing, Mental Health and Business and Economic Development spaces and is highly engaged in international global Church governance through the World Evangelical Alliance.

Rachel also delivers consultative management services to a national NGO that addresses family wellbeing, prevention of violence and child abuse across New Zealand and has passion to advance Pacific economic development regionally.  Rachel is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors NZ and sits on the Waikato Committee for IoD.

Claire van der Most CMInstD

Originally from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, Claire’s family moved to the winterless north, Te Tai Tokerau, where she spent her childhood by the beach, before coming to the Waikato to study. After completing her Masters in Industrial and Organisational Psychology and a brief time in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, Claire headed overseas – spending nearly a decade in London, England – before returning to the Waikato.

Claire has 20+ years’ experience across the private, public and for-purpose sectors, from start-ups to mature, complex organisations. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and was a previous Waikato Emerging Director award winner.

Known for her values-based, collaborative leadership style, ability to foster strong, constructive relationships and for bringing curiosity, fairness and humanity to decision making, Claire currently serves on a number of boards across health and disability, and property.

Andrew Corkill CMInstD

Andrew Corkill is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors with a growing governance portfolio alongside a senior public service career. He is currently Director Regional Relationships for Waikato and Bay of Plenty at NZTA Waka Kotahi, where he works closely with councils, iwi and central government, including engagement with parliamentary select committees and regional transport decision-making.

Andrew has a strong interest in board culture, inclusive decision-making and effective succession planning. He believes good governance balances constructive challenge with supporting management to deliver the board’s vision.

He is currently Presiding Member of the Te Ao Mārama Primary School Board of Trustees, a role he has held since the school opened in 2019. His previous governance experience includes chairing Progress to Health and serving on the boards of Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust, The Peak and University of Waikato Sports Clubs. In 2024, he was an Emerging Director with the WEL Energy Trust through the Institute of Directors Waikato Branch.