Company Directors' Course

Zoe is a Professional Director who has been working in governance since 2000, successfully serving on the Boards of private and listed companies, government entities, research institutes and not-for-profit organisations. She has held governance positions in both New Zealand and Australia.  She has also been an active Member and Chair of several subcommittees including finance audit and risk, governance and science.  Zoe facilitates governance training for both the Institute of Directors (IoD) NZ and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Zoe has had an international senior executive career across many industries, specializing in science and technology, innovation and commercialisation.  She has held global, leading roles with Owens Illinois, Dairy Australia Ltd, Bonlac Foods Ltd / Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd and Fletcher Challenge Forests. She has worked extensively across food and beverage industries around the world, including 34 years in agriculture/horticulture, 21 of those years in dairy. Zoe is currently a Director of SealStone NZ Ltd and a Committee Member of the IoD Bay of Plenty branch.

Philip is a consultant with Polson Higgs, Dunedin and specialises in the development of strategic plans, business plans and conducts a Maori business mentoring programme. He also has extensive experience in training including course development and presentation. His governance positions include chair of Well Dunedin Health Trust, deputy chair of Advertising Standards Complaints Board, board member of Education New Zealand, board member of Ngai Tahu Tourism Ltd, trustee of the Todd Foundation and he is the past president of Business New Zealand. After 33 years as a Chartered Accountant, Philip is supposed to be semi-retired. He can be found still at his desk in Dunedin or at the Balmacewen Course or relaxing in Bannockburn.

Peter advises boards internationally on corporate purpose, strategy, corporate governance and board effectiveness. He is also an experienced director and chairman, principally of privately-held companies and social enterprises. Appointments have included the boards of Tracmap, EnergySmart, Hutt International Boys’ School and the Baptist Union of New Zealand, amongst others. His doctoral thesis explored board influence on firm performance.

Nick is currently a director of Boardroom 360, a company that specialises in helping boards enhance their performance. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Canterbury University and is a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants as well as being a qualified cost and management accountant. Nick has had over 25 years senior management experience which include six years as company secretary of Peterson Chemicals Ltd, 14 years as an executive director of the Interlock Group and five years as general manager operations for Presbyterian Support Central running rest homes and hospitals and has held a number of directorships and chairmanships in both the SME market and not-for-profit sector. He is currently treasurer Parkinsonism Society of New Zealand and a member of the Port Nicholson Rotary Club.

Alastair is a partner with Buddle Findlay in Wellington and has practised corporate and public law for over 20 years, advising a variety of public and private sector clients on corporate governance and directors' duties. He has specific expertise in the health and primary sectors and is an expert on cooperative and mutual company structures. Alastair is currently deputy chair of Medical Assurance Society Ltd, a director of Medical Securities Limited and a member of the Advisory Board of Cancer Trials New Zealand. He also serves on the board of Buddle Findlay, and has chaired the Latin America New Zealand Business Council, and spent nine years as a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Jackie is an independent director and business advisor. She is currently deputy chair of New Zealand Post Group, a trustee of the Lion Foundation and Wellington Museums Trust, chair of the State Services Commission’s Risk & Audit Committee and a member of the Weltec Whitireia Combined Council.  
A life-long interest in the relationship between human behaviour and business performance led Jackie through an executive career as global human resources director for the New Zealand Dairy Board and NZMP Fonterra, to consulting and on to governance. She is a graduate of Otago University and the University of Virginia Executive Development Programme, a member of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Jackie serves on the Wellington Branch Committee of the IoD and was appointed deputy chair in 2014.

Juliet is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD and has held over 20 board directorships in a wide range of sectors, with state-owned enterprises, private and publicly-listed companies and not-for-profit organisations. In 1991, she established her New Zealand-based consultancy firm, Broad Horizons Limited, which delivers corporate governance training, policy advice and strategic planning workshops to a wide variety of clients in New Zealand, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Juliet was awarded the Queen’s Service Order and the Commonwealth Medal. She is an honorary fellow of the School of Government at Victoria University.

Catherine has experience in the public sector, corporate business and education, in both senior management and governance roles. She currently has her own consultancy business which focuses on professional and executive education, strategy development and business re-structuring. She has held governance roles in a variety of not-for-profit organisations and is currently a trustee with the MainPower Trust, Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust and Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Community Trust.

Craig formed a business development consultancy practice Business Innovators in 2002, providing a range of advice to small to medium-sized businesses across New Zealand. Craig is a Chartered Accountant, director and chairman of the board for several companies. Craig has experience in a number of sectors including manufacturing, exporting, retail and the service sector. Craig has received accolades from several businesses who have won business awards, including one being named the fastest-growing company in the Deloitte Top 50.

Murray is an independent chairman and professional director. He currently holds governance and advisory roles in both the public and private sector including CERA, the Ministry of Education and the TSB Trust and is actively involved in the Christchurch rebuild as the independent chairman of three of the anchor projects. He has held a variety of Crown appointed roles, including Crown Commissioner and as a director on Crown entities. He has worked in governance and senior management roles across the education, aviation, professional services, tourism and sport sectors over the last 20 years. He's also actively involved in TEDx in both Queenstown and Christchurch as MC and speaker coach and speaks regularly on leadership in a range of executive programmes.

With a doctoral degree in strategic management, Nick van der Walt has held positions locally and internationally as professor of International Business, professor of Corporate Governance and Leadership, Professorial Fellow and Dean. His research in corporate governance in New Zealand has been published globally. Nick has held offshore leadership roles as a chief executive and executive director in high growth globally ranked international institutions while he has also been a director of companies, a trustee of charitable trusts and honorary consul for the Republic of South Africa appointed by President Mandela. He has worked globally with the leadership levels of organisations in such areas as defence, banking, telecoms, retail, and professional services.

Mike Wood is a highly experienced consultant with Broadleaf Capital International, providing risk management advice, training, and cost and benefits risk assessments for a wide range of public and private sector organisations. He is the immediate past chairman of the New Zealand Society for Risk Management. His work has taken him to Australia, the Middle East and Canada, where projects have included risk assessments for substantial civil and electrical infrastructure, mining, and oil and gas projects. Mike also has extensive governance experience in the not-for-profit sector and is currently deputy Chairman of the Wellington City Mission, and a trustee of  the Youth Cultures & Community Trust and  the Ignite Sport Trust.

Rodney has had over 25 years as CEO/MD and chair for a number of mid-sized New Zealand private and public organisations, over a range of diverse industry sectors. Past roles have included chief executive/managing director at Pacific Brands Food Group/National Foods Ltd and chair Palmerston North Airport Ltd. While holding a government appointment as chair of NZ Crop & Food Research Institute, he led the merger to form NZ Plant & Food Research; and was its deputy chair. His current business interests are a balance of commercial start-ups and public good companies, usually in the capacity of independent director or chair; member of the Massey University Business School advisory board, executive chair Speirs Nutritional LLP, director of ScanPower Ltd, chair Manchester House Social Services Inc., and Trustee of Central Energy Trust.

Jo Brosnahan is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, chair of Northpower Fibre (ultra fast broadband), chair of Hunter Downs Development Company (irrigation), a trustee of the Auckland Museum Trust and principal of Leaders for Future. She is chair of the Te Puawai Education Trust, and a member of the Centre for Brain Research Advisory Board. She was founding chair of Leadership New Zealand for a decade (and is still an Advisory Trustee), was chair of Landcare Research and has an extensive governance career. She was CEO of the Northland Regional Council and of the Auckland Regional Council. As a Harkness Fellow and Aspen Scholar, Jo researched leadership in the US. She develops and facilitates leadership programmes. Jo is a passionate New Zealander who believes that good leadership grounded in humility and challenged by diversity is the key to success.

Paul is an independent director with over 36 years’ experience as a consultant, executive and investor in a variety of industries, including over 14 years as a director of public companies and a number of private companies. He is presently chair of  the Accreditation Council, director of Unison Networks Ltd, Unison Fibre Ltd, ETEL Ltd, Hall’s Refrigerated Transport Ltd and Telarc SAI Ltd. He is founding independent chairman of the Hamilton City Council audit and risk committee and Chair of Bobux International Limited.   

Mary-Jane is an experienced independent director with a strong track record of leading significant business units within large and complex organisations. She is an independent director of Kiwi Property Group Limited, deputy chair of Airways Corporation of New Zealand, and Chair of the New Zealand Green Building Council, as well as being a Commissioner of the Earthquake Commission. She has a strong background in banking and finance, including roles at BNZ, National Australia Bank and Toronto-Dominion Bank in London. Her last executive role was Executive General Manager at State Insurance. Prior to this appointment, she was CFO of IAG in New Zealand and Group Treasurer and Risk Manager at Fonterra.

Christine is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD and an experienced company director and chair in the business, private and not-for-profit sectors. She has chaired Radio NZ, Te Po (Mental Health Programmes Ltd) and the Perry Group Ltd. She is a former president of the NZLS. Christine is currently executive director of the New Zealand Law Society, and a consultant at the law firm Harkness Henry. She is also a Judge of the High Court and Court of Appeal in the Cook Islands.

Simon is a partner at Buddle Findlay. He joined Buddle Findlay on 1 February 2011 and has been practising law since 1983. Prior to working with Buddle Findlay, Simon had 15 years as general counsel for Westpac Banking Corporation in New Zealand, followed by four years acting as a consultant on pan industry projects in the banking and finance sector. Simon has had over 20 years corporate governance experience including throughout his career at Westpac, during the years he was consulting and as a partner at Buddle Findlay. Simon has been on the boards of Visa New Zealand Limited, The Warehouse Financial Services Limited (where he chaired the board) and AGC New Zealand Limited (prior to its acquisition by GE). He regularly advises boards and management on governance issues – including boards of listed companies, banks, crown entities, trusts and public issuers.

Sam is a Christchurch barrister with over 40 years’ experience in court, mediation and arbitration work. He is an accredited Arbitrator and Mediator (AMINZ and NZDRC).  

Sam has extensive business experience including chair and director roles with New Zealand listed companies Pyne Gould Corporation, PGGWrightson, and NZ Farming Systems Ltd. Other governance roles include Financial Services (MARAC), Agribusiness and Trustee Services. He was executive chairman of Lane Neave Lawyers for some years, and held governance roles with the New Zealand Law Society both in Canterbury and nationally. He is a former chair of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

He currently serves on the council of Legal Education, and The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. He chairs a Queenstown Body Corporate with over 400 New Zealand and overseas owners. He is also a director for a number of private companies.

Giselle is a director and a lawyer, with governance experience from a variety of perspectives. She has served on a number of boards, including the Earthquake Commission, and has sat on several audit and risk committees. Giselle has had executive responsibility for risk and HR, alongside law, compliance and project governance. Giselle is currently an independent board member with the H&J Smith Group and a Councillor for the NZ Biological Producers and Consumers Society.

Mark is a partner at Buddle Findlay.  He joined Buddle Findlay in 2002 and has been practising law since 1995.  Prior to working with Buddle Findlay, Mark worked as in-house counsel at T-Mobile UK.  He regularly advises boards and management on governance issues – including boards of listed companies, council controlled organisations, trusts and public issuers.  Mark is currently a director of Isight Properties Limited which operates the Christchurch Eye Surgery facility and Buddle Findlay's in-house IT services company, Lawtech Services Limited.

Hamish is an Auckland based independent director and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. He is chairman of East Health Services Ltd, and a director of Restaurant Brands Ltd, AsureQuality Ltd, Counties Power, and Smart Environmental Ltd.  He is also the independent chairman of the Waikato Regional Council Audit and Risk committee. Prior to his governance career, Hamish held senior executive positions within some of New Zealand’s largest companies, including chief financial officer roles with Tip Top Ice Cream, Heinz Wattie’s, and DB Breweries. Hamish has a MCom and MBA from the University of Auckland and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. Hamish has a strong background in corporate strategy and finance and appreciates the critical importance of finance to the work of the director and effective corporate governance. Hamish has recently completed a research project with the University of Auckland around factors that encourage and discourage the appointment of outside directors in larger private companies in New Zealand.

David is an Internal Audit Partner at KPMG Auckland. He was most recently chief audit executive (CAE) for Telecom NZ, a SEC registered company with approximately $NZ4b in revenues, leading the risk, internal audit, and compliance teams. David has been working as a CAE of listed entities for the past seven years. He has international Sarbanes-Oxley experience with Shell Corporation and Microsoft and 11 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers in New Zealand providing risk management, internal and external audit services to a wide range of clients. David is currently president of the Institute of Internal Auditors of New Zealand and was New Zealand Internal Auditor of the Year in 2011.

Richard began his international governance advisory business in 2001, with the purpose of building boards into leading teams. He has facilitated programmes for the IoD for more than 10 years and has more than 20 years’ experience as a director and board chairman. He is based in Wellington and is currently chairman of Careerforce Industry Training Organisation, as well as the first independent director of the Dairy Goat Co-operative (NZ) Limited and a director of RCBC Bank, one of the largest banks in the Philippines.

Richard was a founding independent director of Kiwibank Ltd for ten years and has chaired several other organisations, including Intergen Ltd, Standards New Zealand, two SOEs, the New Zealand Telecommunications Forum and Canterbury Opera. In 2013, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation published a book it had commissioned Richard to write, ‘Guidance for the Directors of Banks’, aimed principally at directors of banks in developing countries worldwide.

Henri Eliot’s career began in Financial Services where he held a number of senior executive positions at JP Morgan Chase in New York City and the Bank of Montreal in Toronto.  Henri spent over ten years in London & New York working in management consulting at Deloitte and PwC. More recently, Henri worked in Telecommunications & ICT Services In New Zealand before forming Board Dynamics in 2009. Henri is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD), Fellow of the Australasia Financial Services Institute (Finsia) and Fellow of the Institute of Management New Zealand. Along with his work as an executive, Henri is a regular contributor to the NZ Herald, National Business Review and Idealog. He is currently Chairman Balle Bros Group, Chairman Taxpayer’s Simplification Panel (Inland Revenue), Trustee Plunket Foundation, President of the Canada Business Council and member of Propellerhead Limited Advisory Board. He received his LLB (Hons) from the University of London, his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University in Canada and his MBA in the United Kingdom.