Distinguished Fellows Member Connect

Presentation

Fully booked

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Speaker(s): Roger France, Geoff Ricketts
Date: 5:15pm — 7:30pm, 22 February 2023
Venue: The Northern Club
Location: 19 Princes Street, Auckland CBD
Price: $0.00 incl GST

Overview

Join us as we celebrate the achievements of our two newest Distinguished Fellows, Geoff Ricketts and Roger France.

Geoff Ricketts CNZM

Geoff Ricketts is a commercial lawyer, company director and investor with significant experience in the New Zealand and Australian business environment. Geoff worked for three years in London with Linklaters and on returning to New Zealand joined Russell McVeagh in 1973. He practised as a commercial lawyer and chaired both the firm’s Board of Management and the Partnership, resigning as chairman of the partnership and as a partner in the year 2000. He was a consultant to the firm until 2014.

Currently, Geoff is chairman of Heartland Group Holdings Limited and a director of a number of private companies. Geoff was previously chairman of Lion Nathan Limited, The Todd Corporation Limited and was also on the board of Suncorp Group Limited and Chair of its New Zealand subsidiary. He was also on the main board of Spotless Group Limited and Chair of its New Zealand subsidiary.

In December 2008, Geoff was awarded the Deloitte / New Zealand Management Chairperson of the Year Award. Geoff has a strong service ethic including as chairman of the University of Auckland Foundation, Chair of the University of Auckland “Leading the Way” $100m Campaign Leadership Committee, and a member of the Auckland Catholic Diocese Advisory Board.

In 2013 Geoff was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to education, the arts and business, and in 2015 received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from The University of Auckland.

Roger France ONZM

Roger France is a professional, non-executive director and chartered accountant with more than 21 years governance experience in a wide range of organisations.

He is currently Chairman of private investment company Tappenden Holdings, a Member of the Governance Group of the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge and a Trustee of the University of Auckland Foundation.

Roger’s past Board appointments include Fonterra (New Zealand’s largest co-operative), Air New Zealand (New Zealand’s largest listed business), Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (New Zealand’s largest cap company), the Southern Cross Medical Care Society (New Zealand’s largest friendly society), the Dilworth Trust Board (New Zealand’s largest charity), Blue Star Print Group, Orion Health Group, and Team New Zealand. He was member of the Council of The University of Auckland for twelve years and Chancellor between 2009 and 2012.

Before taking up a governance career, Roger was the CFO of two listed New Zealand companies and a corporate advisory partner at Coopers & Lybrand (where he was Managing Partner of the Auckland office for 5 years) and, subsequently, its successor firm, PwC.

Roger was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

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