Auckland Branch

The Auckland Branch of the Institute of Directors Emerging Director Award is open to Auckland Branch members in the very early stages of their governance career.

• Are you newly engaged on a directorship path and aspire to enhance your governance pathway?
• 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 identify executives, managers and directors 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. Many of our award recipients have gone on to have successful governance careers.

2022 award recipient

Sam Johnson (2022)

Past recipients

• Anchali Anandanayagam (2021)
• Matthew Payton (2020)
• Jaya Prasannan (2019)
• Nagaja Sanatkumar (2018)
• Carol Cheng (2017)
• Rachel Hopkins (2016)
• Paul Adams (2015)
• Shane McMahon (2014)
• Nicola Duggan (2013)

Ross Buckley CMInstD

Ross is chair of the IoD Auckland Branch committee and a member of the IoD National Council. Ross has a variety of directorships including ASB Bank, Stride Property, Investore Property and chairs the Board of Service Foods. Ross is also a member of the Massey University Council and prior to that role spent nine years on the Massey Business School Advisory Board.

Ross had a 38 year career with KPMG, 27 years as a Partner and has managed the firm’s Audit, Risk and Tax practices in addition to the firms’ People, Performance and Culture function. During his last nine years Ross was the Executive Chair of KPMG New Zealand and a member of KPMG’s Asia Pacific Board and KPMG’s Global Council.

Ross was brought up in the Wairarapa and attained a Bachelor of Business from Massey University. Ross joined KPMG in 1983 and has seen the world from many different perspectives having worked in KPMG’s Amsterdam, Toronto, International and Wellington offices before moving to Auckland in 2008.

Ross is married to Irma and father to 21 year old triplets Zachary, Michaela and Jordan. In his free time, Ross is an active family man and enjoys road cycling, mountain biking and social running.

Bindi Norwell BBSc, MBA, PostGradCert Business, MInstD

Bindi is a strategic business leader with experience across a range of sectors including property, professional services, telecommunications and aviation. She is currently Chief Executive of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), where she lobbies Government and policy makers on big issues impacting the property sector, acts as a trusted voice in the media by providing extensive market commentary and drives industry progress and innovation. Previously Bindi has held senior strategy and commercial roles in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.

She is currently a Committee member of the Institute of Directors Auckland. Previous Board roles have included the EMA, Deputy Chair of the Marketing Association, a Future Director with The Warehouse Group and she has held board roles in the digital media industry in the UK. Bindi is also a member of Global Women and is a strong believer in seeing more women in leadership and governance roles.

Jo Brosnahan QSO, MA Hons, FCILT, FNZIM, CFInstD

Jo is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Chair of Northpower Fibre (ultra-fast broadband), Chair of Maritime NZ, Chair of Rotorua Lakes Audit and Risk Committee, Chair of Harrison Grierson and also on the Auckland Museum Trust Board and Principal of Leaders for the Future. She is chair of the Taitokerau Education Trust, supporting digital learning in low decile schools in Northland, a member of the Centre for Brain Research Advisory Board, and of other trusts. She is the Founder and Advisory Trustee of Leadership NZ, was chair for more than a decade and has had an extensive governance career.  She was previously CEO of the Northland Regional Council and of the Auckland Regional Council. 

As a Harkness Fellow and Aspen Scholar, Jo spent a year researching leadership in the USA.

Suneil Connor BCom (DipGrad), CA, MInstD

Suneil Connor is the Group Chief Financial Officer for Service Foods. He is a Chartered Accountant, director of KiwiHarvest and the New Zealand Food Network, and board member of Auckland Foundation. Suneil holds the position of chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for KiwiHarvest, New Zealand Food Network and Auckland Foundation. He was previously the CFO for LINK, and ex KPMG. Suneil is a Member of the IoD and joined the branch committee in February 2018.

Franky Wang 王俊生, BBS, BBS (Hons), MFin, MInstD

Franky is the Head of Asia Business Activation for the Bank of New Zealand who significantly contributes to the development and execution of the BNZ Asia Strategy, an enterprises-wide national role, from the Consumer & Partners to SME divisions as well as Corporate and Institutional Banking. 

Other than banking, Franky volunteers with Cure Kids as the first and only Asian Special Advocate tasked with promoting the Cure Kids brand in the Asian community in New Zealand. Cure Kids and has put on a number of Charity events with his influence.

Franky sits on the Board of Kāhui Tū Kaha to support the diversity and inclusion from culture and ethnical aspects to ensure proper governance is in place for the organisation that is part of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Franky is also an ICE Angel Investor growing start-up business in New Zealand.

Franky has strong business networks, domestic and overseas contacts, is bilingual and understands ethnic and geographical challenges and opportunities in the business and governance space.

Simone Iles MInstD

Simone is an experienced independent director, chair and CEO. Her diverse career spans a range of organisations from corporate to SOE, in multiple industries including technology, telco and retail. Her specialisation is in data, technology and digital transformation. She has held various governance roles including CEO and executive director of ASX listed digital transformation specialists Asia Pacific Digital. Previously independent director and chair remuneration committee Just Water Ltd and Chair New Zealand Marketing Association. Simone has served on the Institute of Directors’ Auckland branch committee since 2013 and is a member of New Zealand Global Women.

Brent Impey BA, LLB, CFInstD

Brent is the director and chair of the Remuneration Committees of Yellow Pages Group and Devon Funds Management Limited, and director of Strategy at Ports of Auckland. He is also a media consultant and a professional mentor. Previous board, consultancy and chief executive positions include: chair of The Radio Bureau, Television Broadcasters Council and Fred Hollows Foundation; director of Hutchwilco NZ, Freeview, Pumpkin Patch and Radio Broadcasters Association; on the management board of CanWest Global (operators of the FM Group); management consultant to Market Pulse International and the New Zealand Rugby Union; and media and business consultant to Gerson Lehrman Group. For eleven years he was CEO of MediaWorks NZ, and drive host on Radio Live (2010-2011). He was CE of Independent Broadcasting Group (1989-1992) and a partner at McElroy Milne Barristers & Solicitors (1984-1989) specialising in media law. Brent is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD and joined the Auckland Branch Committee in 2013.

Jonathan Mason MBA, MA, BA, CFInstD

Jonathan is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and sits on the Auckland Branch Committee and National Council.  Jonathan’s experience in the financial markets over the past 30 years has had a strong emphasis on emerging markets and he has extensive governance experience both here in New Zealand and the United States. He is a director on the boards of Air New Zealand, Vector Ltd, Westpac NZ and Zespri Group Ltd.  In addition to these roles he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Management at the University of Auckland, with a focus on international finance.

Dr Jim Mather CMInstD

Dr Jim Mather is of Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe and English descent. He grew up in the communities of Te Teko, Ōtara and Māngere.

Previously he was the Chief Executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (New Zealand’s second largest tertiary institution) for five years. This followed a nine-year tenure as Chief Executive of Māori Television, and prior to that he was Chief Executive of the Pacific Business Trust for almost three years.

Jim’s current governance roles include chair of Radio New Zealand and Lakes District Health Board, director of Auckland Transport, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited and NZ Health Partnerships. He is also the chair of two educational trusts, Ako Mātātupu | Teach First NZ and InZone Education Foundation.

He is a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand and a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Jim Mather is passionate about Māori economic development and contributing to the strengthening of Māori governance and leadership practices. He completed a PhD in Māori economic development through AUT University in 2014.

Julian Smith LLB, BCom, CMInstD

Julian retired from his executive career in 2019 as the Chief Customer Officer for Meridian Energy where he was responsible for $1.2b in revenue and a team of 400.

His executive career saw him hold a number of senior executive roles in the utilities, internet/digital, financial services, telecommunications sectors as well as central government. 

Julian is an independent director for Watercare Services Limited in Auckland and is a board trustee for The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and for the Look Good Feel Better cancer charity. He also sits on the advisory board for Vadacom Limited a NZ based software developer and telco.

A strategy and customer experience expert with extensive marketing and corporate affairs credentials, Julian is an adept communications and digital services expert and has worked in a range of international markets across Asia, Australasia, the Middle East and the UK.

Julian is especially interested in emerging governance trends and development around climate change, Te Mana o te Wai, Agile governance, complex business transformation and capital project oversight. 

Susan Paterson BPharm, MBA (London), ONZM, CFInstD

Susan has been a professional director since 1996. She is chair of Steel and Tube and Theta Systems Ltd. Her other directorships include the Reserve Bank, Arvida Group, Goodman Property Trust, Les Mills NZ Ltd, EROAD and the Electricity Authority. Previous directorships include Abano Healthcare, SkyTV, Ports of Auckland Ltd, Transpower NZ Ltd, Auckland Regional Holdings, Tower Health and Life, Housing NZ and America’s Cup Village Ltd. Susan has a keen interest in sport, education and the environment, was chair of the Avantidrome, past chair of Auckland Hockey and the NZ Eco-Labelling Trust and a past board member of St. Cuthbert’s College, EECA and commissioner of TEC. Susan was a member of the working group reviewing Swimming NZ, is a Chartered Fellow of the IoD and has been on the Auckland Branch Committee since 2010. Susan was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to corporate governance.

Hilary Poole CFInstD

Hilary is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, having been a member since 2002. She recently completed the IoD’s Mentoring for Diversity programme and highly values the IoD’s professional development and focus on all aspects of diversity.

She has held governance roles in the finance, food, sport, education, and not-for-profit sectors. This includes her current roles as a director of Creative New Zealand, director of Hockey New Zealand, and as a trustee of the Play It Strange Charitable Trust. Previous appointments include deputy chair of High Performance Sport New Zealand, director of Sport New Zealand , independent director of Prolife Foods and Martin Jenkins and as chair of Just Life Group, Diocesan School for Girls, and the First Foundation.

Her executive roles include CEO of Hockey New Zealand, CEO of Netball New Zealand, and as a senior executive in strategy, marketing and operations at the Bank of New Zealand.

Julia Steenson LLB, BBus, Ngati Whātua | Tainui | Ngāti Hine | Pākeha

As a Commissioner, Director, (ex-Lawyer), Julia brings a broad range of skills the IOD Committee, including a wide range of networks, to assist the Committee in organising diverse events.

Julia is a Trustee for Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei Trust, the post settlement entity that manages the groups assets for the hapū.

As a Commissioner for the Royal Commission of Inquiry, Julia chaired the largest Royal Commission in Aotearoa’s history, that of Abuse in Care 1950-1999 that, was conducted over two weeks, from Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei marae.  This major livestreamed event had approx. 10,000 views from unique devices over the event period, held during the Covid peak.

Julia is an Advisory Board Member to Data Ventures, a commercial subsidiary of Statistics NZ providing affordable brokerage services of aggregated data sets.

Among her former roles, Julia has been Chair of the Kia Puawai Charitable Trust, and General Counsel for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (TWoA). She founded the NZFreeLaw Podcast providing better access to legal services for New Zealanders.

Clayton Wakefield BSc, PG Dip Mgmt, CMInstD

Clayton Wakefield is a Chartered Member of the IoD, and a member of the IoD Auckland branch Committee. Clayton has over 35 years’ experience as an executive and director in banking, financial services, telecommunications and technology. Clayton is a non-executive director of The Co-operative-Bank and Co-operative Life Ltd, chair of the Auckland Te Araroa Trail Committee, and chair of HealthAlliance NZ Ltd.

Leah Peacock CMInstD

Leah is a Chartered Member who supports business owners, primarily in contracting, engineering and construction, to develop good governance to achieve strong businesses, with excellent returns. Leah currently chairs the IoD Northland sub-committee which aims to enhance the quality of governance skills available in Northland, enhance awareness of the value of the IoD and encourage Northland organisations to appoint qualified governors who live in Northland. In her former role as a Chartered Accountant for 30 years Leah coached Northland SME business owners and their teams to develop their leadership, management and financial skills to maximise profits and life balance through sustainable growth. Leah’s not-for profit-work has included the last four years on the board of Multicultural Whangarei.

The chair, Ross Buckley, has announced that two of the Auckland Branch Committee members will step down at the AGM, leaving two vacancies. 

Particular skills/competencies sought:

• Commitment to raising standards of governance

• Governance experience and networks at a director level

• Knowledge and understanding of our Māori, Pasifika and/or Asian communities

• Experience in facilitating and proactively encouraging the development of others

• Ability to think strategically at both local and national levels

• High level of integrity and sound judgement

The IoD recognises the benefits of diversity and encourages applications that can add diversity to the Auckland branch committee.

This is a voluntary position, and the Committee meets 8-10 times per annum. You will be invited to and expected to attend a range of local IoD events.  Applicants must be financial members of the IoD Auckland Branch region. Meetings are held in the Auckland CBD.

The nominee, nominator and seconder, must all be a financial members of the Institute of Directors. Nominations for election must be lodged with the Auckland Branch Manager by 5:00pm 2 June 2022.

If necessary, voting papers and nominee bios will be distributed to all members prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Apologies
3. To confirm minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 19 May 2021 
4. Chairman’s Report | Election of Branch Committee
5. General Business
6. Close

Prior to the AGM, guest speaker Raelene Castle from Sport New Zealand will address attendees.

Event registration is now open. 

Please email becky.hare@iod.org.nz to obtain a nomination form.