EXPORTNZ NATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS

Sir Kenneth Stevens KNZM – Chairman

Sir Kenneth is the founder, owner and Executive Chair of Glidepath which produces computerised airport baggage handling and security, cargo handling and parcel sorting systems. Glidepath has manufacturing facilities in the US and subsidiary companies in Canada, Latin America and Australia, along with manufacturing operations in its Auckland head office.

Phil O'Reilly – Chief Executive

Phil O’Reilly is Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy group, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes.

Phil works with companies, organisations and political and other decision makers, advocating for New Zealand’s success by sustainable economic growth.

He is a member of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD and is New Zealand’s employer delegate to the International Labour Conference and a member of the ILO Governing Body.

Phil chairs the Green Growth Advisory Group, the Capitalising on Research & Development Action Group and serves on a number of other Boards including the Innovation Board of the Ministry of Science & Innovation, and the Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Catherine Beard – Executive Director

Catherine Beard joined BusinessNZ in January 2010 to head up its ExportNZ and Manufacturing sectors.

The dual role involves overseeing considerable changes to our services as we expand our manufacturing and international trade functions. These will be reflected in our online presence and training.

Catherine has a wealth of experience in government relations and communication on behalf of industry associations, and is a champion for New Zealand manufacturers and international traders.

Catherine comes from the Greenhouse Policy Coalition where she was Executive Director providing strong advocacy on behalf of industry to communicate their business challenges to politicians, policy makers, the media and the public.

Contact
Phone: 04 496 6560
Mobile: 027 463 3212
Email: cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

Sarah Gibbs – Board Member

Sarah Gibbs worked in corporate finance in Hong Kong, South Africa and London before returning to New Zealand to run her own company manufacturing ingredients for the natural cosmetics and supplements industries in 1998. Sarah established natural skincare brand Trilogy with her sister Catherine de Groot in 2002. In just eight years Sarah and Catherine have built their business from a boutique local operation into a recognised and admired international brand. Today Trilogy's product range of 40 face, body and hair care products is sold in over 3,500 stores in 16 international markets including the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australasia and Asia.

In 2006 Trilogy was the third fastest growing New Zealand business on the Deloitte/Unlimited fast 50 index with a staggering 690% growth and it has appeared on this index for three consecutive years. Trilogy was named Emerging Exporter of the Year at the 2005 ANZ Wellington Exporter of the Year Awards and in 2010 Trilogy won the Supreme Wellington Gold Award. Also in 2010, Trilogy sold to natural home fragrance, bath and body company Ecoya in $20 million deal.

Sarah currently sits on the Executive Boards of ExportNZ and The Cosmetic Toiletries and Fragrance Associations.

Dr Helen Darling – Board Member

Helen completed a PhD in Public Health at the University of Otago. After a career in health and education Helen was one of the founding Directors of Oritain Global Limited, a Dunedin based company that proves the origin of food and other products based on their natural geochemical profiles.

Helen has held a number of trustee positions in health and community organisations and is currently a Board Member on the Otago Southland Employers Association, John McGlashan College, Forensic Solutions Limited and Oritain Global Limited. Oritain operates nationally and internationally and has an office in Washington DC.

Helen has a particular interest in international supply chain issues and in developing collaborative networks to strengthen these across borders.

Matt Crawford – Board Member

Matt joined ZESPRI in August 2010 as Government Relations Manager, a role that focuses on Government and Business relations with a particular focus on international markets and regulatory issues. Matt moved to ZESPRI following 4 years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where he worked as part of the Trade Negotiations Division leading the implementation and private sector involvement in Free Trade Agreements and the WTO. Matt is also a member of the ExportNZ Bay of Plenty Executive.

Matt has previously worked in the field of strategic public relations with Wellington based SweenyVesty and in international trade with the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Matt graduated from Auckland University with a First Class Masters Degree and Honours in International Relations.

Richard Te Hurinui Jones – Board Member

(Tribal Affiliations – Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Pikiao)

Richard has been Chief Executive of Poutama Trust since 1999. He has focused the Trust’s efforts on consolidating and growing Maori businesses, driving the development of the Maori tourism and food and beverage sectors, initiating collective and cooperative activity amongst Maori business, and taking Maori businesses international www.poutama.co.nz.

A keen practitioner of practicing what he preaches Richard is an owner in a start-up beverage business, Taha Beverages.

The nature and extent of Richard’s work has enabled him to build strong networks and relationships with crown entities, private sector businesses and also make international connections

Tim Green – Board Member

Tim leads NZTE’s work in international markets. Previously he has been NZTE’s Director China, and Regional Director for Australia/Pacific.

Before joining NZTE Tim worked in corporate finance, strategy consulting, change management and international business development. He was a member of the inaugural management team of the New Zealand Racing Board.

Tim also holds a BBS (Management) and a post-graduate honours degree in Enterprise Development from Massey University.

James Wheeler – Board Member

An experienced senior Manager/Director with sound operational and strategic management experience.

Through his career in the wine industry, he has amassed solid experience within the export, retail, wholesale, tourism and hospitality sectors at a senior management/Directorship level.

He has extensive experience in Human Resources, manufacturing, training and mediation skills gained through prior and current employment.

Stephen Jacobi – Board Member

Stephen Jacobi is Managing Director of Jacobi Consulting Ltd, a consultancy which offers advice to corporate and government clients in the fields of international trade, government relations and industry development.

Jacobi Consulting’s principal clients are the New Zealand United States Council Inc and the New Zealand International Business Forum.

Mr Jacobi provides advice to the three New Zealand members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), as well as BusinessNZ in respect of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. He  has had extensive diplomatic, industry, trade and government experience, and was formerly Chief Executive of the New Zealand Forest Industries Council.

Andy Warren – Board Member

Andy Warren is Managing Director of Bloomz New Zealand Ltd, a Tauranga based breeding and export company. Andy has been an active exporter since the mid eighties and has travelled extensively in the course of his business activity. His company BLOOMZ contracts tissue culture laboratories in India and exports to various countries direct from Bangalore and Delhi. He is a strong supporter of SME exporters and is an advocate for real reduction in trade barriers under CER and the new FTAs.

Andy is Deputy Chair of PMAC (Plant Market Access Council) which represents market access and phytosanitary matters for the NZ plant and seed industry. He has a very active interest in biosecurity and has a very good knowledge of many third party country biosecurity systems. He is also a member of GERMAC, the MAF sponsored industry advisory body on plant imports.

Andy graduated from Massey university with a First Class Honours degree in Agricultural Science, majoring in Natural Resource Economics.

Tony Nowell – Board Member

Tony is the New Zealand Representative on the APEC Business Advisory Council, Board Member of the Asia NZ Foundation, and Chair of the New Zealand Packaging Accord Governing Council.