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Dieter Adam
Director, Food and Beverage, and Biotechnology
Dieter joined NZTE as Operations Director Food and Beverage, and Biotechnology in October 2009. He is responsible for NZTE’s Food and Beverage, and Biotechnology focused activities, including the Food and Beverage Taskforce.
After training in Germany and Denmark, Dieter started his career as a research scientist and academic in the area of plant biotechnology. He went ’commercial’ in 1994, joining the New Zealand operations of US-Forestry Company Rayonier, Inc as their geneticist/R&D manager. This role also included responsibility for establishing and running what became for a while New Zealand’s largest seed production facility for radiate pine.
In 2000 Dieter joined Hamilton-based Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) as their R&D Manager and subsequently Group General Manager Innovation. During his time at LIC Dieter helped to set up Boviquest, LIC’s bovine genomics joint venture with Fonterra, was instrumental in LIC gaining Bronze and Silver Business Excellence Awards in 2002 and 2005, and led business development activities in China, Malaysia and the Americas.
In 2006 Dieter set up his own consultancy company, working with a number of larger companies and organisations in the primary and food and beverage sectors to develop their strategic plans and increase returns on their investment in innovation.
Dieter is based in Auckland.
Read more about the food and beverage industry
Read more about the biotechnology industries
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Craig Armstrong
Director, Key Accounts
As Director, Key Accounts, Craig is responsible for NZTE’s work with large and capable New Zealand companies that are already well established in international markets. The Key Accounts team works with companies and influencers at a governance and senior management level to generate and deliver agreed strategic, financial and operational outcomes to help the business strengthen and grow in international markets, and to ensure a net economic benefit for New Zealand.
Craig was previously NZTE’s Director, Specialised Manufacturing.
Before joining NZTE in 2007, Craig was managing director of a boutique consultancy that he set up in Melbourne to provide strategy, marketing and commercialisation resources to blue chip and start-up companies, and also to private equity clients. He has also held various positions at board, financial and marketing management levels at a number of leading manufacturing and food and beverage companies such as Heinz, Cadbury Schweppes, and Lion Nathan.
Craig is based in Auckland.
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Dr Chris Boalch
Director, Strategic Initiatives
Chris joined Industry New Zealand in December 2002 as an Industry Intelligence Specialist and in that role was heavily involved with the Biotechnology Taskforce.
Previously, Chris was the manager of a business unit in Europe’s largest commercial science and technology organisation ‘QinetiQ’. He has also held senior positions within the United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry and United Kingdom Natural Environment Research Council. Most recently, Chris was Sector Director, Biotechnology.
Chris has a Doctorate from the University of Dundee in Scotland and is based in Auckland.
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Adam Bennett
Acting Director Specialised Manufacturing
Adam leads NZTE’s Specialised Manufacturing team and is responsible for NZTE’s work with businesses in the wider manufacturing, building and materials sectors.
Since joining NZTE in 2006, Adam has held a number of roles including Operations Manager Specialised Manufacturing, Manager Regional Development and Manager Innovation Infrastructure. In 2007 he led the government’s study of Finland, Italy, UK and Spain’s innovation parks and business incubators.
Originally from the UK, Adam has worked with many multinationals and global names including Group Lotus, Bentley Racing, Silverstone Circuit, Baxter Healthcare, Danepak and Volkswagen Audi Group. His background in both engineering and central government spans the UK, New Zealand and the wider EU.
His time in the UK and EU has also included stints with the European Commission in Brussels, United Kingdom Trade and Investment and a variety of economic development and innovation projects across the UK and Europe.
Adam is interested in all aspects of innovation in engineering and particularly the convergence of materials expertise in added value manufacturing. He holds degrees in mathematics, statistics and economics and postgraduate qualifications in management and innovation.
Adam is based in Auckland.
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Kefeng Chu
Director, Operations – China
Kefeng is based in Wellington where he manages the New Zealand based China Team. Their focus is on supporting New Zealand’s business relationship with China: enhancing New Zealand companies’ capability and readiness to do business in China, maximising the benefits of the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement, strengthening links to the Chinese business community in New Zealand, and providing direct assistance, where required, for key clients.
Kefeng is of Chinese descent and originates from mainland China. He holds degrees from universities in China, the US and New Zealand, and speaks various Chinese languages. Kefeng was previously Senior Manager-Strategic Ethnic Advisor for the New Zealand Police. He has a broad knowledge of Chinese communities in New Zealand and extensive experience in sectors such as education, social development and foreign relations.
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Alan Crofts
Director, Networks
Alan has spent many years in the telecommunications and IT industries in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. His experience includes marketing, operations and business development. Prior to joining NZTE, Alan held business and product development roles with Telecom NZ. Other roles included running the IT Operations for a London based commodity broker, a foray into the wine trade, and engineering roles for British Telecom.
Currently Alan is responsible for the global management and development of the NZTE Beachheads programme. The Beachheads programme is a partnership between NZTE and the private sector which provides access to influential executives around the world. Alan is also developing NZTE’s wider international networks and partner programmes.
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Bruce Gadd
Project Director, Rugby World Cup 2011
Bruce is responsible for leading NZTE’s work to leverage the Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand export businesses. The biggest sporting event in New Zealand’s history, the tournament provides the country with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase ourselves, and our products and services, to the world.
NZTE is working closely with the NZ2011 office to promote New Zealand internationally in the lead in to the tournament; and to showcase New Zealand expertise across key industries and bring businesses and potential trade/investment partners together during the event.
Bruce recently returned from three years as Consul-General and Trade Commissioner in Milan and was previously Director of the Regional Economic Development team.
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Graham Matthews
Director, Investment
Prior to joining NZTE's Investment team, Graham was a senior equity partner at international consulting firm EC Harris in London where his responsibilities included advising the UK Government on procurement for the London 2012 Olympics and the creation of the new UK Supreme Court. He was previously global head of workplace solutions at Accenture where he had worldwide responsibility for capital asset strategy, focusing on the delivery of corporate real estate assets and operating solutions.
Graham has extensive experience in capital asset investment and delivery, project management, supply chain management and logistics.
He has been a director of BAA plc, where he had various roles including divisional finance director, development director for Heathrow Express, and group project services director, and Lynton plc, a property development company, where he had responsibility for delivering a wide range of commercial and retail property developments across the UK. Graham is based in Auckland.
Visit NZTE's New Zealand Investment website
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Matt Ritchie
Acting Director ICT, Creative, Services
Matt is responsible for NZTE’s engagement with New Zealand companies in the ICT, Creative and Services industries, including related sector development initiatives.
Matt joined NZTE in 2005 and has held various management roles. Most recently he was Operations Manager ICT , and prior to this he held a senior management position in the Corporate IT team which was responsible for NZTE's records management and the corporate software environment including websites, the CRM, Finance and the Document/Records Management Systems.
Prior to joining NZTE, Matt worked in the information technology, media and logistics industries, and has held management positions in New Zealand and the UK, including with BskyB. Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Science and an MBA from the University of Auckland.
Matt is based in Auckland.
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Judith Thompson
Director, Design
Judith Thompson has organisation wide responsibility for leading the development of design thinking in the development of NZTE's products and services and its internal systems and process. This includes working collaboratively across the NZTE leadership group to spread design thinking into all organisational practices.
The role also includes overall responsibility for the management and delivery of Better by Design.
Judith has a background in social science and economic development with expertise in using design as a tool to drive social and business innovation. She has held economic development roles with both Industry New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Judith is a Ministerial appointee to the Council of Auckland University of Technology. She has a Bachelor of Social Science from Sydney University and a Masters of Management from Massey University, New Zealand.
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Andrew White
Director, Regions, Research and Business Services
As Director of Regions, Research and Business Services, Andrew oversees NZTE’s regional activities in New Zealand, including relationships with regional economic development agencies. He is also responsible for NZTE’s Business Services team, and the provision of market intelligence and research on sectors, businesses, global opportunities and trade statistics.
Andrew returned to New Zealand in 2009 after 18 years in China and Japan. During this time he held a number of NZTE roles, most recently Director, China – overseeing the operations of all NZTE’s offices and key relationships in China, one of our most important trade partners. He has also held the positions of Trade Commissioner in Shanghai and Trade Commissioner in Tokyo.
Before joining NZTE, Andrew worked in marketing and accounting roles in the automotive industry in Japan, and worked in the food and beverage sector in New Zealand.
Andrew is based in Auckland.
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Carole Wright
Director, Business Services Team
Carole has over 20 years experience in roles that have contributed to her extensive knowledge and understanding of the needs of new and emerging export businesses.
Carole has held a number of account management positions, covering a wide range of businesses types across industry groups. She has also held various senior management roles in the apparel sector as well as for NZTE's Enterprise Hotline Team and the Enterprise Development Grants Team. Carole has also had several secondments offshore including Trade Commissioner London and an international business development role in the private sector.
Carole is based in Auckland.
