Beachheads: Advisory Boards

The Beachheads Programme provides a customised programme that includes input and expertise from experienced industry luminaries in New Zealand and offshore.

The Advisory Boards comprise highly successful local business leaders who have developed a wealth of knowledge and are committed to assisting New Zealand companies to succeed in the market.

Advisory Boards provide monitoring, feedback and mentoring to selected companies who can make a difference to the outstanding reputation of New Zealand industry abroad.

Advisory Boards are already operating successfully in the Americas and the United Kingdom and are being introduced progressively in other Beachhead locations.

Download (PDF, 1.5 MG) the complete list of board members with bios

• New Zealand Advisory Board
• North America Advisory Board
• Europe Advisory Board
• South East Asia Advisory Board
• India Advisory Board
• Middle East Advisory Board
• China Advisory Board

New Zealand Advisory Board

 Greg Cross - Chair

Greg Cross is an experienced executive and company director who works with technology companies to maximise their international potential. He is Managing Director of Cross Ventures, an investment/advisory services group that has built up a portfolio of interests in export focused high growth companies. Greg was introduced to international marketing early in his career, as an executive at Trigon Packaging and then at Fact International, one of the country’s first software exporters. In New Zealand he built a track record of success as CEO of Microsoft and Advantage Group, overseeing significant revenue growth and increased market share for both firms.

Read what Greg has to say about how the Beachheads programme can help New Zealand companies.

 Mark Bowman

Mark Bowman has an outstanding career in developing, growing and leading some of New Zealand’s foremost technology businesses. Throughout his 25-year career Mark has gained a valuable blend of leadership, governance, and commercial experience in the technology sector. Mark has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia and as a result has gained considerable international experience. He is an investor in a number of companies and holds numerous directorships.

 Mai Chen

Mai Chen is a founding partner of Chen Palmer, Barristers and Solicitors, Australasia’s first public law specialist firm. Mai established the firm in 1994 with former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer. The firm specialises in managing regulatory and government risk, public policy and legislation and public law litigation. Mai has been a senior lecturer at Victoria University Law School and has also worked at the United Nations International Office in Geneva. She is a member of the New Zealand Securities Commission and the Asia New Zealand Foundation Society, a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, and President of the Harvard Alumni Association. She sits on the Royal New Zealand Ballet Board.

 Erica Crawford

South African-born Erica Crawford has an extensive marketing background, particularly in pharmaceutical marketing. With winemaker husband Kim she set up the label Kim Crawford Wines, administering the company, exploring new markets and developing its unique brand identity. They subsequently became the first New Zealand company to use screw cap bottles and are not afraid to take an in-your face approach to building the business. Erica and Kim have two children and enjoy being part of the urban scene that their wine label targets.

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 Rod Drury

Rod Drury is a successful technology entrepreneur, passionate about software development and building value. Rod is CEO of NZX listed Xero, an online accounting system. Rod was founder and CEO of AfterMail which he sold in 2006 to international corporate Quest Software. He also co-founded US-based Context Connect Incorporated and established Glazier Systems, one of New Zealand's leading software development and consulting companies, known today as Intergen. Earlier in his career, as CTO of Advantage Group, Rod spent significant time in the United States working with top international technology companies, including Microsoft, with whom he's maintained a close relationship throughout his career. Rod is also a member of the TradeMe Advisory Board.

 Scott Gilmour

Scott is an angel investor and mentor/director with a small number of New Zealand technology companies. His 25+ years of IT experience (in both the US and New Zealand) includes 12 years with Intel, and co-founding a software company in the US in 1989 (ABC Technologies Inc.), which was sold to SAS in 2002. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Ice Angels angel investor network, as well as the Jade Software Corporation Limited board, and is the Project Sponsor for the first 'I Have a Dream' programme to be implemented outside the US. He has a B.Com from Otago University and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

 Stuart McKenzie

Stuart McKenzie is a General Partner with Endeavour Capital, a leading New Zealand venture capital company that focuses on developing globally competitive companies based on science and technology innovations. Stuart’s responsibilities include early-stage venture capital investments in the South Island. During the 1990s Stuart worked in the consulting engineering sector, where he was involved in the management of large multi-disciplinary teams for the design and construction of major projects.

 Howard Moore

Howard Moore is one of a handful of New Zealanders who has achieved success as a biotechnology entrepreneur. He has been Executive Director of biotech venture capital fund BioPacific Venture since early 2004. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President of Tercica Inc., a US-based corporation he co-founded and which was only the second New Zealand founded company to achieve a listing on the NASDAQ, the world’s leading technology stock market. Howard is also an experienced dairy industry executive, serving 25 years in that industry.

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 Phil Norman

Phil Norman is Managing Director of Nortek Management Services Limited, a boutique business advisory firm providing mergers and acquisitions and business development services for growth companies. He has over 30 years experience in the information technology and telecommunications sector, having been an owner, manager, director and investor in a number of local and international companies. He is the current Chairman of Xero, an online accounting system.

Phil also has considerable venture capital and investment banking experience and was Chairman of the New Zealand Venture Capital Association during 2002 and 2003.

He is also a Board member of Connect New Zealand, a national business development group established to enable the international growth of New Zealand-based technology firms.

 Wayne Norrie

Wayne Norrie has more than 20 years IT experience across a variety of industries and markets, in roles spanning technical and development to sales and management. Working offshore for eight years across a diverse mix of companies including General Electric, Accenture and Prudential, has provided Wayne with a unique perspective on forming and managing successful teams. This culminated in a management buy-out of Hitachi Data Systems NZ along with business partner Roger Cockayne to form IT infrastructure firm Revera. Wayne is a widely renowned speaker on his pet subject of changing and managing organisational culture, and its impact on the bottom line. Wayne is a member of the Institute of Directors, serves on the government’s Hi Growth Board and on the ITANZ executive and is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management.

 Stefan Preston

Originally a structural engineer, Stefan Preston has an extensive management background in the retail, fashion design, technology and construction engineering sectors. He recently resigned after a five-year stint as Chief Executive of New Zealand-based lingerie company Bendon Group Ltd, which has developed export markets in Europe, North America, Australasia and the Middle East. Stefan has also held a number of other chief executive turn-around roles, including retailers Pacific Retail Group and Whitcoulls.

 Garry Reynolds

Garry Reynolds is a partner in The Resources Group, providing services to technology companies and specialising in accessing government co-investment. Garry was New Zealand Manager and Director for Motorola and has considerable first-hand experience in exporting technology products and in the management and governance of rapidly growing companies. His experience is across many industries including industrial electronics, telecommunications, food processing technologies, forestry, mining and construction.

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 John Stace (ex-Chair, United Kingdom Beachhead Advisory Board)

John Stace retired from active life in the City of London in 2004 and returned to New Zealand in February 2005. His current roles include Director of Genesis Power Ltd; Chairman of TripleJump Limited, New Zealand’s first multi agency life insurance franchise company; a Director of The Kiwi Expat Association Incorporated (KEA) and a member of the United Kingdom Advisory Board of Xero Live Limited; a member of the Board of Equestrian Sports of New Zealand (ESNZ), Deputy Chairman of Aardvark EM, a United Kingdom-based environmental consultancy; a Trustee of the Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset, United Kingdom; and a Vice President of Save the Children United Kingdom.

John’s London career was centered on financial services, more particularly Lloyd’s of London where he was Deputy Chairman in 1995 and 1996. He built Stace Barr Ltd into the then largest capital provider to Lloyd’s and was the first CEO of Angerstein Underwriting Trust (now Amlin PLC). In 2002-2003 he was Master of The Worshipful Company of World Traders, a London Livery Company.

 John Barr

John Barr specialises in board, governance, business and operations advice at chief executive and owner/managing director level. He has considerable experience across a broad range of industry environments, including manufacturing and technology. While in CEO roles John initiated innovative developments and managed growth for organisations including New Zealand Insulators, Sunbeam Victa, EDAC Systems and two electricity trusts. Since 2000 John has been providing business and governance advice to a broad range of small to medium enterprises.

 Lorraine Witten

Lorraine Witten is an experienced executive, director and business advisor with 20 years experience in a range of industries and roles. Recently she has been working with early stage and high growth companies, as an advisor and angel investor, focusing on achievement of their performance, expansion and global aspirations. Lorraine is a board member of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise as well as a number of private companies; she is a member of the NZ Institute of Directors and of ICANZ.

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North America Advisory Board

 Bridget Liddell - Chair

Bridget Liddell is based in New York and is Managing Principal of Fahrenheit Ventures, which develops new businesses and provides commercialisation services to companies seeking access to the United States market. She is also Chair of the US Friends of the University of Auckland, and a Director of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. Bridget has been a director of New Zealand public companies Sky City Ltd and Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Ltd. Her other past governance roles include Industry New Zealand, Competitive Auckland Ltd and Auckland Uniservices Ltd. She has also held a variety of management positions including CEO of Carter Holt Harvey Plastic Products. Prior to her departure from New Zealand in 2003, Bridget was Chief Executive of University of Auckland Development and a former member of the University of Auckland Council. Bridget holds post graduate degrees in English and Economics from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst qualification (CFA).

Read what Bridget has to say about the challenges and opportunities for New Zealand companies entering the American market.

 Stewart Alsop

Stewart Alsop is a partner in Alsop Louie Partners, a venture capital firm specialising in identifying and working with top entrepreneurs. He is a former general partner of venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. Previously, Stewart had a long career as an editor and writer with Fortune, InfoWorld, PC Magazine and Inc. Magazine. More than 20 years ago he founded a company that published a fortnightly newsletter for computer industry insiders and produced the Agenda and Demo conferences for executives working in the computer industry.

 Ben Anderson

Ben Anderson is a partner with CT Partners, a premier executive search firm. A member of the firm’s Global Technology, Media & Telecom Practice, Ben provides clients with consultation and international access to talent appropriate to their culture and competitive challenges. Ben was previously founder and CEO of Renoir Partners, a boutique executive search firm specialising in technology and telecommunications. He merged that firm with Christian & Timbers in 2005. Ben’s corporate experience includes being a Board Member and Executive Director of Robert Walters PLC. He was a member of the team that led a successful IPO of Robert Walters in the United Kingdom in 1996. He was also President of IT firm Intellimark, where he was responsible for operations across North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. Ben is a graduate of Auckland University.

 Claudia Batten

Claudia Batten is part of the Senior Management team for Massive Incorporated, a New York-based company and the first ever network for video game advertising. Claudia played an instrumental role in Microsoft’s acquisition of Massive in 2006. She has nine years experience in the technology sector, including four years as a corporate attorney specialising in contracts and technology law. She has advised corporations, both as customers and suppliers, on technology supply, licensing, outsourcing and a variety of general commercial contracts. Claudia has worked with large corporations in the telecommunications sector, banking and biotechnology and has specialist experience with intellectual property protection, e-commerce and privacy. She is a graduate of Victoria University in Wellington with a Law Degree with Honours and a Commerce Degree in Marketing and Management.

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Dr John Bedbrook

Dr John Bedbrook is Vice President of Research & Development at DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition, and is also Director of its biotech strategy. John joined DuPont in 2004 through the acquisition of Verdia by Pioneer. He had served as President and CEO of Verdia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Maxygen, since its formation in 2002. Previously John had served as President of Maxygen’s agricultural business. John has held CEO and other senior executive roles at Plant Science Ventures, a private equity fund, Savia and DNA Plant Technology Corporation. He currently serves as a director for Plant Biosciences Ltd and is on the Advisory Board for the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. A graduate of the University of Auckland, John received a World Class New Zealander Award in 2007.

 Neil Campbell

Neil Campbell is currently the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Mosaigen, a company that develops and commercialises medical and biotechnologies in the life sciences, and is a parter at New Zealand based Endeavor Capital. Neil was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of EntreMed and a senior Director of Commercial Development for Celera Genomics. He has held senior roles with Life Technologies (later acquired by Invitrogen), IGEN (later acquired by Roche), and Abbott Laboratories and has successfully developed and/or introduced over 170 bioscience products and services in the pharmaceuticals, clinical diagnostics, research and life science products, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, biosensors and genomics areas. Neil co-founded Quanta Biosciences and serves as an advisor to the company. He is a director, advisor and member of numerous organisations.

 Geoffrey Connor

Geoffrey Connor has been a Secretary of State of the State of Texas, the highest appointed office in Texas. He enjoys high-level business and political relationships with decision makers around the globe. Currently Geoffrey is a founding partner at Texas Global, an international strategic advisory and project development firm, and Counsel with Dallas-based law firm Jackson Walker. Previously he worked with the international law firm Studies Center at Texas State University, a leader of the Houston Consular Forum, a member of the Austin World Affairs Council, and a member of the board of directors of other leading civic and international organisations.

 Michael A M Davies

Michael Davies is the founder and Chairman of Endeavour Partners, a boutique consulting firm that works with the top management of leading technology businesses to develop and execute strategy and build top management teams' capabilities. His academic and research work includes being a (part-time) senior lecturer at MIT's Sloan School, teaching new technology ventures at the London Business School and related research and writing, including a forthcoming book on strategic management of high-tech businesses. He is also Chief Technology Officer and a Board Member of angel-investor-backed start-up EquuSys Inc., a firm that is bringing winning technology to horses by commercialising one of his patented inventions. Michael is one of the founders of the Kiwi Expatriate Association (KEA) in New England.

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 Fred Dorey

Fred Dorey is an attorney in the Life Sciences practice group of Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in Palo Alto, California. He represents a range of biotechnology, clean energy, and technology companies at various stages of development including start-up, licensing, financing and corporate partnering. Fred also negotiates technology-based commercial transactions and intellectual property agreements. He is an advisor to foundations and individuals regarding licensing, commercialisation and investment in life sciences and clean energy companies. Previously, Fred was the first president of the Bay Area Bioscience Center, a consortium of research universities, biotechnology companies and local governments, and the general counsel of a subsidiary of British Petroleum.

 Claire Eeles

Based in San Francisco and Vancouver, Claire Eeles is Vice President and General Manager Restoration Hardware - Trade, leading the to-the-trade business for Restoration Hardware, a San Francisco-based, US$1 Billion multi-channel retailer of high-end furniture, bath, textile and lighting products. Claire has large scale international business experience in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. She has served as the CEO for W. Stevenson & Sons Ltd, a family-owned building products manufacturing and retail company, and has worked in leadership roles in New Zealand for The Warehouse and Fletcher Building. Claire is a graduate of both Victoria and Massey Universities in Wellington.

 Greg Erman

Greg Erman is an entrepreneur focusing on commercialising technology to decentralise the delivery of healthcare, with a background in electronic commerce and product management engineering. Greg has worked with several organisations in the medical device technologies field and was most recently President and CEO of Renalworld Medical Corporation. In his previous work with Partners Healthcare he drove the development of life-saving technologies including ambulatory ECG monitors and ultrasound brain cancer treatments. Earlier, Greg founded MarketSoft Corporation, an enterprise software company, raising $70m in venture capital and leading the firm to a prominent position in marketing automation. Greg serves on several boards of directors and is a mentor for the MIT Venture Mentoring Service.

 Nigel Gaymond

Nigel Gaymond has worked in the life sciences industry for over 20 years. Since 1992 he has provided consultancy services to organisations across the globe, focusing on the life sciences. For about seven years prior to that he was a Commercial Officer at the British Consulate in Boston, specialising in assisting the United Kingdom’s export effort in the fields of consumer goods, biotechnology, healthcare and agriculture. He also acted as the United Kingdom government’s lead commercial officer for biotech in the United States. A consummate networker, Nigel was the chief architect of the Edinburgh BioAlliance and founded British Expats in Life Sciences, a network for British expats involved in the North American life sciences industry. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Forsyth Institute.

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 Jim Gordon

Jim Gordon is a partner of Lewis Gordon Partners LLC, an affiliation of professional consultants specialising in strategic business planning, development and implementation for foreign-based apparel retailers and wholesalers planning to enter and compete in the US consumer marketplace. He also owns and runs Gordon Textiles International Ltd, a sales agency representing high-end apparel and accessories textiles, which are produced primarily in Europe. Jim is also Director and Vice President of the Textile Distributors Association Inc. Outside the textile industry, Jim was a founding investor in what became Cornerstone Bancorp, a full service regional bank which was a public corporation until its sale to New Alliance Bancshares Inc. in 2007.

Susie Hoeller

Susie Hoeller specialises in advising international and domestic firms on the legal aspects of successfully importing, designing, labelling, marketing, and selling their products and services in the United States. Susie also provides consulting services on how to implement international supply chain quality, safety and traceability processes. She has held senior positions in the legal departments of Wal-Mart Stores and Texas Instruments, and was a partner in a prominent Dallas, Texas law firm where she concentrated her practice in high technology law. She is the founder of the Hoeller Law Firm in Bentonville, Arkansas. Susie is an active member of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association and is the President of the American Center for International Policy Studies, a public policy think tank. Susie is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and was awarded her BA cum laude from Colby College. She was born in Chicago and raised in Montreal. She is a member of the board of directors of a national insurance company and the local chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research International.

 Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson directed the computer animated comedy Over the Hedge (together with Karey Kirkpatrick). He previously co-directed the animated action adventure Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, and before that co-directed DreamWorks' first computer animated comedy Antz. An animation devotee since his college years, Tim Johnson produced two animated films while earning a BA in English Literature at Northwestern University. Upon graduation, he worked for two years as a freelance cel animator and director. His introduction to computer animation came in 1985 while he was on staff at Post Effects in Chicago.

 Andy Lark

Andy Lark is Chief Marketing officer at LogLogic, a high-growth technology start-up. He has also worked with and for Fortune 500 and Times 100 companies, technology leaders, start-ups and some of the world's leading agencies. During his career Andy has built and led teams recognised as the best in the industry, worked in the majority of the world's major markets and developed a reputation as a highly creative change-agent. Andy plays an active role in the Lark Group, a communications consulting firm which he founded and leads as CEO. He was previously Vice President Global Communications & Marketing at Sun Microsystems, USA; Founder of GNOK (Global Network of Kiwis) and a Director of No 8 Ventures, New Zealand’s leading venture capital firm. In 2001, Andy was recognised as "one of USA's most influential communicators” by PR Week and in 2003 was awarded the inaugural World Class New Zealander Award.

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 Robin Lewis

Robin Lewis is a partner of Lewis Gordon Partners LLC, an affiliation of professional consultants specialising in strategic business planning, development and implementation for foreign-based apparel retailers and wholesalers planning to enter and compete in the US consumer marketplace. He also authors and publishes the monthly ROBIN REPORTS, providing strategic insight about major events in the retail industry. Robin frequently delivers keynote presentations to a wide range of companies, associations and academia. As an industry expert, he’s often quoted in various trade and consumer publications. Robin has held executive positions in strategic planning, business development, and brand and marketing management at DuPont, Collins and Aikman, Grey Advertising, and the VF Corporation.

 Christopher Lynch

Chris Lynch is Chief Marketing Officer for Beam Wine Estates, a $300 million US super-premium wine company. He oversees development and implementation of global marketing strategies for BWE’s portfolio of super-premium California wines, fine sherry and port brands. Chris also leads US marketing activity for BWE’s portfolio of super and ultra-premium Australian and New Zealand brands. A 20-year veteran of the global fine wine business, Chris has held senior international marketing roles at leading fine wine companies including Allied Domecq, Chandon Estates and Kendall-Jackson Winery.

Tim McClure

Tim McClure is a co-founder of GSD&M Idea City, one of America's most successful advertising agencies and a member of the global Omnicom Group. Tim is also President of Mythos Group, brand architects and legend builders, and Executive Producer of Mythos Studios, an independent film production company and has worked on a number of high profile campaigns and film projects. Tim is married, the proud father of three children, and a world traveller. Ideas are his passion.

 Deborah Mazzaferro

Deb Mazzaferro is a sales and marketing professional with her own coaching and consulting business for the specialty food and confection trade. Deb has considerable experience as a buyer and in sales and marketing in the food and beverage sector. She has held senior sales and marketing positions for specialty food and beverage producers Richter Brothers, John Wagner & Sons, Daprano & Co and Kalm Group Holdings. Deb is Vice President Strategic Planning for UNIFEM Gulf Coast Chapter, a graduate of the International Gestalt Coaching Program from the Gestalt Center for Organisational and Systems Development and sits on the board of directors for the Greater Sarasota Coaches Alliance.

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 Charles Nelson

Charles Nelson is a food and agricultural products market development consultant to Australasian companies focused on export markets. Previously Charles served as National Sales Manager for the New Zealand Lamb Company. He has also worked for New Zealand meat exporter Lowe Walker and the New Zealand Dairy Board, selling their products into diverse markets such as the United Kingdom/Europe, Papua New Guinea and Iraq. Charles is a graduate of Lincoln University.

 Alan Nunns

Alan Nunns is an independent consultant in the energy and IT sectors. He began his 24-year career at Chevron as a research geophysicist, and retired in 2006 as General Manager of Technology and Strategy for the firm’s global IT function. During his time at Chevron, Alan was a principal developer of the oil industry’s first generation of interactive computer systems, was a leader of Chevron’s research efforts in structural geology and petroleum basin analysis and developed and managed some of Chevron’s largest oil fields in West Africa. Alan is a founding member of the first chapter of the Kiwi Expat Association (KEA).

 John Reid

John Reid has held senior executive positions with several major US multinationals including Colgate Palmolive, Pfizer and W.R.Grace. During 2000-1 he helped launch and then served as CEO of Cityquicker, a website providing lifestyle and personal information for expatriate executives and their families. He has been a Director of the American Chambers of Commerce in Athens and in London and was Vice Chairman of the Australian Grocery Manufacturers’ Association in Sydney. John is President of the American Friends of Maungatautari and serves on a number of business and community Boards. Born in New Zealand, he has an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics from Massey University and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. He has recently been Adjunct Professor at the Stern Business School of NYU.

 Chris Shipley

Chris Shipley is a leading technology and product analyst focusing on early-stage companies and emerging markets. As co-founder and Chair of Guidewire Group, Inc., she is driving the strategy and development of next-generation IT market intelligence services. Best known as the executive producer of the semi-annual DEMO Conferences for IDG’s Network World, Chris has helped technology companies bring more than 1,200 new products and services to market since 1996. Chris has covered personal technology since 1984 and has worked as a writer and editor for a variety of technology and consumer media. She has won numerous award and citations for her work with technology startups. Chris holds BAs in Literature and Communication Arts from Allegheny College.

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 Lorna Smith

Lorna Smith has been involved in the field of higher education for over 30 years. She is currently the Director of the International Education programme at Mount Royal College in Calgary, a position she initiated in 1988. Previously, Lorna was a faculty member teaching ESL and Spanish and worked in higher education institutions in Canada, the USA and Germany.She was also co-owner and founder of a private consulting company which delivered customised language and cross-cultural training to business and industry clients. Lorna has served on the board of a number of provincial, national and international organisations and has served as a special advisor to the International Education department of Advanced Education for the provincial government.

 Bob Stringer

Bob Stringer is a Partner with Mercer Delta Consulting LLC. Prior to that he was president of Sherbrooke Associates Inc., a consulting firm that provided strategic planning and executive development services. Bob has led a wide range of research and consulting projects in areas including executive training, organisation effectiveness and white-collar productivity. Previously, he was senior vice president of Harbridge House Inc. and The Forum Corporation. Bob has extensive experience in the design and implementation of management development programmes both in the United States and internationally. He also has extensive experience in the broad nutritional and functional foods arena.

 Rick Thomas

Rick Thomas is the founder of Nautical Structures, which designs and manufactures high-end yacht equipment, specialising in tender-handling and boarding equipment. Rick works directly with almost all of the larger production and custom yacht builders in the world and visits a large number of shipyards every year. The relationships he has developed with their managing directors and engineering staff has given him a unique perspective of their operations and manufacturing standards. Rick understands the symbiotic relationship that a quality supplier must forge with a yacht builder to support the effort of building a custom yacht. Since 2004 Rick has served as an executive board member on the International Superyacht Society.

 Victoria Vandagriff

Victoria Vandagriff is President of Bendon North America, leading operations for Bendon, New Zealand’s leading lingerie designer and marketer, and spearheading US divisions of global brands including the Elle Macpherson Intimates Collection launched in 2005. Victoria has over 15 years experience in the apparel industry. Prior to taking up the position at Bendon in 2004, she was Senior Director of Sales of the Lauren Division at Polo Ralph Lauren where she handled the successful re-launch of the Lauren brand. Before that, Victoria was Executive Vice President of Sales at Carole Hochman Designs where she led and managed all Carole Hochman and Oscar de la Renta sleepwear brand objectives and positioning to major department stores. Victoria is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.

 Matice J Wright

Matice Wright is an independent consultant working for IT users and their organizations. Matice provides consulting services and solutions that include global business strategic advice, policy formulation, and change management implementation. She has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation and information technology industries. As a Senior Associate with the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, she developed policies, strategies and organisational improvements for both commercial and government clients. As a Manager with Sikorsky Aircraft, she led and managed international military helicopter programs. A former White House Fellow, Matice served as a Presidential appointee at the Department of Treasury where she assisted with the development of multiple strategies to reduce banking vulnerabilities in the finance sectors computerised information systems. While on active duty in the US Navy, she navigated both the Lockheed EC-130 aircraft and the Boeing 707 aircraft accumulating more than 1300 flight hours that provided a continuous airborne communication link for the nation’s strategic forces.

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Europe Advisory Board

 Eric Tracey - Chair

Eric Tracey is a director of a number of United Kingdom companies, including Chloride Group, a listed company specialising in power protection, and Chairman of Yellow Culture, a start-up speciality food company. After qualifying as a chartered accountant in New Zealand he joined Deloitte (then Touche Ross) in London in 1973, becoming partner in 1980 until he retired from the firm in 2005. After a period specialising in global construction and engineering, his focus shifted to public sector trading bodies and the privatisation of infrastructure and energy companies. He was the leader of Deloitte's European Energy, Infrastructure & Utilities Industry Group for several years. More recently he has taken executive director roles in companies facing various forms of external shock and/or financial distress and successfully steered them to safety.

Read what Eric has to say about the opportunities and challenges for New Zealand companies entering the United Kingdom market.

  Paul Axworthy

Paul Axworthy is head of IT for Johnson Matthey PLC, one of the worlds' leading speciality chemicals and precious metals refining businesses. Paul joined Johnson Matthey in 1987. Before that he held a variety of IT executive roles in Hoechst, Johnson and Johnson and the Calor Group. Paul has spent his career managing IT in large international manufacturing businesses with a remit covering the United Kingdom, USA, Asia and Europe. More recently he has become responsible for the development of Johnson Matthey’s e-commerce strategy, IT issues within mergers and acquisitions, and continuing to steer investment towards new and innovative uses of IT.

 James Bennet

James Bennet is Sector Director for technology clients at Ernst & Young in the United Kingdom. He also manages some of the firm’s major client relationships in the technology sector. Previously, James was Founder and Managing Director of the European Technology Forum, Europe’s premier network for the technology industry, which was acquired by CNET Networks in 2003. Prior to establishing his firm, James was European Marketing Manager for Price Waterhouse EMC.

 Bernard Cazenove

Commissioned in the Coldstream Guards in 1967, Bernard Cazenove served in the United Kingdom, Germany, Northern Ireland and New Zealand. He was the Aide-de camp to the Governor General Sir Arthur Porritt in 1971. On returning to the United Kingdom Bernard transferred to the Parachute Regiment (TA) and joined Cazenove & Co, stockbrokers. He became a partner of Cazenove in 1982 and was responsible for managing pension and charitable funds. In 1996 he was appointed Managing Director of Cazenove Fund Management until retiring in 2004. Bernard is a trustee of a number of army charities and St Luke's Hospital. He also advises charities on their investments. He is a member of the Court of Patrons of The Royal College of Surgeons, an Honorary Fellow of Darwin College Cambridge, Freeman of the City of London and member of the Worshipful Company of Dyers.

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 Richard Excell

Richard Excell holds a number of senior roles in industry, academia, and government. He is an experienced and successful international chief executive, chairman and public company director, concentrating on corporate strategy and business development. Amongst his portfolio of responsibilities Richard is Chairman of SET squared, the United Kingdom’s largest university/industry collaboration aimed at exploiting new technologies, with over £300 million of research funds. He is also Vice Chairman and a founder of Pegasus Bridge Investment Fund which is focused on the defence and homeland security sector. He has also over the past 11 years been a part time Senior Industrialist to the United Kingdom Government in the development of innovation policy in the United Kingdom. This has covered knowledge exploitation, entrepreneurialism, tax treatment and skills/culture/regulations. This wide portfolio of interests and expertise gives Richard a substantial number of high level contacts in industry, government, and academia.

 Dr Elizabeth Hill

Dr Elizabeth Hill has over 20 years' experience working in the technology sector, focused mainly in the healthcare, life sciences and biotech sectors. Elizabeth is currently Head of Transaction Support with Cambridge Consultants, conducting transactions and due diligence assignments for leading financial institutions across the globe in healthcare. Transaction aggregate values have exceeded US$1 billion including an expert report for successful stock market listings. Previously, she was developing technology opportunities in China for ICT, medical devices, biotechnology and in engineering and worked with United Kingdom, Scandinavian and US companies. Elizabeth has given talks in Asia, North America and across Europe on technical due diligence, setting up start-up companies and technology convergence. As a business angel, she has made successful investments and currently is a member of an independent healthcare council that advises financial institutions. Elizabeth graduated with first class honours in chemistry, was awarded a PhD from King’s College, University of London and was celebrated in 2005, as one of the entrepreneurs to help shape the Cambridge High-Technology Cluster, by the Centre of Entrepreneurial Learning, Cambridge Judge Business School, Cambridge University.

 Richard Keyse

Having graduated at Otago, Richard commenced his career in New Zealand before moving to Australia then the United Kingdom to further his IT career on the implementation of complex and large scale IT solutions. His experience has seen him become involved in the selection and management of numerous significant third party product and service providers. Richard has worked for many blue chip companies across a wide diversity of sectors, including National Mutual, Texaco Ltd, National Grid Corporation, British Telecom, SG Warburg, Merrill Lynch, Blackrock and Morley Fund Mgmt on a number of change programmes including mergers and acquisitions. He is currently establishing a global research capability for Instinet (a large execution-only brokerage). Additionally, Richard is an executive director of Global Clinic (NZ), which delivers health informatics solutions.

 Anne Macartney

Anne Macartney is a catering and retail expert. She has buying, marketing and business development experience across all areas of the international travel retail market, from airports and airlines to ferries, border stores, railways and motorway stations. Anne’s expertise includes strategic supplier management, international sourcing, negotiations, store trading, and retail and catering systems. Working for Stena Line, Anne handled the buying and supply chain across Europe for a fleet of 36 ships. She was headhunted by BAA as Global Buying and Merchandising Director for BAA World Duty Free. For the last four years Anne has run a bespoke travel retail consultancy Adventus Retail Solutions and has worked for blue chip companies in a consultancy and implementation capacity. She has also set up Mantix Solutions to provide buying and marketing services to United Kingdom airlines.

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 Alan McCarthy

Alan McCarthy was Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Trade Board, before being appointed Honorary Consul-General for New Zealand in Ireland. As head of the Trade Board Alan directed and managed a range of programmes and supports to assist Irish companies enter the United Kingdom, European and other markets. Alan has a well informed view and wide connections in the Irish economy, and can offer guidance and introductions to New Zealand companies entering this market.

 Charles Ward

Charles Ward is Chief Operating Officer of Intellect, the industry body for the IT, telecoms and electronics sectors in the United Kingdom. Intellect is a membership organisation and focuses on helping member companies to be top performers, providing insights into members' markets and supply chains and working with Government and regulators to create the most favourable business environment for the hi-tech industry. Charles was formerly Marketing Director of Computer Services and Software Association having joined in late 1999 from Compaq (previously Digital) where he was EMEA Marketing Manager for Customer Services Division. Prior to joining Digital in 1989 Charles held a variety of marketing and sales roles in De La Rue, Johnson & Johnson and 3M United Kingdom. Charles’ role involves day-to-day involvement with Intellect’s 750 member companies regularly contributing to executive level briefings on sales strategy, performance benchmarking, export marketing and software pricing and licensing. Charles also chairs judging committees for two national award schemes, IT Excellence in Local Government, IT Excellence and was also a member of the judging panel for the 2007 Digital Challenge competition.

 Mark West

Mark West is a retail distribution expert who rose through the ranks at Harrods to the position of Distribution Director. He has since started his own business, People Processes and Solutions Ltd, providing freelance consulting services to a range of clients, from private companies with turnovers from £14 million to public businesses with turnovers in excess of £500 million. Key clients include international retailers such as Fat Face, Kingfisher and HMV. Mark also has significant contacts in the high value food retail business and across many major supermarket groups in the United Kingdom.

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South East Asia Advisory Board

 Chuan Seng Lee - Chair

Chuan Seng Lee is a New Zealand citizen and a Singapore permanent resident, with a long and illustrious career in engineering in both countries. After graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) from the University of Auckland, Chuan Seng worked on engineering projects in New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia. In 1989 he was appointed Director of Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner (South East Asia) Pte Ltd, with responsibility for various projects in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. In that role he grew the Beca Group’s business into these countries as well as China. He is currently Chairman of Beca Asia Holdings Pte Ltd and Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SE Asia) Pte Ltd and Executive Director of Beca Group Ltd, New Zealand. Chuan Seng is also a Member, Fellow or Chairman of a number of professional industry bodies and committees.

Read what Chuan Seng has to say about how New Zealand companies can succeed in South East Asia.

 Charnchai Charuvastr

Charnchai Charuvastr is President and CEO of the Thai Institute of Directors, Chairman of Siam Paragon Development Company Ltd, and a Member of the National Corporate Governance Committee. Charnchai spent the first 23 years of his career with IBM in sales, marketing, personnel, and education. This included eight years of international assignments in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. His last position with IBM was Managing Director of IBM Thailand. In 1995, Charnchai joined a Thai telecom company, Samart Corporation PLC as their CEO, and was one of the earlier pioneers of electronic commerce in Thailand. In the business community, he was elected President of the Thai Computer Association, a Director on the Board of Trade, Governor of AMCHAM, Chairman of the Thai Management Association, Vice Chairman of Krung Thai Bank PLC, and Chairman of the Institute of Directors East Asia Network (IDEA.Net). He also served on many government committees including the Bank of Thailand’s Financial Institution Policy Committee and the National Economic and Social Development Board’s sub committee on Government Reform. Charnchai graduated from Purdue University, Indiana USA with a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering.

 Warrick Cleine

Warrick Cleine is joint Managing Partner of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia and head of the accounting and consultancy firm's Taxation Advisory and Financial Advisory Services groups. He has been based in Vietnam for nine years during which time he has advised many of Vietnam's leading companies on taxation, corporate governance, strategy and financial issues.  Warwick and his team have also advised many leading multi-national companies on their Vietnam market entry strategies. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Vietnamese CPA, and sits on KPMG's Asia Pacific Board.

 John Lim Kok Min

John Lim Kok Min is Chairman of Senoko Power Ltd, Executive Deputy Chairman of LMA International NV, a member of the Governing Council of the Singapore Institute of Management and immediate past Chairman of Building & Construction Authority. He has more than 40 years of senior management experience in the Asia-Pacific region, and has held directorships and Board roles in companies in SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. John is the President of the Singapore Institute of Directors, a member of the Securities Industry Council, Senate Member of the Marketing Institute of Singapore, and a former director/Council member of both the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and the Singapore Confederation of Industries. He is the Chairman for the OECD Asian network on Corporate Governance for State Owned Enterprises.

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 Ian Spence

Ian Spence is a company director and business consultant in South East Asia. He holds directorships for several multinational companies and is a member of the Asia/Pacific Advisory Board for the International Baccalaureate. A New Zealander, Ian is an accountant with 40 years’ international experience. He started his career with Barr, Burgess & Stewart (now Price Waterhouse Coopers) and was Managing Director of Bowater Far East Ltd for 17 years. The company’s interests during that time included merchant banking, agency trading, fast food restaurants, airport catering, paper packaging materials, and ready mix concrete.

 Dato’ Dr Michael Yeoh

Dato’ Dr Michael Yeoh is the Founder, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, Malaysia’s leading private sector think tank. He is also a Trustee and CEO of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation and Secretary-General of the ASEAN Business Forum, the Malaysia-China Business Council and the Corporate Malaysia Roundtable. Michael has extensive boardroom and consulting experience over the past 30 years, specialising in corporate strategic planning, Asian leadership strategies and the political economy. He has consulted for the World Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, the Nomura Research Institute and the Economist Intelligence Unit. He has also sat on the boards of directors of the National Heart Institute, SBB Asset Management (a subsidiary of Southern Bank and Malaysia’s second largest fund management company). Michael has been a Principal Adviser to Southern Bank, General Manager of Multi-Purpose Holdings and Chief Administrative Director of the Malaysian Chinese Association.

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India Advisory Board

 Pradip Madhavji - Chair

Pradip Madhavji has considerable experience and expertise in travel and tourism, having joined Thomas Cook in 1977. He was the first Indian to lead the company’s operations in India and was the Chairman and Managing Director of the Indian subsidiary for over 25 years. Prior to joining Thomas Cook Pradip worked for Dena bank where he was in charge of the bank’s entire foreign exchange operations at the time of his departure. Pradip sits on the Boards of a number of leading companies, is a member of the Paris based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in their Air Transport Committee and the Council for Transport & Logistics, is a President or Past President of several professional travel trade and tourism associations and is the recipient of the Kutcha-Ratna, the highest honour bestowed by the community for his leadership qualities and his contribution to the tourism industry. In 2002 Pradip was appointed the New Zealand Honorary Consul based in Mumbai.

Read what Pradip has to say about the opportunities and challenges for New Zealand companies in the India market.

  Peter Baker

Peter Baker, originally from Dunedin, New Zealand has 30 years retail experience having lived and worked in many countries in the Pacific, Asia, the United Kingdom and Europe. Peter is CEO of H&B Stores Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of Dabur India Limited, where he is responsible for establishing a retail chain of health beauty and wellness stores across India. Prior to joining Dabur, Peter held Director level positions for globally recognised retailers including Lee Cooper Ltd, AS Watson Ltd, Poundland PLC and Puma Sportswear. Peter is based in Delhi, where he is enjoying the challenge of establishing a market leading business in India.

  V M Crishna

V M Crishna is the Managing director Godrej Upstream Ltd and Lawkim India. He is also a director of Naoroji Godrej Centre for Plant Research, a member of the Godrej Family and a board member of Godrej & Boyce the holding company for the group. A graduate in economics from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, he handled several major brands, before becoming CEO of Lawkim Ltd taken over by M/s. Godrej in 1977. In 1991, he formed a joint venture company - Statomat Special Machines, India and went on to be appointed to the Board of Directors, Godrej- GE Appliances in 1993. In 2003, having extended Lawkim's activities to light engineering and IT enabled services he bought out their American partner’s call centre business in the US travel vertical.

  R Ramanan

R Ramanan is the Managing Director and CEO of CMC Limited. CMC Ltd is a subsidiary of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). TCS is one of the world’s leading IT Companies and part of the prestigious Tata Group. Ramanan has been associated with TCS since 1981. Apart from being instrumental in turning CMC Limited from a public sector government owned company to a global company, he has led the company in contributing to the growth of nationwide infrastructure. Ramanan is the Chairman of CMC Americas Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMC in the United States. He is on the Board as Director of E2E Serwiz Solutions Limited, a prestigious Tata Enterprise BPO. He has also received national awards for his outstanding achievements and services to the nation. Ramanan has a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai.

 Sandeep Tandon

Sandeep Tandon is the Group Advisor to Reliance Group of Industries. He has also been advising a number of Reliance Group companies and other industrial houses in India. After pursuing a career in the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax Department), Sandeep quit his government job to study for an L.L.B. from Delhi University. He has been practising in the field of Taxation, Exchange Control and other Corporate Laws since. Sandeep has a Masters in Political Science from Allahabad University (1971). In 1991, he also did a Post Graduate Diploma in International Tax Law at Robert Kennedy University, Switzerland.

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Middle East Advisory Board

 Mahmoud Haidar - Chair

Mahmoud is a strategy and business advisor, having had operational and consulting experience in Europe, North America and the Middle East and Africa. Mahmoud is a computer and telecommunications engineer, with an MBA in Strategy and Innovation in ICT and another master’s in International Relations. He has an 18-year management experience with Blue Chip firms in technology, finance, services and consulting and he advised government and regulatory agencies in numerous countries.

Read what Mahmoud has to say about building trusted business relationships in the Middle East region.

 Eli Khoury

Eli Khoury is a multi-award-winning strategic communications specialist, with considerable experience in branding and communications, particularly in the government sector. Chairman and CEO of Saatchi&Saatchi Levant and Quantum Communications, Eli is acknowledged to have introduced practices that have raised the standard and improved the substance of advertising and brand design in the Middle East. Eli is also co-founder of the Lebanon Renaissance Foundation. Eli has visited New Zealand several time for filming projects, and is keen to support New Zealand companies in developing their marketing and communication strategies.

 Ross Officer

Ross Officer is a career banker, with 27 years of experience working in New Zealand, Canada, Vietnam, and the Arabian Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain. He is currently posted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with The Saudi British Bank, a member of the HSBC Group. Ross’ experience has been predominantly in corporate banking, which has given him valuable insights into a wide range of industries. In his current position as Head of Corporate Banking – Western Province, Ross is responsible for the management of his Bank’s team servicing multinationals and large Saudi corporates operating in the Western Province of Saudi Arabia. Apart from his banking role, Ross is also active in supporting cross border trade and investment through an active involvement over many years advising individual companies and government sponsored trade missions, as well as on occasion promoting the cause of regulatory reform while posted in Vietnam. Ross has a Master of Commerce in Economics from the University of Canterbury, and has dual New Zealand and French citizenship.

 Michael Wilde

Michael Wilde is a business development expert with access to high value regional networks. Michael is General Manager of Manazel Real Estate in Abu Dhabi, a major developer of mixed-use residential and commercial communities around the region. Formerly Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Media City (DMC), he has also held numerous international executive positions including with Price Waterhouse Coopers, British Airways and GE Capital. While at DMC he was responsible for the development of all aspects of the DMC Freezone including infrastructure, real estate, governance and organisational set-up. In 2004, while at Tatweer LKC (Dubai Holding) portfolio, Michael jointly led the creation and development of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) encompassing real estate, organisational and infrastructure development, and the establishment of the Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre, the Dubai Harvard Research Foundation, and the University Hospital at DHCC. Michael is a graduate of Auckland University New Zealand, with Bachelor of Commerce and ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) qualifications. He is a dual citizen of New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with residency in the UAE, where he lives in Dubai.

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China Advisory Board

 David Mahon

Expatriate New Zealander David Mahon has worked in Beijing for more than two decades, his private equity firm Mahon China Investment Management Limited operating through China’s emergence as an economic power. The company represents the China investments and interests of a variety of international financial and industrial groups. David himself has direct responsibility for the management of 19 Chinese companies. He also advises a range of companies across a variety of sectors on all aspects of their China operations, from strategy development to facility establishment and partner negotiations.

Read what David has to say about the opportunities for New Zealand companies in the China market.

 Andrew Browne

Andrew Browne worked in the news and financial information business in Asia for 25 years before joining Brunswick, a corporate communications advisory company, in 2006. Browne advises many of China’s leading domestic companies and multinationals on their business development and acquisition and listing strategies in China. His clients include some of China’s most successful entrepreneurs. Prior to Brunswick, Browne spent 20 years with Reuters, including three years as chief representative for China, responsible both for news and for the company's business relations with government regulators and clients, including major Chinese banks. Browne also reopened the Reuters news bureau in Shanghai and reported on the launch of the Shanghai stock exchange. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for his international reporting. Browne was raised in Hong Kong and speaks Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese.

 Tony Fyfe

Born in Blenheim, Tony Fyfe’s connection to China goes back 20 years, when he worked for Farmers Trading Company and BP Oil and frequently travelled to both Taiwan and China. In 1992, he relocated to Hong Kong where was employed by New Zealand and Australian household manchester importer Gerard Pacific Limited. After developing an extensive manufacturing network and global sales team for the company, he established a solely owned venture in Indochine Marketing Limited where he continued to develop manchester programmes. In 1998 he set up a joint venture factory in southern China manufacturing outdoor candles and accessories, which he shipped to more than 40 countries. With this extensive background in manufacturing and sales, Fyfe is now managing director for Ace Global Distribution, a joint venture procurement operation he established in Hong Kong in 2003 and relocated to Shanghai in 2006.

John O’Loghlen

John O'Loghlen has lived in Beijing since 2005. In 1999, he joined the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs in London, transferring with that firm to New York in 2002. In 2005, he relocated to China to study Chinese. Following his language studies, he joined John L. Thornton & Co., founded by a former Goldman Sachs Chairman. Since 2006, O'Loghlen has led business development for Domino's Pizza International as it expands its Asian footprint, developing master franchise agreements with various operator partners across the region. O’Loghlen attended Auckland Grammar School and graduated from Harvard University (BA 1997) for his undergraduate studies and Cambridge University (MPhil 2000) for graduate work; in both instances he wrote honours theses on the development of market economies in Eastern Europe. In addition to his commercial interests, O’Loghlen is co-head of the Oxford University-based Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust and is one of two Directors of the Golden Bird Foundation, a charity that works to enrich zoo enclosures across China.

Nancy Sun

A native of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, Nancy Sun is president and CEO of Ningbo Pacific Rim Company Limited, an integrated contract manufacturer and sub-contractor of plastic and metal components. Sun started Pacific Rim from a single workshop to become one of the leading companies in its sector in China’s richest province. Her international clients include Elsette, Whirlpool and ACCO. Sun has had a long affinity with New Zealand and has travelled extensively through the country. She is currently developing education and outward-bound programmes in China based on the New Zealand experience and has long been involved in assisting the expansion of New Zealand businesses in China. She divides her time between her factory site in Ningbo and her home in Shanghai.