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Our regional director supports NZTE activity in our region, representing New Zealand to industry and visiting officials, and fostering collaboration with partner agencies, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Our trade commissioners lead our in-market teams, facilitating and promoting trade and investment, and maintaining and broadening our network of business relationships.

Our investment director leads our in-market Investment team, working with financial and strategic investors to support them in establishing their business in New Zealand or connect them with exciting New Zealand investment opportunities.

Our Marketing team leads our in-market activities and helps to build a preference for New Zealand business.

Based in London, Amanda oversees activity across NZTE's Europe, Middle East and Africa region. She previously served as NZTE’s Regional Director for North America for seven years. Prior to this role, she was customer director for the Central North Island's Customer team, having joined as a customer manager in 2013.

Before joining NZTE, Amanda worked for UK Trade & Investment in London as an international trade advisor, where her work included responsibility for the national fashion sector strategy. She has also worked on economic development projects at the Canterbury Development Corporation. Her private sector experience includes financial management, people management and export development. She has a commerce degree from the University of Otago.

Amanda Martin

Tara is New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner based in Paris, France where she is responsible for promoting and facilitating trade opportunities and strategic relationships for New Zealand businesses across France, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Tara joined NZTE as a Customer Manager in March 2023, supporting New Zealand tech and services companies to scale globally. She also led NZTE’s support of New Zealand’s rapidly growing gaming sector.

Before her tenure at NZTE, Tara’s career spanned various business leadership roles, including Director of Business Growth and Sustainability at Business South Inc. and Business Growth Manager at the Otago Chamber of Commerce. During the COVID-19 pandemic she led the programme of business support and recovery for Otago. She also founded Druce Consulting, where she provided strategic guidance across tourism, horticulture and viticulture sectors. She speaks French and holds a Master’s Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Geography.

Tara Druce

Ahmad is New Zealand's Trade Commissioner and Consul General based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is responsible for NZTE's activities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Levant countries & Africa.

Ahmad joined NZTE in 2015 as a Business Development Manager in Dubai focusing on AgriTech, specialised manufacturing and construction, before taking up the role of Trade Commissioner to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait in 2018 till 2023.

Before joining NZTE, he was the Sales and Sponsorship Manager for the Middle East, India and Africa at International Data Corporation in Dubai, specializing in IoT, ICT & Fintech. He has also helped in setting up several startups in Dubai including his own.

Ahmad grew up in Auckland, before graduating from the University of Jordan with a Bachelors degree in civil engineering, and an MBA from the University of Wollongong specializing in international trade. He has also completed several executive leadership certificates from INSEAD business school and Harvard Business School.

Ahmad Zakkout

Based in Riyadh, Joel is New Zealand's Trade Commissioner to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. He is responsible for facilitating and promoting trade and investment, as well as building and maintaining an extensive network of business relationships relevant to New Zealand businesses in the Middle East.

He joined NZTE in 2018 and has previously held roles supporting New Zealand exporters to achieve their growth goals in the UK, first as a commercial advisor, then as the Head of UK and Ireland. In this role, Joel led a team that advised around 125 New Zealand exporters on everything from market strategy to sales and marketing, from digital development to sustainability.

Before joining NZTE, Joel worked at Howard Wright, where he managed the New Zealand and Asia markets for several years, before leading the market entry and establishing the UK as a significant export market. 

Joel has a Bachelor of Business Studies in Finance from Massey University. Away from work, Joel enjoys surfing, tennis, golf and snowboarding.

Joel Sims

Jacob Briars is the Trade Commissioner for the United Kingdom and Ireland at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). Based in London, he leads NZTE’s trade team in supporting New Zealand businesses to enter and expand across the UK and Ireland, with a focus on unlocking commercial growth and strategic opportunities.

Jacob brings a wealth of global commercial experience, having spent the last 14 years at Bacardi as Global Advocacy Director. His export journey began over two decades ago when he left NZ with a modest budget and a bold vision to help grow 42 Below into a world class New Zealand brand.  His efforts saw success in some of the most competitive international markets, including the UK and US. 

An entrepreneur at heart, Jacob has consulted to a number of New Zealand and global businesses in hospitality/tourism, and has served as a Beachhead Advisor, guiding a wide range of New Zealand companies through the complexities of global expansion. 

Jacob Briars

Rebecca is New Zealand's Trade Commissioner based in Berlin, Germany, where she is responsible for promoting and facilitating trade opportunities and strategic relationships for New Zealand businesses across Germany, Italy, Türkiye, Denmark and Sweden.

Rebecca has held several key roles at NZTE over the past three years, including Market Manager – Australia Pacific, Commercial Business Advisor – Melbourne, and Acting Trade Commissioner – Mexico.

Rebecca Morrissey

Lauren heads NZTE's Marketing & Communications team for Europe, Middle East and Africa. She is responsible for promoting New Zealand's business brand across the region.

Lauren has been with NZTE for 14 years across three international locations, including heading marketing and communications for East Asia, based out of Singapore. In 2015, she was seconded as New Zealand's trade commissioner to Indonesia, based out of Jakarta. 

Prior to working for the New Zealand government, Lauren worked in advertising and publishing. She began her career as a business journalist, working for the New Zealand Herald followed by a variety of international media outlets. 

Lauren holds a communications degree, majoring in journalism, from Auckland University of Technology.

Lauren Bartlett

We help New Zealand businesses grow internationally – bigger, better, faster. Explore our services for exporters, help for investors, and trade news.

Our UK & Europe team works from offices in London (England), Paris (France), Berlin and Hamburg (Germany), Milan (Italy), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Madrid (Spain), Istanbul (Türkiye), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates)   

WORKING IN OUR EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA (EMEA) OFFICES

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