Governance

Kathy Grant

Kathy Grant is a former Associate in the Dunedin legal practice of Gallaway Cook Allan. She has been a Ministerial appointee and Chair of the Otago Polytechnic Council since 2010. She was previously a member of the University of Otago Council and council Chair of the Dunedin College of Education. In 2015, the Minister of Health appointed Mrs Grant as Commissioner of Southern District Health Board following the disestablishment of the DHB.

John Brockies

John Brockies is an experienced independent director with a professional background in executive roles in large New Zealand companies such as Siemens and Transfield. His governance experience includes Naylor Love, the Waiāri Project Advisory Board for Tauranga City Council, the Resolve Group Ltd, and BRANZ. He was a Ministerial appointee to the Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Unitec and was an independent member of the RoVE Programme Board.

Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop

Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop CNZM is Emeritus Professor at Auckland University of Technology. She has contributed to significant government and NGO policy affecting the Pacific community. She has served as the National President of PACIFICA Inc, and was appointed as a Commissioner in 2017 to oversee Samoa’s national inquiry into family violence. Her CNZM was awarded in 2015 for services to education and the Pacific community.

Dr Teorongonui Josie Keelan
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe

Josie is co-chair of Komiti Māori and has worked in tertiary education for 30 years. She was Dean of Teaching and Learning, Mātauranga Māori at Unitec from 2012-2019. She is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the University of Auckland. Prior to working in tertiary education, she held several roles in the public sector at iwi, national and international levels. The most challenging was that of Executive Secretary for her iwi authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou when it was first established in 1985.

Jordan Gush

Jordan Gush is BCITO apprentice and co-chair of the Interim Learner Advisory Committee. He was part of the Working Group brought together to formulate recommendations for the establishment of the Interim Learner Advisory Committee and has been a work-based learner representative on Te Poari Akoranga - Te Pūkenga Academic Board. He is of Samoan and NZ European descent.

John Brockies, Chair

John Brockies is an experienced independent director with a professional background in executive roles in large New Zealand companies such as Siemens and Transfield. His governance experience includes Naylor Love, the Waiāri Project Advisory Board for Tauranga City Council, the Resolve Group Ltd, and BRANZ. He is a member of Te Pūkenga Council. John was a Ministerial appointee to the Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Unitec and was an independent member of the RoVE Programme Board.

Murray Strong

Murray is Chair of both Te Pūkenga Council and Centre of Digital Excellence in Dunedin. An independent director and Chair, and a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand, he has governance and senior management experience across many sectors including tertiary education. He was the IST Establishment Unit Executive Director, where he was closely involved with all workstreams, key stakeholders and the future direction.

Mike King 

With over 40 years experience in the construction industry, Mike brings an extensive breadth of construction knowledge to the table.  Mike is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Building, past Chapter President and National Council member and a Chartered Building Professional.  He has gained significant governance experience over 12 years on the BCITO Board, the last six of which as Chair.

He is currently employed by Summerset Management Group as Quality and Risk Manager, overseeing multiple residential and commercial construction projects and leading the Business Support Team. Mike has a passion for “paying it forward” and is focussed on ensuring our trainees get the best start in their careers as they will become the “industry leaders of tomorrow”.

Grant Florence 

Grant took up his role as chief executive of New Zealand Certified Builders Association in early 2012, after holding the role of chief executive of a not-for-profit organisation in the rescue/service sector. Prior to this, Grant has been involved primarily in the residential building industry for over 25 years – initially in various senior leadership positions for Fletcher Residential, and then subsequently owning his own company focusing on internet technology in the building sector.

Bruce Robertson 

Bruce Robertson is one of New Zealand’s most experienced advocates and lobbyist having completed 21 years as Chief Executive of Hospitality NZ and prior to that being a senior executive with Federated Farmers.
He also has significant governance experience as current Chair of Service IQ, Chair of Christchurch Casinos Ltd and formally a consultant to the Board of Skyline Enterprises Ltd. He is also current Chair of the Hospitality Training Trust, Independent Trustee on the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust and Chair of the Go with Tourism Industry Advisory Group.
Bruce has been the Independent Chair of the Gaming Machine Association of NZ and Chair and Deputy Chair of Hospitality Standards Institute (a predecessor of Service IQ).

Maryann Geddes

Maryann Geddes is the Group Manager Risk and Compliance at Skyline Enterprises, based in Queenstown. She has worked for Skyline since 1994 and is a board member of ServiceIQ. Other governance roles have included RNZRSA, the Tourism Industry Association, the Otago Southland Employers Association, the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation and the Hospitality Standards Institute.

Bryn Thompson

Bryn has been the CEO/Founder of Metalcraft Engineering Co. Ltd since 1991. Combining his background of fitter/welder B, trade skills with his natural ability for problem solving and networking, Bryn has overseen the success of Metalcraft Engineering during that time. As well as being a member of WBL Board, he was a Director of Competenz, also currently serves on ARA Board and is the current President of the NZ Manufacturing Export Association, in which roles he is able to support the growth of industry and industry training which he’s very passionate about.

Brian Warren

 Brian has been a member of the Civil Trades Board since its inception in 2015 and Chair from 2016 to 2020.  The Board was formed to develop, implement and administer formal Tradesperson qualifications for the civil infrastructure industry of NZ. He was recently awarded a National Life Membership to Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) having served on the national executive including a two year term as president. He has spent his entire working life in the civil construction industry.

 

 Vanessa Eparaima

Vanessa is the current Chair of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. She is a business consultant, company director and former chief executive in the tourism sector. She sits on a range of commercial, investment and not-for-profit boards, including the Tūaropaki Trust, and is co-chair of forestry land management company CNI Iwi Land Management Ltd. Vanessa was the inaugural chair of Raukawa Iwi Development, a high performing iwi commercial company, and remains a director. She is the former executive chair of the Raukawa Settlement Trust.

 

 Andrew Clearwater

Andrew Clearwater is an independent Director and chartered member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. His professional background has involved various sales and marketing management roles within the automotive industry, including 25 years at Mazda New Zealand with the last 10 years serving as Managing Director.
His governance experience includes involvement in not – for – profit charitable trusts, a former member of the IEB for Hanga – Aro – Rau WDC and on the appointment panel to select the first directors of this WDC.
Andrew has also had a strong association and commitment to vocational education, through governance roles with MITO both as a director and as Chair for the last 4 years overseeing MITO’s transition as a subsidiary to Te Pūkenga Work Base Learning Limited.