NZTech new Board Director appointments strengthen board diversity

The New Zealand Technology Industry Association (NZTech), the voice of the New Zealand tech sector, appoints new Board Directors from across the tech ecosystem.

NZTech has a new board, including senior government sector members following its 6th Annual General Meeting in Auckland last night.

New NZTech board members include: Chris Bishop, Manager ICT Policy and Programmes, MBIE; Diane Knowles, NZ Country Manager for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services; Paul Deavoll, Head of South Island, Spark NZ; and Sarah Perry, CEO, SnapComms.

The new board members join those who were re-elected for a successive term; and those who will continue for another year. They are: Rob Lee, Managing Director, IBM New Zealand; Mark Nichols, General Manager, Trimble Navigation; Bennett Medary, Director of Simpl Group; Rob Old, General Manager, Provoke Solutions; Bob Pinchin, CEO, Swaytech; Jonathan Miller, National Network Manager ICT, Callaghan Innovation; and Frances Valintine, Chair of the Mindlab by Unitec.

Departing board members this year are: Keith Watson, Managing Director, Hewlett-Packard New Zealand; Tom Duffy, Chief Operating Officer, Fuji Xerox; Steve Newman, CEO, EROAD; and John Ferguson, Customer Manager, NZTE.
This year’s Board Chair will be appointed at the first meeting of the new Board in late August.

“I am excited to be working with such a strong and dynamic Board,” says NZTech CEO Graeme Muller. “The Board selection process focused on ensuring we attracted the right level of diversity to enable us to achieve our purpose of being the voice of the technology sector while delivering on our key strategies. With new Board members from Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington, across key government, corporate and New Zealand export business organisations we have increased our ability to truly represent the sector.”

NZTech has been growing rapidly with a broad array of tech-based organisations continuing to join to support our mission of improving New Zealand’s economic prosperity through a vibrant technology sector. NZTech members include organisations ranging from start-ups and locally focused IT firms to fast-growth tech exporters, hi-tech manufacturers, telco’s, major corporations and education providers.

“The growing recognition of the importance of technology for New Zealand’s economic success is coming about as all sectors and occupations become more digitalised,” says Mr Muller. “NZTech’s members are combining their voices to raise awareness of the need for our Government to develop a national digital strategy that addresses the implications of this in key areas such as education, health and society in general .”

“NZTech is focused on three primary areas where we believe technology can make a significant positive impact on our economy – helping New Zealand technology businesses to lift the country’s export earnings, helping guide and support government technology decisions, and helping drive the digital transition of the education system so that all Kiwi kids have the best start in life.”