NZTech appoints new director and introduces a board internship seat

The New Zealand Technology Industry Association (NZTech) announces the appointment of Kim Connolly-Stone and Dil Khosa to its Board.

NZTech has an ongoing initiative to ensure diversity of thought and representation on the NZTech Board.  In recent years NZTech has consciously evolved its Board composition to be geographically spread, gender balanced and more representative of the various stakeholders across the ecosystem.

As part of this initiative the organisation has introduced a Board Internship seat to bring a younger perspective to the Board. The seat will also provide an opportunity for innovative young tech leaders to gain governance experience and build networks.  The first appointment to this seat is Dil Khosa, Operations Manager of the high growth data science and cross-platform TV audience demand measurement start-up Parrot Analytics.

“This is a very exciting internship.  As a young executive in the tech world I can expose the board to fresh thinking, but at the same time I will learn about board governance,” says 28 year old Dil Khosa.

NZTech are also pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Connolly-Stone, Policy Director, Digital Economy at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a board member.  Her appointment aligns with Kim’s responsibilities for MBIE’s co-ordination of the Digital Economy Work Programme, a cross agency initiative which is working to ensure the government is collectively focused in supporting the growth of the New Zealand Digital Sector.

“I am delighted to be appointed as a director on the board of NZTech.  I have a strong commitment to support the growth of New Zealand’s digital sector,” says Kim.

“Digital technology is growing at an exponential rate and we need to ensure that New Zealand businesses, individuals and the public sector are primed for its uptake,” she adds.

Kim has 20 years experience in both public policy and law.  Her former roles include Chief Advisor, Intellectual Property and Director, Pike River Implementation at MBIE.  She also has experience in Treaty settlements and trade negotiations.

The gender balanced  NZTech Board boasts a contingent of successful and experienced women including Frances Valintine, Founder of The Mind Lab; Diane Knowles, Country Manager of HP Enterprise; Mandy Simpson, Chief Operating Officer of NZX and Sarah Perry, CEO of SnapComms.  All are committed to helping New Zealand’s prosperity grow through a vibrant tech sector.

“We are proud, as the voice of the tech sector that we can lead by example with respect to gender balance on our Board, but we still need to strive for gender parity across the tech sector” says NZTech CEO, Graeme Muller.

“Mounting research shows that firms with women in senior management positions enjoy superior economic performance, especially in companies focused on innovation.  Increasing the number of women in senior management roles in the country’s fastest growing sector is critical to driving economic prosperity in New Zealand,” he says.