JAPAN NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

New Zealand Committee
Ian Kennedy - Chair Ian Kennedy, a former career diplomat, was posted three times to Japan, most recently as Ambassador from 2007 to July 2012. A fluent Japanese speaker, he is the author of a book on Japan-New Zealand relations entitled “Japan and New Zealand: Adding Value" published by Victoria University, Institute of Policy Studies in 1992. His other overseas postings were to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu from 1992 to 1994, Turkey, Israel and Jordan (Ambassador) from 1996 to 1999, and Australia (Deputy High Commissioner) from 2004 to 2007. Ian Kennedy and his wife Setsuko are Partners in I.S.K. Associates, a consultancy business specialising on Japan. He has been contracted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as Special Representative, Japan, to promote linkages between New Zealand and Japan, with particular emphasis on non-governmental sectors.
Norm Thompson - Vice Chair Norm Thompson currently holds the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand. He is the Chairman of the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand, the Air New Zealand Environment Trust, and Altitude Engineering. He is also a board member of ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development). Some of the key roles Norm has held at Air New Zealand prior to be being appointed to his current role include Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines (accountability for Domestic, Tasman and Pacific operations); Group General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales; Regional General Manager The Americas; and Regional General Manager New Zealand and Pacific Islands. Norm’s recent executive education includes a business management programme at Stanford University in the United States, and accreditation with the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Mia Evans - Vice Chair Mia Evans started with Bancorp in August 2007, and has come from a banking background with Private Bank positions at HSBC and Bank of New Zealand, and has also worked with Westpac Bank. Bancorp is an innovative and dynamic investment and merchant banking organisation. Mia is the Sector Leader for Sister Cities on the JNZBC, and also supports the Investment Sector Leader.
Neil Whittaker - Vice Chair Neil Whittaker was appointed Managing Director of Fuji Xerox New Zealand in 2004 and in his first year as MD implemented a growth plan that resulted in him fending off colleagues from throughout Asia and the Pacific to be named the Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific ‘Managing Director of the Year’. This feat was repeated in 2011 and 2012 when Neil was once again named MD of the year as he led Fuji Xerox New Zealand to consecutive record years. Neil is passionate about good corporate citizenship and has been instrumental in Fuji Xerox’s investment in education, charitable and environmental activities. He is the chairman of New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation, is a member of the Committee for Auckland and an active participant in Business New Zealand’s Major Company group. Neil was also instrumental in the creation of the Career Capable Auckland project, a public private partnership developed to improve transitions from school through study and training to work.
Paul Gestro - BNZ Paul Gestro is Head of Asia Desk at the Bank of New Zealand. He was Director International Partnerships, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Auckland from 2012 to 2013,Director & Consul-General, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, New York, from 2009 to 2012, Director Investment & Technology, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Singapore, from 2005 to 2009. He attended Harvard Business School – High Potentials Leadership (2010), as well as University of Auckland – Diploma (P.Grad) International Strategy & Leadership (2007). Paul was a New Zealand Representative in University Volleyball, is a keen marathon runner, a championship winning Rugby Coach & Player, and enjoys skiing, golf, mountain biking, adventure running, sailing, tennis, Culture, travel
Craig Smith - Vice Chair Craig Smith has over twenty years of experience in the wool industry ranging from shearing, classing, scouring, marketing and now currently a Director of HDawson , which is a global company , processing and trading 5% of the world’s wool fibre. In his role as Business Development Director, he has had sole charge of the Japanese market over the last 10 years. This involves travelling to Japan up to five times a year to promote New Zealand wool, selling directly to futon, carpet and apparel manufactures and maintaining and developing relationship with clients. This has led to HDawson having a high profile and being one of the largest exporters of wool into Japan. HDawson is a member of the global “Campaign for Wool” which Craig is a committee member of. As part of this role hewas privileged to meet Price Charles at Somerset House in London, as the sole representative from New Zealand and this was reported in a Shinso Living Times in Japan.
Tony Boot - Executive Director; Sector Leader - Tourism, Jenesys Programmes Tony Boot established BTM - Japanese translation and marketing specialists in 1994. BTM provides assistance to a range of public sector and private sector organisations in New Zealand, Japan, USA, Fiji, and beyond. Tony is a graduate of the University of Waikato Business Management Studies department's International Management programme, specialising in Japanese & Marketing. Tony is a shareholder and director of New Zealand's largest farmstay company, Rural Tourism Holdings Ltd, and holds other directorships as well. He is fluent in Japanese, and is actively involved with the development of New Zealand/Japan business relations. Tony is the Sector Leader for the Jenesys Programmes, as well as Tourism, on the JNZBC.
Doug Ducker - Executive Committee Member; Sector Leader - Forestry & Government Relations Doug Ducker has been Managing Director of Pan Pac Forest Products since 2004 - this appointment followed almost 30 years service with the company in roles including process engineering, technical R & D, project management and production management associated with the pulping side of the business. An executive committee member of the Japan New Zealand Business Council over the last 4 years and currently Chairman of the Wood Council of New Zealand, Director of Wood Processors Assn and vice President of the Hawkes Bay Chamber of Commerce. Doug is the Sector Leader for Forestry and Government Affairs on the JNZBC.
Derek Hopkins - Executive Committee Member Derek Hopkins is Managing Director of Franklin Group, which began life in 1982 as Franklin Rural Management Ltd, an agricultural consulting company. This is now the main operating company of the Group and its focus is entirely on investment project work in the rural sector. Derek completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (B.Agr.Sc) degree at Massey University in 1968. Since graduating his professional career has been in the rural sector with a range of experience in consultancy, practical farming and investment promotion and management. As well as having experience in many of the farming regions in New Zealand he has worked in Australia, the South Pacific, United Kingdom and Asia. Derek has been a member of the JNZBC since 1998 and on the Executive committee since 2001.
Annette Azuma - Executive Committee Member; Sector Leader - FInance & Public Relations Annette Azuma is a chartered accountant and a Director with Staples Rodway Ltd , New Zealand's leading independent full service accountancy firm. Annette specialises in Japanese business and deals with a number of Japanese companies and high net wealth individuals assisting with all aspects of taxation, compliance, M & A and immigration. Annette has attended a number of Trade Missions to Japan. She speaks excellent Japanese and has lived in Japan for two and a half years including working for Staples Rodway's affiliate, Baker Tilly Japan and attending Kyoto Commercial University. Annette holds a Commerce degree from Otago University and an Arts degree majoring in Japanese from Massey University. Her association with Japan spans more than 30 years and continues in her business life and also family life with her Japanese husband Kenji and their 2 sons. Annette is the Sector Leader for Finance and Public Relations on the JNZBC.
Mark Crawford - Executive Committee Member Mark is a Partner with KPMG based in Auckland. Mark has worked in various businesses in New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom and Japan over the past 20 years. His experience includes three years working in a Senior Finance role for a US public company based in Washington DC. Prior to returning to New Zealand in 2009, he spent eight years as a Partner working in Tokyo with KPMG, specialising in Audit and Advisory Services. In this capacity Mark worked with many multinational companies including General Electric, Fonterra and SAP and was a member of the Tokyo American Club. Since returning to New Zealand Mark now heads up the Japanese Practice for KPMG. His clients include Konica Minolta, Shiseido, Makita and Mazda.
Chris Payne - Executive Committee Member; Sector Leader - Film & TV Chris Payne is a Development Executive at the New Zealand Film Commission, based in Wellington, where he is involved in managing script development, professional development and industry support. Prior to this he was a Business Development Manager at leading New Zealand corporate law firm, Bell Gully. From 2006-2007, Chris was Development Executive at Tokyo-based film production company, 100 Meter Films during which he worked closely with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on an international feature film co-production development programme (J-Pitch). Since returning to New Zealand in 2007, Chris has been actively involved with the Japan New Zealand Business Council, Asia:NZ and the New Zealand Japan Society of Auckland, including serving on the latter’s council. Chris has MA and BA degrees in film and history from the University of Auckland and a long association with Japan commencing as a high school student. Chris is the Sector Leader for Film and TV on the JNZBC.
Donald Park - Executive Committee Member; Sector Leader - Food & Beverage Donald is the Group Export Manager at Heinz Wattie’s responsible for Wattie’s exports to the world. Heinz Wattie’s is New Zealand’s largest grocery brand and winner of New Zealand’s most trusted brand (Reader’s Digest 2010). Wattie’s is also one of New Zealand’s largest food exporters with over half of the annual total production shipped to export markets. Donald has spent his career with Heinz, starting as Brand Manager at Heinz Korea in 2000 and then progressing through various roles within the organisation. Donald has a Bachelor of Technology in food from Massey University and a Masters in International Business from Kyung Hee University in Korea. Don is the Co- Leader of the Food & Beverage Sector on the JNZBC.
Craig Pettigrew - Executive Committee Member; Sector Leader - Food & Beverage Craig Pettigrew has been marketing New Zealand and New Zealand products internationally for over 15 years with firsthand experience across a diverse range of channels and business models in Japan and Asia. Craigs focus is on international business development and relationship management to accelerate growth and improve business partnerships. Until recently Craig was based in Japan and is fluent in spoken and written Japanese. Craig is the Co- Leader of the Food & Beverage Sector on the JNZBC.
Stephen Doecke - Executive Committee Member Stephen Doecke is a Commercial Insurance Broker for Crombie Lockwood based in Marlborough. With over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, both here and in Australia, he works work closely with a number companies who export. Stephen Doecke is also involved in business and executive development and is assisting with the development of economic opportunities with Japan for the Marlborough region.
Yoshi Kawamura - Executive Committee Member Yoshihiro Kawamura is Managing Director of TJK NZ Ltd. Yoshihiro has been engaged in asset management of The George Hotel Christchurch, and Clarendon Tower in Christchurch. Yoshihiro graduated from Gakushuin University Tokyo, having majored in Economics and specialized in Business Strategy. After graduating, he entered Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting Company and worked as a consultant until 2003.
Jeanine Begg - Executive Committee Member Jeanine is a graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Master of Arts (NCRE), and BA (Hons) in Political Science and Japanese. She has 8 years’ experience as a public relations advisor to a variety of high-end business clients in NZ and in the UK. Returning to NZ in 2008, Jeanine now works in New Zealand's Parliament. Jeanine's love of Asia began when completing a 12-month AFS student exchange to Oita-Ken, Kyushu. She has since also lived in South Korea and speak both Japanese and Korean. She has travelled extensively to build on these experiences. Jeanine is an active Asia:NZ Foundation Young Leader and works closely with the board of AFS NZ as a returnee. Specialising in International Political Relations and International Law Jeanine's thesis analysed political and economic impacts of stereotyping and misperception in foreign policy decision making. Jeanine is interested in behavioural indicators relevant the success of business proposals within an international context. Jeanine was co-founder of the yJNZBC.
Nic Keating- Executive Committee Member; yJNZBC Chair Nic studied International Business, Management, Japanese and Tourism Management at Victoria and Osaka Universities. His first time in Japan was as a Rotary Scholar to Minoo City and he later returned to Minoo to study at Osaka University. In 2011, he was an Asia:NZ foundation intern at the Japan Rail Kyushu where he studied JR’s operations management. He now works for PwC Consulting in the Process and Operations team and at the Hutt City Council where he manages the Dowse Art Museum in the weekends. After hours he runs a small web-strategy consultancy company, advising small-medium sized business how to get the most about their online portfolio, and mobile device strategies. Nic is Chair of the yJNZBC.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (represented by Gemma Cornelissen) - Executive Committee Member Gemma Cornelissen is a policy officer in the North Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, focusing on New Zealand’s trade and economic relationship with Japan. Prior to joining the Ministry, Gemma completed a Master of Arts in political philosophy at the University of Otago. She also holds a BA (Hons), a law degree and a university diploma in Japanese language. Gemma’s links with Japan were first established in secondary school through a 10-month exchange to Tokyo and she has retained a strong interest in New Zealand’s engagement with Japan since that time.
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (represented by Prashnat Kumar) - Executive Committee Member As the International Market Manager for North East Asia, Prashant represents NZTE teams based in Japan and Korea.