I’m a problem solver, and the world’s food system is a problem.

I’m fuelled by curiosity - a keen observer of trends and challenges shifting and shaping our world. More importantly, I can connect these big-picture insights to the here-and-now: using them as a springboard for new products and services, to develop new markets, or to reconfigure an existing business approach for future needs. I’m a practical dreamer, able to see and convey the vision and the steps needed to bring it to life. Who are our customers? What ‘need’ are we meeting for them? How and when should we grow? What’s holding us back? How do we align our team and stakeholders with our goals? These are the kind of questions I love to ask, answer and act upon. Faced with complex issues and environments, I’m good at helping organisations cut through the ‘noise’ and focus on what’s important to reach a goal.

Taking a new concept or an existing one - especially one related to food systems- and growing it into a sustainable product or business that has a positive impact and is financially viable is my favourite kind of puzzle. By giving people better choices, I see business as a powerful lever for change. But for it to be real and lasting, it needs to go beyond the qualities of the products or services offered. The whole business needs to be sustainable - with the right structure, culture, people and tech in place - and constantly adapting. This is my happy place - making the business engine hum in tune with its purpose.

Relationship-building is at the heart of my business practice. Often we try to do everything or feel we need to know everything but that’s a slow and cumbersome approach. Tapping into a wider knowledge pool or ecosystem can power an incredible step-change. Partnerships, connections and collaborations can help you secure expertise, build credibility, access funding or markets, and scale your impact. They can also open up unexpected opportunities and enhance your resilience.

My governance track record extends from not-for-profit organisations (NZTech; AgriTech NZ) to an NZX-listed company (My Food Bag). I’m not your usual C-Suite graduate - and that’s what makes my perspective valuable. As well as the benefit of my early legal career, I bring a strong customer lens, foresight, and entrepreneurial attitude to board problem-solving and strategies. I understand the board/management dynamic, the structures needed to support good governance, and how governance needs to evolve with an organisation. Whether advising a board from an executive role or acting as a board member, my experience supports leadership that is both visionary, practical and commercially savvy.