MEET TEC CHAIRS

Biography:

John's working life focussed on international trade. He graduated Bachelor Commerce from Victoria University of Wellington, and worked in New Zealand's Trade Commissioner Service in Montreal, Canada, and in Los Angeles, California. In these roles he advised many New Zealand companies on their market entry strategies for the Canadian and US markets.

Following his return to New Zealand, he spent two years administering the trade agreement at that time in force between New Zealand and Australia, before spending four years on secondment as CEO of the Industries Development Commission. The commission was formulating long term strategic plans for the development of selected industries.

In 1985 he transferred to Canberra where he had responsibility for negotiations under the Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER). The newly formed NZ Trade Development Board in 1989 offered him the position of Regional Manager, based in Sydney, with responsibility for its offices in Australia and, subsequently, also the Pacific. After 4 years in this role he returned to Wellington as General Manager (Operations) and was appointed Deputy CEO in 1996, a position he held until his retirement from the organisation in 1999. For a period in 1997 he was Acting CEO, pending a permanent appointment.

From September 1999 until December 2004 John was the Executive Director of the Australia New Zealand Business Council. He has undertaken consulting assignments for a number of clients. In 2000/01 he chaired an industry funded regulatory body overseeing the transition of New Zealand's pip-fruit export industry from a single desk operation to a fully competitive one.

Education and Associations:

John was for several years a member of AEISEC's National Board of Advisers and sat for 9 years on the Members' Liaison Committee at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

Personal:

John is married, with 3 adult children. He enjoys playing golf and watching rugby.