Our Boards
& Management

Charlotte Parkhill, a partner at Kensington Swan, was appointed Chair of the Auckland Chamber Board in May 2020.

Charlotte specialises in employment law as well as acting for a variety of national and international companies, and has a particular interest in the transport, construction and retail sectors.

She provides advice on all areas of employment law, including personal grievances, restraints of trade, restructures and issues involving the Holidays Act.

She has significant advocacy experience and specialist expertise in carrying out employment investigations into matters such as fraud, bullying, harassment and theft.

Charlotte also regularly presents on employment law topics to industry bodies and at national conferences.

Managing Director of Direct Capital, New Zealand’s leading private equity fund which has invested in over 70 companies in New Zealand and Australia.

Ross has been involved in the private equity and venture capital industry in Asia, Australia and New Zealand since 1987 and played a key role in establishing the private equity industry in New Zealand. Ross is currently a director of Bayleys, Beca and Mondiale VGL.

Chris Carr is the fifth generation to run Carr & Haslam, which was founded in 1862.

Like many companies of multiple generations, Carr and Haslam has survived by adapting. In the late 1800s it transported goods for the Nathan Family, later Lion Breweries, and products such as Choysa tea and Nestle coffee beans.

When shipping containers arrived in the early 1970s, Carr and Haslam established a container fleet with swing lifts, skeleton and flat deck trailer combinations for operations throughout the North Island. It exited the container business in 2017 and has since been an early adapter of technologies as they emerge.

Chris is a long-standing board member and is also a member of the Auckland Business Forum and a former director of Rally NZ.

Fred Hellaby has been a Director of the Auckland Chamber since 1997. He was appointed to the Chairmanship in March 2011.

Fred is the Managing Director of Wilson Hellaby Limited which includes Auckland Meat Processors Ltd and PVL Proteins Ltd. Wilson Hellaby sources selected livestock from farmers, and delivering PRIME beef, lamb and pork to customers throughout New Zealand and around the world. Auckland Meat Processors and Ruakura Meat Processors undertake the processing operations of the group. PVL Proteins processes and sells rendering products such as tallows and meat + bone meal with the aim of maximising the value from all parts of the animal.

Fred has been an MIA Council member since February 2009. Fred holds an LLB from Canterbury University.

Peter Thompson is the Managing Director of Barfoot & Thompson. Peter started out in 1981 in the rental division at the Otahuhu branch and continued to move through several positions in the firm including sales, administration and management. He was made a Director in 1997, and ultimately became Managing Director in 2005.

Peter has held several directorships over the years, including being on the Board of Auckland Rugby, and still is a current Board Member of realestate.co.nz. He was awarded Life Membership of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand in 2011 and was made a Life Member of Auckland Rugby in December 2017.

Rakesh is the Group General Manager of the Nauhria Group, a fully owned and operated family business and is one of the leaders in the supply and manufacturing industry in New Zealand.

Rakesh established and chaired the Reinforcing Steel Association of NZ and supports and consults with Government initiated research projects and testing programs.

Rakesh has led his team and Company to win several prestigious awards including the 2015 Excellence Awards, Best of the Best Supreme Awards (Westpac Business Awards).

Mikes background has seen him lead New Zealand tech companies as CEO and set up offices around the world, taking our leading technology into many countries and business sectors.

Mike has experience in strategic management, corporate company restructures, international sales and marketing, retail, franchise and industrial markets.

With experience leading four multi-million-dollar operations, Mike has a successful record in taking these businesses from conception to profitable operations.

Mike completed his directorship qualifications in 2014 and currently sits on three boards. He is also a Company Director at Leaderkit which it is an online strategy development tool that allows CEO's, Owners and Senior Executives to develop, plan and execute strategy with their teams, allowing ownership, alignment, accountability and full transparency across the core team.

Jenny is a tax partner at Deloitte and a member of the Deloitte NZ board.

She has been with Deloitte for over 20 years and has worked with many large corporate and fast growing private businesses. She has experiences across a wide range of industries, including farming, forestry, dairy and food manufacturing, property development/investment, and financial services. Jenny leads Deloitte NZ’s Chinese Services Group and is well connected to the Chinese business community.

Jenny was also a member of the AUT business school advisory board between 2019 and 2021.

Being a woman and an ethnic minority she contributes regularly from a D&I perspective, within and outside work.

Simon is the CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, Chair of Waka Kotahi NZTA, and a non-executive chair and director on a number of company boards and works in a range of sectors.

Simon Bridges was the National MP for Tauranga and is a former New Zealand Leader of the Opposition and senior Cabinet Minister. As a member of Cabinet in the last National-led Government, he held several ministerial portfolios including Energy, Transport, Communications, Economic Development and Leader of the House. During his tenure as a Minister, Simon helped roll-out nation-building infrastructure like Ultra-Fast Broadband, and opened major new roads like the Waterview Tunnel as Transport Minister.

Prior to standing for Parliament, Simon was a litigation lawyer at prestigious law firm Kensington Swan in Auckland. He then moved to Tauranga in 2001, taking on the role of a senior Crown Prosecutor in the District and High Courts.

John has held senior finance roles for the past 35 years, 18 of which have been with the Chamber. His finance responsibilities include financial reporting, budgeting, audits, banking, and cash flow management for the Chamber, as well as accounting for several international business councils and New Zealand Chambers. Other areas of responsibility include payroll, debtors, insurance, building management, and IT systems.

Leah leads the Auckland Business Chamber’s Employment division, which has assisted 28,000 people transition into work over her 20-year career. A respected expert in youth employability, Leah and her team connects job seekers and employers, supporting youth, migrants, Māori & Pacific peoples, and those with disabilities.

Under her leadership, Chamber Drive has become Auckland’s largest driver licence training provider, addressing transport barriers to employment. Previously, Leah owned a tech PTE and a web development SME. Raised in the Pacific Islands, she has a deep connection to Pacific communities and a lifelong mission to empower people through meaningful employment.

Nicholas Soedjanto is the International Manager and the New Zealand Export Documentation Coordinator. He manages the processing of export documents, provides advice on trade compliance, implements free trade agreements and provides regular updates in the international trade to clients.

Nicholas serves as an advisor to the World Bank through their flagship B-Ready report as one of five subject matter experts in trade in goods for New Zealand, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) through its Regional Private Sector Group, and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on the Certificate of Origin Council. Nicholas specialises in Rules of Origin and Operational Procedures, contributing to ICC and WCO working groups to align them across trade agreements and economies.

Yvette Hellyer is the Partnerships Manager and has been with the Auckland Business Chamber since 2015.

Yvette's role with the Chamber includes managing the Alliance Partners nationwide, Chamber Mentor Programme, RBP Programme and First Steps.

She is passionate about business, and having owned her own business, understands the pressures and challenges SMEs face.

Jian grew up and obtained his first MA in China. He received his second MA and PhD in International Relations from the Australian National University in 1994 to 1999 respectively.

Jian taught International Relations at the University of Auckland from 1999 to 2011. While at the University, he also served as Chair of the Auckland Branch of New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Director of China Studies Centre at the New Zealand Asia Institute. Jian was a frequent commentator of international affairs.

In November 2011, Jian became a Member of Parliament and served for three terms till October 2020.

While at Parliament, Jian chaired the Education and Science Select Committee and the Governance and Administration Select Committee. He was also Deputy Chair of the Health Select Committee, Parliamentary Secretary for Minister of Ethnic Communities, National Party Spokesperson for Statistics and Deputy Spokesperson for ethnic communities. Jian also sat on the Commerce Select Committee, Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Select Committee, Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee.

After his retirement from politics, Jian set up DY Consulting (NZ) Limited. He also established the New Zealand Chinese Business Club and the Federation of New Zealand Chinese Business Associations. Jian currently chairs both the Club and the Federation.

Alex Zhang is the CEO and Principal Adviser at Chance Immigration and Education, an agency recognized by Education New Zealand (ENZ) and regulated by the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA).

Alex has been a licensed Immigration Adviser since 2010 and specialises in providing immigration and education advice to clients and international students both onshore and offshore. Prior to this, he had worked at senior management level in different private training establishments offering courses to international students.

Apart from his own business, Alex has also been actively involved in promoting business and cultural exchanges between New Zealand and China.

He currently serves as the Chairman and President at the Federation of New Zealand Shenzhen Societies, as well as the Executive President at the Canton Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. He is also a Board Member of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA) and the Executive Member of New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA).

Alex completed his Bachelor of Arts in China and MBA at Massey University in 2004.

Iresh is the President of the Sri Lanka Business Association in New Zealand and a dedicated member of the Auckland community. In addition to his role as President, he is also a board member of the Asian Advisory Council at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and an active member of the Auckland Chamber.

As the owner of Harcourts Ignite Realty and a director of several companies, Iresh brings extensive leadership experience and entrepreneurial spirit to everything he does.

Iresh is originally from Sri Lanka, he has called New Zealand home for over 16 years. His passion for both business and community has driven him to become an influential figure in Auckland’s business landscape. He is deeply committed to fostering strong ties within the local community and to helping bridge the gap between diverse cultural groups and the business world.

Through his work with the Sri Lanka Business Association and the Asian Advisory Council, Iresh actively contributes to the success of minority-owned businesses in Auckland. His involvement in these organizations demonstrates his dedication to promoting economic growth and supporting local entrepreneurs.

Iresh’s influence also extends to the political sphere, where his active participation in local initiatives and relationships with political leaders helps to shape policies that benefit the community. His voice is a key one in ensuring that the interests of both the Sri Lankan community and the broader Asian community are well-represented.

Iresh’s primary business is real estate, where he has developed a strong understanding of Auckland’s property landscape, including lifestyle properties. With more than seven years of experience and a history of success, Iresh has established himself as an award-winning real estate sales agent and a respected director of Harcourts Ignite Realty.

Iresh’s achievements in real estate have earned him numerous awards, recognising his dedication and outstanding performance in the field. These accolades are a testament to his work ethic and his focus on delivering exceptional results for his clients.

For Iresh, real estate is more than just transactions—it’s about building meaningful relationships and becoming a trusted resource for the residents and property owners of Auckland. His active involvement in community events and initiatives has helped foster long-lasting connections with his clients and colleagues, contributing to his reputation as a trusted advisor in both business and community matters.

Eng Wan Tan has over 28 years of leading his team at an international construction level, including public housing and luxury apartments in Singapore, and five-star hotel projects in Qatar and the UAE.

He had helped to establish various interior design companies in New Zealand on behalf of Singaporean owners. He had recently established Wanderful Projects Limited and Nexus DP Limited focusing on residential and commercial renovation, retrofitting, solar, project management, and interior design projects.

As the President of SBANZ, his vision is to strengthen Singapore-New Zealand business ties through trade, investment, and cultural exchange initiatives. He emphasizes networking, sustainability, and technological innovation, aiming to make SBANZ a cornerstone of economic prosperity for both nations.

In the year 2000, Dinesh Khadka embarked on a formidable journey, leaving his homeland in Nepal to establish a new life in New Zealand. This pivotal decision was driven by an unwavering determination to create fresh opportunities for both himself and his family. Since that momentous transition, he has actively engaged in a diverse array of projects and community initiatives. His overarching mission has consistently revolved around fostering deep connections within the Nepalese community of New Zealand, elevating its prominence, and spotlighting the profound socio-cultural ties that bind New Zealand and Nepal.

As a self-employed entrepreneur, Dinesh proudly serves as the Director of Eagle Eye Limited, a company now recognised as a Living Wage Accredited Employer. The journey of building a business from the ground up has imparted invaluable lessons and acquainted him with the nuances of the real world, underscoring the importance of resilience in the face of challenges. He has been fortunate to engage with a diverse array of individuals, interactions that have left a mark and helped shape his identity.

His dedication to community service and advocacy has manifested through his tenure as the past President of the New Zealand Nepal Society and the New Zealand Nepal Chamber of Commerce Inc. In these roles, Dinesh had the privilege of collaborating with numerous community leaders who shared his unwavering commitment to a shared vision. This spirit of service was further accentuated when he undertook the role of an accredited Justice of the Peace, with the intent of extending assistance to various community groups.

This avenue of engagement has allowed him to cultivate robust bonds and significantly support and strengthen the Nepalese community in Auckland and across New Zealand. Furthermore, in recognition of his continued dedication to fostering ties between Nepal and New Zealand, Dinesh has assumed the prestigious role of Honorary Consul of Nepal to Auckland, New Zealand, since July 2022. This esteemed position underscores his unwavering commitment to furthering diplomatic and cultural connections between the two nations.

Ziena Jalil is an award-winning business and public sector leader, focused on deepening New Zealand’s engagement with the Asia Pacific, and improving outcomes for those with diverse cultures, abilities and experiences. She holds governance roles with the Natural Hazards Commission and Education New Zealand, and is Chief of Staff at Te Pūkenga.

Recognised by Campaign Asia Pacific as part of its 2020 Women to Watch, a group of 40 outstanding women in the Asia Pacific, Ziena is a keynote speaker on leadership, Asia business, international education, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

She has received several international awards for her work promoting New Zealand trade and education in Asia, where she was based for ten years as Regional Director (South and Southeast Asia) for Education New Zealand, New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Singapore, and Head of North Asia Marketing and Communications for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

With over 30 years of legal experience, Dave Ananth is a distinguished Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, with additional accreditation as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaysia. As a former Magistrate and Director of Ernst & Young, Malaysia, Dave boasts extensive networks throughout Asia and other overseas jurisdictions. Dave is also former Prosecutor with Inland Revenue based in Manukau, New Zealand.

Specializing in the highly complex field of taxation, Dave serves as the Special Counsel for Stace Hammond Lawyers and acts as an advisor to local companies wanting to expand their business in Asia and the Middle East.

Holding the position of President at the NZ Malaysia Business Association (NZMBA) based in Auckland, Dave oversees a spectrum of activities, including facilitating interaction and networking among Malaysians within the society and fostering connections with the wider business community in New Zealand.

His responsibilities also encompass promoting bilateral trade and networking initiatives between Malaysia, ASEAN, the Middle East, and New Zealand-based businesses, as well as strengthening government and ambassadorial relationships. Additionally, as an advocate for entrepreneurship, he assists NZMBA members in diverse business areas, offering guidance in start-ups, investments, legal matters, finance, immigration, and taxation.

Raveen is a dedicated infrastructure leader, with close to 40 years of experience in the water environment and infrastructure.

He is on the boards of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai, Auckland Transport and Corde Limited. He is a past director of Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited, Water Services Association of Australia, The Committee for Auckland and Wellington Water Limited.

He has held chief executive and senior roles in private and public sectors in Australia and in New Zealand. Until November 2020, he was Chief Executive of Watercare Services Limited. He has extensive experience in transforming organisations, creating customer value and contributing to community outcomes.

Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (1st Class) from BUET (1980) and has completed 6 out of 8 core papers for his Master’s in Civil Engineering at the University of Auckland. He is a Bangladeshi citizen by birth and became a New Zealand citizen in 1998. Since 2016, he has served as the Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in New Zealand (excluding Wellington).

Shafiqur’s career includes roles as an Assistant Engineer at the Public Works Department in Dhaka (1981-1985), Senior Civil Engineer in Oman (1985-1994), Senior Design Engineer at DDC in Dhaka (1995-1998), Assets Engineer with Manukau City Council in New Zealand (2003-2010), Development Engineer at Watercare (2010), and Senior Network Engineer in Oman (2010-2013). He is a Graduate Member of IPENZ and a Life Fellow of IEB in Bangladesh.

He is the Founder President of Abahani Samarthak Gosthi (1980-1982) and the Bangabandhu Parishad in New Zealand (1999-2008, 2013-2016). Shafiqur has also held leadership positions in the IEB, including Chairman of the Oman Chapter (2011) and the NZ Chapter (2020). He has served two terms as Vice President of the Bangladesh Association New Zealand Inc. (BANZI) and was the General Secretary from 2000 to 2002.

Nick Siu is an entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in a breadth of business and commercial structures after graduating from Auckland University with a BCom / LLB with the Scholarship Prize in Marketing and starting his career with a national law firm.

Nick has founded and successfully exited several businesses, from forestry innovation, TV production & hospitality and has won 5 global awards for product innovation and brand development. Most recently he exited an advertising agency with offices in NZ & Australia with clients such as BMW, Foodstuffs, IAG, Panasonic, and others; and two FMCG companies - one in alternative dairy sold in over 2500 stores in the USA, and featured on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon & Good Morning USA; and the other in vegetable proteins and agricultural science for the Japan and Korean market, which he still has interests in.

Nick is also a director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and serves on the board of the ASEAN NZ Business Council.

Garry is the Director for Strategic programmes in the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. He works along with the national team to deliver key events & programmes that align with the strategic goals of the ministry.

Prior to this, Garry has vast experience of over 15 years, working in New Zealand, in the community and business space. Garry is a marketing and communications professional and an entrepreneur, with experience in media, marketing, management & strategy.

He has been the Secretary of the India New Zealand Business Council, from 2013 to July 2024 and was key in running operations of the Council and growing the organisation strategically through it’s events, marketing, communications, reports and publications.

He also founded the Migrant Careers Support Trust, in 2019. A non-profit charitable trust which aims to achieve social equity, inclusion and social cohesion by better economic integration of people from the ethnic communities, in the New Zealand society.

A migrant from India, Garry came to New Zealand in 2009 and started his career in the film industry. He moved to marketing and growth of some big community media brands in Auckland, covering radio, print and digital media. Prior to coming to New Zealand, he had 10 years’ experience as an executive producer in films, television and broadcast news.

Dahee Sohn is the Executive Director of the Korea New Zealand Business Council (KNZBC), based in Auckland. With a strong background in international sales and process improvement, she is dedicated to fostering trade relations and business growth between South Korea and New Zealand.

Her expertise lies in implementing international sales strategies and managing complex manufacturing projects. She currently serves as the Sales Operations Manager at Sistema Plastics, an iconic New Zealand kitchen and home storage manufacturer that is part of Newell Brands. In this role, Dahee has been instrumental in bridging operations and sales across multiple regions, including ANZ, EMEA, the US, and Asia, with a particular focus on South Korea and Japan.

Prior to her role at Sistema, Dahee successfully managed projects and client relations for ExportNav, where she helped several New Zealand brands with exporting and brand building in the South Korean market.

She completed her BCom in Marketing and Management from Victoria University of Wellington in 2019 and has experience across various industries, including international education at Education New Zealand, packaging distribution, branding and marketing, and global hospitality and event management in 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Always eager to take on new challenges and build communities, Dahee excels at staying ahead of global market trends and fostering connections.

Aya Riola is the incumbent General Manager of the LexisNexis New Zealand business responsible for transforming and executing on business-critical strategies, programs, and objectives to promote and ensure LexisNexis New Zealand’s continuing success and growth. Aya brings decades of extensive leadership experience and a unique cultural perspective to the legal tech company’s customer-focused approach. Aya Riola adds to the LexisNexis leadership diversity as the first Filipino to lead the New Zealand business, and he shares that it was the company’s Rule of Law focus that drew him to the brand promise – a commitment that he sees as world-changing.

An accomplished Executive Leader with over 24 years of extensive experience in general management and commercial business, known for his people-centric focus in driving strategic growth, operational excellence and revenue optimization. Demonstrates a proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, optimizing business processes, and enhancing profitability. Highly skilled in developing and executing business strategies that align with organizational goals, fostering innovation, and building sustainable competitive advantages. Committed to cultivating a high-performance culture and empowering teams to achieve exceptional business outcomes.