Join the Auckland Business Chamber and the Ports of Auckland on Tuesday, 25 July, 2023 to explore key issues of environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility in the global market, and learn how to use sustainability as a competitive advantage in international trade.
As businesses expand their reach globally, there is an increasing need to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. In this session, we’ll explore the key issues around sustainability in the global market, including environmental concerns, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility. We’ll also discuss how some New Zealand products are more sustainable than products produced in other markets. You’ll hear from experts on how to incorporate sustainability into your brand values and use it as a competitive advantage in international trade.
Roger Gray
Chief Executive, Ports of Auckland
Keynote Speaker
Roger Gray is an experienced CEO and business leader with a proven track record of delivering growth and sustained profitability. As the Chief Executive of Ports of Auckland, he is committed to the company’s vision of being a world-class port company known for skilled people, innovation, and sustainable practices. Ports of Auckland provides a wide range of services, including container handling, bulk cargo handling, marine services, intermodal freight hubs, supply chain management services, and facilities to support the cruise ship industry.
As a keynote speaker, Roger brings his wealth of experience and knowledge in business leadership and sustainable practices to the table. His insights on finding the right balance for businesses between People, Planet, and Prosperity are fundamental to his approach to business. Through his collaborative leadership style and passion for sustainability, Roger inspires and motivates audiences to embrace a more sustainable approach to business, driving growth and profitability while also contributing to the greater good of the community and the environment. Attendees of our events will benefit greatly from his valuable contributions and strategies and global experience.
Primary Production, Exports and Sustainability Panel Speakers
Michael Fox
Head of Global Public Affairs, Zespri
Michael Fox is Zespri’s Head of Global Public Affairs whose team has responsibility for Zespri’s global government and international relations, trade, advocacy, policy and regulatory portfolios as well as the community investment and tours and events programmes.
He and his team have responsibility for supporting communities and creating an environment to help the industry fulfil its growth ambitions through positive engagement and advocacy and building the New Zealand kiwifruit industry’s reputation as one which makes a positive impact on communities and stakeholders around the world.
Michael also holds a number of advisory roles including sitting on the New Zealand International Business Forum, the India New Zealand Business Council and Export New Zealand Advisory Board.
Andy Chen
CEO Asia Pacific, Comvita
Andy is an inspiring leader with intrapreneurial spirit & cross-cultural experiences driving 22 years’ successes under GLOCAL environment in retail, consulting, premium manufacturing, and consumer goods, with a few career highlights as improving Walmart Stores Organization Efficiency around $200M savings a year, $1.5Bn M&A integration in China market, and reshaping/restructuring a $800m family business going public in HK, and building a profitable Asia market in just two years for the famous Kiwi sanitary business Methven Ltd.
During pandemic, Andy was attracted to Comvita for their purpose of Working in Harmony with Bees and Nature to Heal and Protect the World; and is now rebranding Comvita across APAC region as a natural and healthy consumer lifestyle advocate, engaging all stakeholders like Ideal SHE and industry associations to localise Harmony Plan to save bees and restore balance wherever Comvita goes.
Nicky Cummerfield
Head of Global Marketing, Silver Fern Farms
Nicky Cummerfield is the Head of Global Marketing for Silver Fern Farms, and her team is responsible for creating and delivering consumer driven strategies to enable Silver Fern Farms plate to pasture strategy globally, and for building a global purpose led brand.
Silver Fern Farms is a market-led food company, supplying nutritious and delicious, sustainably and ethically raised grass-fed red meat and other natural products, from Aotearoa New Zealand to the world. We are deeply connected to the rural communities of New Zealand and connect to a network of over 16,000 farmer suppliers nationwide. We are committed to doing good by nature and creating a nature positive future, enabled by a clear and enduring sustainability action plan.
Tourism and Sustainability Panel Speakers
Franz Mascarenhas
Managing Director, Cordis Auckland
Mr Franz Mascarenhas is the Managing Director of Cordis Auckland, which is part of a collection of 5 star timeless hotels by Langham Hospitality Group.
Mr Mascarenhas has more than 35 years hotel leadership experience with three different global hotel brands in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Auckland. Aside from managing the hotel’s operations since 2013, he also recently oversaw the opening of the new 17-storey Pinnacle Tower making Cordis Auckland the largest hotel in New Zealand. Mr Mascarenhas continues to also oversee Cordis Auckland’s strong sustainability focus resulting in the hotel successfully receiving EarthCheck Master Status in 2022, one of only 15 hotels globally to do so.
Kiri Hannifin
Chief Sustainability Officer, Air New Zealand
Kiri joined Air New Zealand in November 2022 as the Chief Sustainability Officer, a newly created executive position recognising the importance of sustainability across all aspects of Air New Zealand’s operations and the increased focus the airline is placing on addressing its environmental impact. Before joining the airline, Kiri was on the leadership team of Countdown/Woolworths New Zealand where she was responsible for Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, Health and Safety, Quality and Food Safety. Within this role, she spearheaded the company’s programme to reduce emissions, managed the health, safety and wellbeing of the company’s 21,000 staff and led its internal and external stakeholder management activity.
Katherine Sandford
EVP Business Development, UBCO
Katherine Sandford is the EVP Business Development at UBCO. UBCO was founded in 2015 and has sold more than 5000 of its utility electric motorbikes in the US, UK/EU and AU/NZ. Customer applications include conservation, farming, pest control, maintenance/inspection, last mile delivery, commuting and off-road recreation. UBCO won Emerging Company of the Year at the New Zealand HiTech Awards in 2022.
Katherine believes that leadership and applied technology are key to making the world a better place and focuses her work at the intersection of People, Technology and the Environment.
Learn more about the Trade on Toast series
Are you looking to take your business to the next level in the global market? We are excited to announce the Trade on Toast three part event series designed to cover the relevant topics in the world of international trade to ensure that your business stays ahead of the curve. Sponsored by Ports of Auckland and brought to you by Auckland Business Chamber this is an event series you don’t want to miss.
Our lineup of industry experts will provide you with invaluable insights that you can’t afford to miss. With Trade on Toast, you’ll learn about current global market trends and opportunities on the global stage, as well as key strategies for entering and growing your presence in overseas markets, and much more.
Trade on Toast is a three part event series that takes you on an international journey that will help you become stronger on the global stage. From everything from marketing and IP protection to sustainability, logistics, and documentation, this series will provide you with valuable insights and tangible tools to better your international brand.