Chair

Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kuia

Jeremy is Deputy Chair on the Wakatū Board and is a previous Associate Director of Wakatū. He is also Chair of Te Pae Pūoro (our Business Technology Steering Committee) and is a director on Te Pae Manatū (our Cultural Board). Jeremy brings significant experience in both software and Māori governance sectors, locally and globally.

Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Rārua

Johnny is a previous Associate Director of Wakatū. He sits on the Audit & Risk and Human Resources Committees, and is a Director on the Kono Board. Johnny was previously the CEO of an international consulting company for 12 years working in Asia, the Middle East-GCC, Pacific and North America for the World Bank & Asian Development Bank on social infrastructure and human capital development major programmes. After working for the Treasury Department Johnny worked for the Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was GM International for NZQA.  

He now sits on the governance board for AgResearch’s National Science Challenge – Our Land and Water (OLW) which aims to enhance New Zealand's primary sector economic contributions while improving our environment. Johnny’s professional qualifications include a Masters in Education Research (with distinction).  He lives in Wellington and is Chief Executive of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand.

Chair

Jo has a background in leadership across a range of primary sectors including agribusiness, wine, food and beverage manufacturing and fast-moving consumer goods. She has worked for privately-owned businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises and global multinationals based in Aotearoa, and has extensive offshore experience in Australia, South Africa, Europe and Asia.

Passionate about the primary food and fibre sectors in Aotearoa, Jo has considerable strategic and commercial marketing experience supporting businesses achieve sustainable value through her expertise supporting company purpose and values development, consumer insight, innovation and branding.

Alongside her consulting and mentoring roles Jo is an independent director on the Pamu (Landcorp Farming Ltd) board, and has been an independent director on the AUT Ventures board.

Ngāi Tahu

Meg has over two decades of working in executive roles within high profile New Zealand companies, with a strong background and experience across marketing, finance, organisational strategy and human resources, along with regional economic development.

Meg’s current governance roles include Chair of the Cawthron Institute, Port Nelson, Nelson Regional Development Agency, Mevo Ltd and a director on the TVNZ board. She has been Chief Executive of World of Wearable Art and has held various management positions at Air New Zealand.

James was the Chief Executive of Tohu Wines for over a decade and has contributed to the recognition and growth of the brand in New Zealand and internationally. James has a background in Human Resource management. He lives in Lower Hutt where he is also a Justice of the Peace.

Tumu Kōkiri o Kono

Chief Operating Officer

Andy is the Chief Operating Officer for Kono NZ. Andy has been a partner at PwC, a large advisory firm, and since 2016 has been working with a range of leaders and leadership teams as an executive coach. In this capacity he has previously supported the Wakatū senior leadership team and the Kono senior management team. Andy has also worked on a number of commercial projects through management and governance roles with businesses in aviation, farming, recycling and waste reduction, on-line retail and nutraceuticals.

Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Wāina

Chief Winemaker

Originally from the Bay of Plenty, Bruce grew up on the beach with a family of scientists, but a love of books and surfing initially drew him to studying History at Waikato University for a Bachelor of Arts. After much travel and a winding career path, Bruce found himself back at University in his 30’s completing a Bachelor of Wine Science.

Extensive travelling and working in wineries around the world eventually ended with a return to Aotearoa in 2006 and a role with Kono as winemaker in 2008. Heading up our vineyard and winery team, Bruce oversees production of all our Kono, Tohu and Aronui wines with a particular passion for terroir driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and of course Sauvignon Blanc. Bruce lives happily in Blenheim with his wife Julie, daughters Eve and Ellie, and a 1970 Valiant coupe

Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Tika

General Manager - TIKA

Simon was born in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) but moved to Nelson in Te Tauihu (the top of the South Island) at a very young age. After gaining a Bachelor of Science majoring in Operations Research from the University of Canterbury, Simon returned to Nelson where he began his career in international sales within the salmon industry.

Simon first joined Kono in 2004 in a Blenheim-based role as Seafood Sales Manager, which included promoting the full range of Kono products internationally.

A change of focus in recent years has seen Simon utilise his university background and he now leads the organisation’s Tika division. This division works across all Kono business units and ensures that strong systems, processes and services mean that all teams are doing things better and doing better things.

Simon continues to use his knowledge of the international seafood industry and manages the lobster operations for Kono.

He is now based in Nelson, where he lives with his partner, Rachel and their three daughters Harper, Milla and Charlie.

Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Whakatairanga

General Manager, Group Sales and Marketing

Marina Hirst Tristram joined Kono in May 2022. Prior to joining Kono, Marina was managing director for her family business, Tasman Bay Food Co., based in Brightwater, Tasman. Growing up surrounded by grapes, boysenberries and feijoas near Māpua was the inspiration for Marina’s love of food and beverages from Te Tauihu.

Marketing and brand development, export market entry, operations and supply chain management along with continuous improvement/lean manufacturing are areas Marina has significant passion, knowledge and know-how, developed over many years in business.

Some highlights of Marina’s career include being awarded a Prime Minister’s Business Scholarship, completing a University of Sydney Global Executive MBA, being a part of EY’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women programme, and launching a Tasman Bay Food Co product, Juicies, into a range of markets including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and recently into over 900 Woolworths in Australia stores during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Kono Ahuwhenua

General Manager, Kono Horticulture

Karla was born and grew up in Motueka, where she lives and works. She has been involved in the horticulture industry for over 15 years, most of that time as part of the Kono Ahuwhenua team.

Appointed as Kaiwhakahaere, Kono Ahuwhenua in 2022, Karla has undertaken most roles on the orchard, from tree trainer to field supervisor, block manager, compliance manager and then pipfruit and kiwifruit manager.

Karla is passionate about sustainability and has a key role supporting Karioi, the regenerative and tikanga-led agriculture programme of Wakatū. You’ll often find her and Darcy at Te Māra o Puanga Kairau, the māra developed to grow ancient crops. Karla was President of Grow NZ Women, a group aimed to support women in horticulture.

Now Karla still supports the industry by mentoring students with their horticultural certificates. Looking after her young son Darcy keeps her fit and on her toes.