Our Board

Here at the Nelson Regional Development Agency we are proud of the extraordinary capability of our Board of Directors.

Led by Chair Sarah-Jane Weir, each board member brings with them a wealth of business skills and knowledge to the table, enabling us to identify and maximise on regional development opportunities. Our directors are appointed by Nelson City Council for a term of 1-3 years, ensuring that a culture of fresh thinking and new perspectives is supported and embraced at a strategic level.

Sarah-Jane Weir

Sarah-Jane is Chair of the Nelson Regional Development Agency Board and brings with her a breadth of skills and knowledge from previous roles.

As a professional director, Sarah-Jane is currently a director of Network Tasman, the independent chair of the Nelson Bays Primary Health Organisation, a trustee of the Cawthron Trust Board, a national councillor, and local branch chair of the Institute of Directors. She is also a member of the Financial Advisors Disciplinary Committee.

She and her family live close to Nelson City Centre, where they enjoy access to both the cafes and the city, and the tracks and trails around the Grampians, the Maitai and the Centre of New Zealand.

Bridget Giesen

Bridget has a commercial background, qualifying as an accountant and lawyer, with a wide breadth of knowledge and experience across strategy, corporate finance, Māori investment, organisational development and people leadership.

A former Strategy Manager for Air New Zealand and Corporate Strategy Analyst for Auckland Airport, Bridget is currently Director Manufacturing for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. She is director of the Nelson Regional Development Agency, Puketeraki Limited, Christchurch City Holdings, Wool Impact and Hopkins Farming Group. Bridget also has governance and management experience with entities of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and recently spent 12 months as the Associate Director of Pamu Landcorp.

Bridget lives near Brightwater on their Hop Farm, with her husband Ben, and three boys Oscar, Hugh and Arthur. Originally from Karitāne near Dunedin, she grew up in a rural community with her fishing and farming family.

David Johnston

David is Ngāti Porou, and whānau is his foundation. David has extensive experience in leadership and has a proven track record in CEO Management of Iwi business as well as deep experience in governance, banking and operations management. In the past, he has been runner-up in the Duncan Cotterill Nelson Marlborough Aspiring Directors award and completed the Institute of Directors Mentoring for Diversity Programme.

David’s most recent experience on several governance boards includes recent past Co-Chair of the Kotahitanga mo Te Taiao Alliance, and the Te Tauihu Iwi Charitable Trust set up in response to Covid-19 by the eight Iwi of Te Tauihu. David is the Managing Director for his Business Consulting Company named Kururangi Consulting Ltd.

In his spare time, you can find him on the ocean on board a waka ama.

Dennis Christian

Educated in Nelson, Dennis returned here in 1992. Married with three sons, he has a background in finance, tourism and governance.

After many years with the Bank of New Zealand he resigned in 2001 and owned and operated Flying Kiwi Adventures, a nationwide tour operation until 2020. During lockdown he took the opportunity to retrain and now utilises his skills and experience as a sales person with Bayleys Real Estate.

As well as his role with the NRDA, he chairs the board of the Tahuna Beach Camp Association, is the independent chair for Wilsons Abel Tasman and is a trustee for the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Hugh Morrison

Hugh is Chief Executive of Port Nelson Limited, a port serving the import and export needs of Te Tauihu.

With civil engineering and management qualifications, Hugh has worked in the infrastructure, construction and property sectors for over 30 years. This has allowed him to work in over ten countries and to lead projects valued in the billions and businesses with team sizes of up to 500.

As a passionate outdoors person, Hugh balances the excitement of port life with trips into the mountains and bush that are available in Te Tauihu.

Matthew Peacey

Matthew is the founder of Fintech businesses utilising new tech and machine learning to solve SMEs' cash flow issues in Australia and New Zealand.

Matthew began his career as a scientist with a Doctorate in Virology and Immunology, developing novel virus-like particle vaccines for cancer treatment, followed by roles as a Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator leading the development of novel virus detection.

Through the journey across Science, Finance and Tech, Matt has continued to hone his interests in governance and entrepreneurialism, winning Nelsonian of the year for business. He is also an independent director for the Cawthron Institute and the Tasman Rugby Union.

Sam Ng

Sam Ng is an experienced technology and social entrepreneur with a passion for harnessing technology for social and environmental good. He currently leads teams at the Chief Digital Office at the United Nations Development Programme. He previously started Optimal Experience and Optimal Workshop and various social ventures in educational technology, anti-human trafficking, humanitarian work and impact investing.

His exposure to technology and innovation on a global scale led him to focus on both the risks and opportunities of emerging technologies. Sam is motivated to see the Nelson Tasman region thrive through the strategic and appropriate use of technology.

Our Board

Sarah-Jane Weir

Bridget Giesen

David Johnston

Dennis Christian

Hugh Morrison

Matthew Peacey

Sam Ng

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