Board Members

Barry O'Neil

President and Chairman of Directors

Roles in industry:

• Chair Tomatoes NZ
• Chair Kauri die back independent review panel
• Director, Scion Research 
• Member Food and Fibre Leaders forum
• Member Fit for a Better World establishment group

Business:

• Director of Keronlea Limited
• Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower

Study:

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science (with distinction) from Massey University

Awards:

• Recipient of the Massey University Distinguished Achievement Award
• OIE Gold medal and honorary President

Bernadine Guilleux

Vice-President and Director

Roles in industry:

• Marketing manager, Balle Bros

Career Highlights:

• Developing a FMCG product with true grower provenance 
• Working with a government organisation on marketing initiatives in fresh produce
• Lobbying on behalf of Japanese car manufacturers on the European Union’s impending environmental laws
• Consumer insight consulting in various sectors across Europe

Study:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Business (Auckland University of Technology)

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology (Rene Descartes, Paris V University, France)

• Post Graduate Diploma in Management,(ESSCA Business School, Hungary and France)

• Master’s degree in Strategic Marketing and Communication (University Sciences Po Paris, France)

Tony Howey

Director

Roles in industry/community:

• Orari-Opihi-Pareora (OOP) Zone Committee representative, Environment Canterbury
• South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (president)

Business:

• Vegetable and berryfruit grower, Canterbury
• Director, Southern Packers
• Director, Seedlands
• Director, Grainstor
• Director, Farmers Mill
• Director, Ravensdown
• Director, Ruralco
• Director, Level Plains Irrigation Co
• Director, Opuha Water

Study:

• Bachelor of Commerce, Agriculture
• Nuffield Scholarship
• Agmardt FAME Scholarship

Awards:

• Lincoln University Farmer of the Year 
• FMG Rural Excellence Award

Hugh Ritchie

Director

Roles in industry:

• Chairman / Eastern North Island representative for Foundation for Arable Research (FAR)
• Director /  Chairman of Strategic Research Committee, FAR
• Board Member, Process Vegetables NZ
• Advisory Board member, Waterways
• Director, CHB Water Holdings 
• Executive Committee member, Federated Farmers - Hawke's Bay

Business:

• Managing Director, Drumpeel Farms

Mike Smith

Director

Roles in industry:

• Forum Member, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated
• Advisory Forum Member, EastPack Entity Trust
• Member, Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower Committee
• Trustee, AgRecovery Foundation

Business:

• Shareholder/Manager, Welcome Bay Farms Ltd
• Director/Manager, Net-Man ltd: Kiwifruit Management Company
• Shareholder, Zespri Group Ltd
• Shareholder, EastPack Ltd

Brydon Nisbet

Associate Director

Roles in industry:

• Horticulture Tutor at Eastern Institute of Technology
• Executive Board Member, Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers Association
• Board Director, Rockit Apple Growers Trust

Business:

• Owner / Director Global Harvest Limited

Background:

• Production & Operational Orchard Management
• Organic Horticulture and Fruit Production
• Consultancy - Compliance (GGAP) requirements
• NZ Local Market sales, NZ Food shows
• Various training in Management, Human Resources and Leadership Development programmes. 

Kathryn de Bruin

Director

Business:

• Principal - de Bruin Chartered Accountants Ltd
• Director - AJ & KL de Bruin Ltd

Study:

• Fellow Chartered Accountant and Certificate of Public Practice
• Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University
• Escalator Programme Graduate, Agri-Women’s Development Trust 

Dr Bruce Campbell

Director

Roles in industry:

• Director, New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre Limited
• Chair, Northland Horticulture Careers Progression Governance Group

Business:

• Principal, Dr Bruce Campbell Consultants Limited

Study:

• Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons, 1st Class) from Massey University
• Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Sheffield

Awards:

• 2017 Prime Minister’s Science Prize, for helping the New Zealand kiwifruit industry claw its way back from the brink of destruction after the discovery of a vine-killing disease
• 2017 Horticulture New Zealand Industry Service Award, for ensuring research promotes growth and supports New Zealand’s premium position in international markets
• 2016 Thomson Medal, Royal Society of New Zealand for outstanding leadership of agricultural and horticultural science
• 2014 Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science

Murray Denyer

Director

Roles in Industry:

• Director and Shareholder, Rockit Global Limited
• Shareholder and Consultant, Hop Revolution Limited

Business:

• Consultant, Cooney Lees Morgan
• Member, Enterprise Angels Tauranga
• Investor, Rockit Orchard Limited Partnership and Rockit Orchard No.2 Limited Partnership

Background:

• Partner, Cooney Lees Morgan
• General Counsel, Zespri Group Limited
• New Zealand diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Study:

• Bachelor of Laws, University of Auckland
• Bachelor of Commerce, University of Auckland

Awards:

• Service to Export Award, 2019 Bay of Plenty Export Awards

Kate Trufitt

Director

Roles in industry:

• Group Compliance, Safety and Sustainability Manager Apata Group
• Chair Kiwifruit Industry Health and Safety Forum
• Member NZ Avocado Packers Forum
• Chair New Zealand Horticulture Health and Safety Council
• Member NZ GAP Committee

Background:

• Health and Safety Leadership
• Food Safety Compliance
• Global Gap and NZ Gap Expertise
• Market and Export Logistics
• Various training in Management, Human Resources and Leadership Programmes