Functions and membership of the board
Our Business Advisory Board is made up of 12 to 20 appointed senior leaders from major local, national and international organisations, as well as the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management and Associate Dean Research of WMS.
The Board is a key advisory body that helps ensure the School understands the education and research needs of business.
The Board's purpose is to provide guidance on the School’s strategic direction, discuss new trends in business education, future market positioning of the School, and commercial and funding opportunities. It also acts as a sounding board for any specific proposals that the School is considering, and reviews the impact of recent changes.
Changes in the board membership are important to bring new insights and experiences to discussions of the School’s challenges and opportunities in the dynamic global economic environment.
Please contact the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management if you would like more information about the Business Advisory Board.
Current Business Advisory Board members
Director, Joyce Advisory Limited
Steven Joyce was a senior economic minister in the previous three-term National-led government of New Zealand. Over nine years in the cabinet, he served as Finance Minister, Minister of Economic Development, Minister of Science and Innovation, Minister of Transport, Minister of ICT, and spent seven years as Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment.
During his time in government, he led the economic growth programme, the Ultrafast Broadband fibre to the home rollout, and the country’s biggest highway building programme in decades.
He was also the campaign chief for the National Party's five highest election results under MMP. Prior to entering politics, he was a successful radio entrepreneur — starting his first station, Energy FM, in New Plymouth, and building it up to become RadioWorks, New Zealand's second-largest radio company. He is also a trained zoologist.
Steven now runs his own advisory firm, Joyce Advisory Limited, providing strategic policy and commercial advice across Australia and New Zealand. He conducted the recent Strengthening Skills report on vocational education reform for the Australian Federal Government, and now chairs an expert panel to advise Canberra on the implementation of the reforms.
Steven lives on a lifestyle block north of Auckland, with his young family, assorted ducks, Gemma the Retrodoodle, and Marlow the cat.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Waikato Management School
Matt Bolger became the Pro Vice-Chancellor of WMS in 2020, following an 18-year career at Fonterra where he held a number of senior leadership roles in New Zealand and internationally.
His work ranged from corporate strategy and financial structuring, to managing global sales teams based out of Chicago, to leading teams focused on grassroots environmental and agritech programmes in New Zealand.
In 2022, Matt was appointed Chairman of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, the industry body for New Zealand’s world-leading dairy processing, marketing and exporting organisations.
Managing director, The Hello Period Company
In 2019 Angela became the chief executive officer of the Antipodes Water company working to drive growth through the impacts of covid on hospitality.
As of Feb 2022, Angela has joined The Hello Period Company — a Kiwi startup in the Sustainable Period products industry — as managing director, on their board and as the operations leader.
Angela was previously CEO of Trilogy International Limited, which comprises high-performing consumer brands: Trilogy Natural Products, ECOYA Home Fragrance and Goodness Superfood Skincare, alongside subsidiaries CS&Co Beauty Distribution and Lanocorp Skincare & Bodycare Manufacturing.
Having spent 15 years in the United Kingdom, Angela returned to New Zealand in 2014 and joined Trilogy Natural Products as managing director. Her last role in the United Kingdom was vice president marketing for LF Beauty, part of the global sourcing giant Li & Fung, with a core focus on brand growth and development within the UK, USA and Asia.
Angela's career began in New Zealand after studying a BMS at Waikato University and includes roles with leading FMCG companies Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal and Estée Lauder encompassing strategic leadership, change management, sales, brand marketing, communications, product sourcing, new product development and new market expansion.
Chief financial officer, Just Life Group Limited, Auckland
Tony Falkenstein is founder and chief executive of Just Life Group Limited and a director and shareholder of PureSEO Ltd.
He has been prominent in business education, establishing New Zealand's first Business High School in 2003, as a precursor to "business" becoming a subject in the New Zealand Curriculum.
Tony was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2008, was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2010 and was selected as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Auckland in 2011. In 2012, Tony received a KEA World Class New Zealand Award for New Thinking. In December 2012, Tony was the first New Zealander to be inducted into the international Beta, Gamma Sigma Society, in recognition of his professional achievements.
Chief executive officer, Foster Construction Group, Hamilton
In 2003, Leonard Gardner joined Fosters as a chartered accountant after an eight-year tenure at KPMG, where he complete
d his Bachelor of Business. Leonard's talent and business acumen were quickly recognised and, in 2004, he was appointed to the role of commercial manager. Two years later, Leonard became a director and shareholder at Fosters. For the past two years, Leonard has held the position of CEO for Foster Construction Group.
Leonard's strengths lie in his ability to integrate the worlds of business and community. He is adept at bringing stakeholders together, using communication as a tool to achieve optimal outcomes. Community, family and people are his passions, and Leonard brings a personal touch to all those he collaborates with.
"As part of Fosters, I am blessed with the resources, skills and ability to contribute to the community and this gives me a personal purpose to provide the long-term vision, clarity and direction for the business."
Outside of work, Leonard is married to Denise, and they have three adult sons. Leonard is involved in many community initiatives including a trustee of the Hamilton Gardens Development Trust, and an active member of Gateway Community Church.
Chairman, Priority One, Blue Lab Corporation, Tauranga
Brett is a professional director and consultant. He is an independent director and chairman of Comvita Ltd, independent director and chairman of private company BlueLab Corporation Ltd, independent director of Quayside Holdings Ltd., and chairman of Priority One, Tauranga and Western BOP's economic development agency.
From 2005 to 2015, Brett was the chief executive officer of Comvita. Prior to Comvita, he held a number of senior roles with global packaging firm Tetra Pak. Other former Governance and Advisory board roles include: Derma Sciences Inc., SeaDragon, Enterprise Angels, NZTE's Better by Design Advisory Board and member of the Callaghan Innovation Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Brett has a Bachelor of Food Technology from Massey University, and a Masters of Business Administration from the International Institute for Management Development, Switzerland. He has also completed advanced management programmes at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. Brett is a Member of the Institute of Directors.
Pouhere Māori — Director of Māori strategy, Fonterra, Auckland
Tiaki Hunia joined Fonterra in 2017 and is responsible for progressing the co-operative's strategic Māori commitments and strengthening its bicultural capability and partnerships.
Tiaki has previously held a number of key leadership roles, including at Te Puni Kōkiri, and prior to that, five years as deputy Māori trustee, Te Tumu Paeroa. He has also been involved in numerous governance roles with iwi and industry organisations over the past 10 years, notably Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Iwi Collective partnership (Fisheries sector), Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Māori Investments Ltd and Pūtauaki Trust.
He is an alumni of Stanford University Business School having attended Te Hono — the NZ primary sector bootcamp and has participated and represented Māori economic interests in various deputations to Malaysia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and the US.
Tiaki holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Māori from the University of Auckland. He has previously been admitted as a solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors and the current chairman of the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Inc.
Associate Dean — Strategic Engagement, Waikato Management School, Hamilton
Brad Jackson serves as Professor of Leadership and Governance.
Prior to joining the University, Brad was the Professor of Social Innovation within the Department of Business Strategy and Innovation in the Griffith Business School based Brisbane, Australia. At Victoria University of Wellington, Brad served as the Head of School of Government and the Head of School of Management. At the University of Auckland Business School, he was Co-Director of the New Zealand Leadership Institute and the Fletcher Building Education Trust Chair in Leadership.
Brad is a former co-editor of the journal, Leadership, and the former vice-chair of the Akina Foundation and the International Leadership Association.
Founder and CEO, Enlighten Design, Hamilton
Damon Kelly has a passion for people, business and technology. Immediately after his graduation in 1998, Damon fou
nded Enlighten Designs. Where in Silicon Valley start-ups are created in garages, the New Zealand equivalent of this was Enlighten beginning in a caravan in Damon's backyard.
Damon wanted to create a company that valued creativity, learning and connecting with its customers all while having fun doing it. Enlighten attracted a technically brilliant and client-focused team that would deliver great technology solutions. They do this through collaboration based on discovery and design to craft the right digital experiences, but would also lead and challenge their clients to create the amazing outcomes.
Damon graduated from Waikato University in 1998 with a double major in Psychology and Cognitive Science.
Partner, Deloitte New Zealand, Rotorua
John is a lead partner for mergers, acquisitions and related negotiations with Deloitte in Rotorua, where has lived for
the past 25 years.
John has an extensive leadership background and his current successful partnership is due to building a large team of professionals. He has forged partnerships across all communities — including business, political and local community.
John is an expert in Māori Authorities. I whakapapa to Kati Mamoe (Ngai Tahu) and proficient in tikanga. While he is learning te reo, he is accomplished in marae protocol and presents reports at many AGMs on the Marae throughout Te Arawa. He guides their strategy and strategy implementation.
As well as his role with Deloitte, he holds several community roles, including chair of Rotorua Economic Development. This role aims for strategic recovery of the economy, post covid. He is also on the Board of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce.
John is married to Tess and has two adult children.
Head of people experience, Zespri International Ltd, Tauranga
Angie is a culture transformation leader within organisations, combining a strong commercial focus with a passion for empowering people through culture and purpose.
Angie joined Zespri in 2018 as head of people experience, with a career spanning 15 years in global organisational development and human resource leadership roles. She is driven by the challenge of helping companies to deliver transformational change to achieve purpose-led growth.
Angie's experience includes over eight years with British Telecom in London and Hong Kong, covering both generalised and specialist roles. In Hong Kong, she held a regional role as head of organisation design and effectiveness across Asia Pacific. She returned to New Zealand to join Westpac as organisation development manager, where she led the development of the company's award-winning diversity and inclusion strategy.
Angie and her partner, Bevan, moved to Tauranga in 2017 and are proud parents to two energetic boys. Angie thrives on the opportunity to make an impact on business performance through the value of people and culture strategies. From leadership through to engagement, she is energised by seeing the positive impact that organisations delivering great results have on people and communities.
Head of Manukura Māori business team, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Hamilton
Wayne has over 20 years business and commercial experience with PwC in Advisory and Assurance roles, including four years' experience with PwC based in the UK, and has also worked in several other territories.
Wayne's passions include the education and Māori sectors. Wayne leads the PwC Waikato's Deals team and works with a range of clients to maximise business value and solve business problems. His areas of specialisation include transaction services providing pre- and post- deals support, buy side and sell side due diligence and strategic and business planning.
Wayne is also the National Leader of the PwC Mānukura Māori Business team and is of Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato-Tainui descent. Wayne has a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University and is a member of the Institute of Directors.
In his spare time, Wayne enjoys a variety of sports activities, travelling and precious time with his family.
Principal, Hillcrest High School, Hamilton
Kelvin was appointed principal of Hillcrest High School in 2003, and has been in the teaching service for more than 40 years.
Gaining a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours from the University, Kelvin attended Christchurch Teachers College, before beginning his teaching career at Hillcrest High School in 1981 — teaching Geography, History and Social Studies. He then spent time at Matamata College as HOD History and Social Studies, followed by Howick College as HOF Social Sciences and then assistant principal, and Pakuranga College as deputy principal prior to returning to Hillcrest High School.
Kelvin has been a member of the Secondary School Principals Association Executive on two occasions and is currently a member of the Board of School Sport NZ, as well as chair of the Waikato Secondary Schools Sports Association. He is also a member of the Management Advisory Group for beginning principals.
One of the highlights of Kelvin's career to date has been the awarding of a Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 2009 acknowledging his leadership. Kelvin spent 11 weeks touring the UK, Europe and the US visiting schools and attending Harvard University's Principals' Leadership Programme. Kelvin is married to Karen and they have three adult children, all of whom were educated at Hillcrest High School.
Professor Emeritus, University of Sydney, Australia
Peter Wolnizer is Professor Emeritus at the University of Sydney, where he served as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business from 1999-2010 and Professor of Accounting until his retirement at the end of 2011.
Professor Wolnizer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his service to higher education in business and economics as an academic and administrator.
He has extensive international experience of chairing accreditation reviews of business schools and universities for AACSB International, EQUIS and government agencies. Under his leadership, the faculty was twice accredited by AACSB International and EQUIS, and also chosen as the Australian member of the prestigious CEMS Global Alliance in Management Education.
Prior to returning to the University of Sydney, where he lectured for more than 11 years, Professor Wolnizer served as Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at Deakin University from 1991 to 1998, following his appointment as Foundation Professor of Accounting and Finance in 1989.
He served on the board of directors of AACSB International (2006-2011), the Council of the Association of Asia Pacific Business Schools (2004-2010), and as president of the Australian Business Deans Council (2004-2005). He was a member of Australia's Corporations and Securities Panel 1994-99.
Board purpose
The Waikato Management School Business Advisory Board is a key body that helps ensure the School understands the education and research needs of business.
The Advisory Board provides support, comment and advice to the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management and Management Group of the School on a broad range of current activities and future developments.
Members are normally appointed for a three-year term. This period can be extended by one to two years by agreement with the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management and the School's Executive Team.
The purpose of the Business Advisory Board is to provide an advisory function on:
- strategic direction/decisions
- future market positioning
- business, commercial and funding opportunities
- making a difference
- To provide a forum where new business and business education ideas and trends are identified and their relevance debated.
- To provide input to the School on how curriculum and academic research will best meet current and future needs of business and identify areas for improvement and development.
- To provide input into funding for research, new facilities and other activities that members would like to see the School pursue.
- To act as a sounding board for specific proposals that School is considering.
- To review executive education programmes including the MBA and provide input on their strategic development.
- Review changes that have been implemented in relation to programmes, strategic development and the School's strategy.
- The Chairperson will be nominated and appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management after consultation with the Business Advisory Board, with reference to the following:
- The Chairperson should not be a Waikato Management School employee
- It is desirable that the Chairperson be local
- An annual process of appointment will enable rotation of this key role
- Re-appointment of a Chairperson for another term may be considered by the Pro Vice-Chancellor - Management in some situations
The Chairperson's role is to:
- Review agenda items prior to meetings
- Manage the flow of meetings and discussion
- Ensure equal opportunity to speak and be heard
- Review and confirm meeting minutes prior to distribution
- Follow up on any changes implemented by the School
In the event that the Chairperson is unable to perform any of the above duties, the Chairperson should nominate a suitable replacement.
The Secretary for the Business Advisory Board will be appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management.
Key responsibilities of this role are:
- Coordinate and arrange board meetings
- Liaise with Board members on meeting dates and travel details
- Distribute minutes and agenda to board members
Minutes for Board meetings are taken by the WMS Academic Unit's Committee Secretary, who will be in attendance at the meeting.
Business Advisory Board meetings are to be convened twice per year and will generally take an afternoon.
Special meetings, in addition to the two required meetings, may be arranged at the request of either the Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management or Chair of the Business Advisory Board.
New members will be nominated by the Waikato Management School Executive Team.
Guidelines to consider when seeking new members:
- WMS Alumni (target 25%)
- Proportional mix between local, national and international members
- Values match with WMS values and ethos
- Business management experience
- Needs of the Board in respect of skills/experience
- Individual or organisation relationship with WMS
- WMS Strategy
Recommendations to amend the Charter can be made by any member of the Business Advisory Board to the following people:
- The Chairperson
- Pro Vice-Chancellor — Management
Recommendations will be considered by the Waikato Management School Executive Team.
Enquiries
If you would like any further information about the Business Advisory Board, please contact us.