Our governance
Meet the board
Cooperative Business NZ is governed by a Board of Directors. This is made up of between four and six directors elected by our Full Members. Our constitution also allows up to two Independent Directors at any time.
The Board is responsible for ensuring good governance of the organisation, setting our strategic plan and ensuring our ongoing sustainability. They meet approximately eight times a year with a mix of in-person and virtual meetings.
The Board comprises some of New Zealand’s highest-performing business leaders with first-rate experience in a wide range of business functions and sectors.
Mike Brown (Chair)
CEO, Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative
Board Member since 2021
Mike is a specialist in the export of food and beverages, beginning his career as a winemaker and working in the primary sector ever since.
An advocate for collaborative activity, Mike has chaired the boards of Zeffer Cider and Pure NZ, and has been a director of several industry organisations.
Nicola Shadbolt
Chair of Plant & Food Crown Research Institute and FMG. Professor, Massey University. Board member since 2021
Nicola brings extensive multi sector experience to the board. She serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the International Food & Agribusiness Association and the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre.
She was an elected member of the Fonterra Board for nine years, served as a Climate Change Commissioner for three years and is Professor of Farm and Agribusiness Management at Massey University. She was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to agribusiness in 2018.
Simon Tucker
Director Global Sustainability, Stakeholder Affairs and Trade, Fonterra Cooperative Group
Board Member since 2022
Simon leads teams responsible for Fonterra’s global trade strategy, its corporate sustainability and environmental partnerships programmes, the company’s relationships with New Zealand and foreign governments, and Fonterra’s industry partners.
He has spent over twelve years in the New Zealand dairy industry including in leadership roles at DairyNZ, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand and with Fonterra Co-operative Group’s US-based business and at its head office in Auckland.
Simon has held a number of governance and advisory roles, including in the areas of economic development, trade, resource management and education.
Garry Diack
CEO, Ravensdown
Board Member since 2023
Garry is an executive with 35 years’ experience in leadership, corporate strategy, business transformation, mergers and integration, and corporate governance.
Garry has previously held the roles of Chair of listed company The Mercer Group (now MHM Automation), Independent Chair of General Cable Superconductors, Director of Tait Communications, Director of SBS, Chair of Southsure Assurance Limited, and Independent Director of ATS (now RuralCo).
He is currently a director of a number of Ravensdown Ltd subsidiaries.
Dan Meiklejohn
Chair, The Independent Optometry Group
Board Member since 2024
Being the Independent Chair of The Independent Optometry Group, brings unique strengths in strategic thinking, building sustainable businesses, business models and culture development.
Dan's strong FMCG perspective and background and his ability to use data and feedback to strengthen relationships will be invaluable to creating future value for our members.
Ashleigh Buchanan
Operations Manager - People Capabilities
Southern Cross Health Society
Board Observer for 2025
As winner of the Cooperative Business NZ’s Emerging Leader of the Year award in 2024, Ashleigh joins the board as an observer for 2025.
She brings experience as co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Southern Cross, and building inclusive workplaces.