speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Tana Umaga ONZM
Tana Umaga has a wealth of experience as a player and a coach and has garnered huge respect across the rugby landscape for his contribution to All Black rugby and the global game.
All Black number 961, Umaga started his playing career out of Petone, Wellington, and went on to make 122 Super Rugby appearances for the Hurricanes. After just one year with the Hurricanes, he was selected for the All Blacks, and amassed 74 test caps in eight years. Umaga was also the first person of Pacific Island descent to Captain the All Blacks, leading them 22 times.
Umaga began his coaching career in Toulon winning promotion to the 1st Division Competition. He returned to New Zealand to coach Counties Manukau winning the Championship Division and promotion to the Premiership, and also winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time. Umaga was Head Coach of The Blues from 2016 to 2018 and Defence Coach until 2021. His international assistant coaching experience includes the New Zealand U20s in 2015, and he has been with the Manu Samoa since 2021. He is now the Head Coach of Moana Pasifika.
Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance, Deputy Leader National Party
Nicola Willis is the Minister of Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Social Investment and Associate Minister of Climate Change. Prior to becoming an MP, Nicola held a number of senior management roles at New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra. She also served on the boards of Export NZ and policy think-tank the New Zealand Initiative. Nicola was a senior advisor to Prime Minister John Key during his first term in Government, having previously worked for the National Party in Opposition. She is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington with a first-class Honours degree in English literature.
Hon Andrew Bayly
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Minister for Small
Business and Manufacturing, and Minister of Statistics
Andrew Bayly was first elected to Parliament in 2014 to represent the then-seat of Hunua, now Port Waikato. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University and qualified as a chartered accountant. He worked for the Southpac corporate finance team in New Zealand before transferring to London where he worked for a number of years. After returning to New Zealand, he co-founded a merchant bank, Cranleigh. Andrew served for nine years as a member of Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure select committee and was also the Co-Chair of the Middle East/Africa Parliamentary Friendship Group and Co-Chair of the Antarctic Parliamentary Group, which he established in 2019.
Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard
Juliet trained at Oxford University and moved to New Zealand in 1993 where her career has included roles in both Crown Research Institutes and universities. She is currently a Professor at the University of Auckland. Juliet’s research background is broad and interdisciplinary, with particular interests in fundamental and applied protein science. She has held an Industry and Outreach Fellowship with Callaghan Innovation, founded a start-up company, chaired the Marsden Council, served on the Board of Directors of Plant and Food Research, and is currently on the Board of Te Papa and the New Zealand Food Waste Champions.
From 2018-2024, Juliet served as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. She supported the science and science advisor community to provide advice to the PM, ministers, and the public on a wide range of topics, including advice on the Christchurch mosque shootings, the response to the Whakaari | White Island eruption, the cannabis referendum, rheumatic fever and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Office released a collection of major reports across a broad range of topics (https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/what-we-do/publications/), including a series on food loss and waste.
Spencer Sonn
Managing Director Woolworths New Zealand
Spencer’s 25-year career in grocery started with a store management graduate programme in his native South Africa. He then progressed through a variety of roles within operations and buying, eventually becoming the Managing Director Food for Woolworths South Africa, before joining Woolworths NZ in 2021.
Pieter de Wet
Commercial Director of Fresh and FoodCo
Pieter has over 20 years of experience in retail. Before joining Woolworths NZ in 2021, he held senior commercial roles at Woolworths South Africa and established the David Jones food business in Australia. In his current role, Pieter is responsible for leading our fresh food and Own Brand teams.
Sarah Salmond
Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Within a broad public and regulatory practice, Sarah specialises in advising clients on the laws governing the food, healthcare, technology, industrial products and consumer goods sectors. She also focuses on helping clients navigate all aspects of government decision-making, regulatory investigations, international trade and financial sanctions. She was named on NZ Lawyer's Elite Women List 2023. Recognised for Public Law, and her team is ranked Band 1 for Public Law by Chambers Asia Pacific 2024. She is also personally ranked for Government Practice and Public Law by the Best Lawyers™ in New Zealand.
Craig Houliston
Regional Executive Director, Analytics & Insights APAC,
Singapore, NielsenIQ
Craig has been at NielsenIQ for 16 years and started his career with NielsenIQ UK in 2008, now based in Asia. Craig was based in China where he led NielsenIQ’s relationship with some of the world’s biggest manufacturers. Craig drives regional thought leadership and brings breakthrough insights to the industry. In 2024 he led NielsenIQ to be awarded NVPC’s highest accolade, the Champion of Good recognition. Craig has a Management degree from Aston University and, in 2022, completed the Oxford University Artificial Intelligence Program.
Mary Devine
CEO Foodstuffs South Island
An experienced chief executive with a background in large scale organisations, Mary Devine first joined Foodstuffs South Island as a Director in 2018. Mary was appointed to her current role as Chief Executive Foodstuffs South Island in November 2021, officially taking the reins in January 2022.
Mary has a demonstrated history of strong commercial acumen, expertise in strategy and transformation, and a particular passion for retail. Her career features a broad range of experience across multiple retail sectors, with previous roles including Managing Director of Hallenstein Glassons, Managing Director of Ballantynes, and CEO of EziBuy.
Mary has held Directorships at numerous listed and private companies including Foodstuffs New Zealand, Meridian Energy, IAG New Zealand, Christchurch City Holdings, and the Briscoe Group.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing from the University of Otago and an MBA from the University of Canterbury. In 2013 Mary received an Honorary Queens award of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to business.
Chris Quin
CEO Foodstuffs North Island
Chris joined Foodstuffs North Island as CEO in September 2015 with 28 years’ experience in leadership roles. He now works with the Foodstuffs co-operative team as Managing Director of Foodstuffs New Zealand leading its 400+ store owner network and is driven by a firm commitment to organisational success being fuelled by customer insight.
Prior to joining Foodstuffs Chris was CEO of the Home, Business and Mobile division of Spark NZ (previously Telecom NZ). Before to that he formed the successful IT services business Gen-I within Telecom by merging three businesses. In 2010, he received a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for his leadership achievements and contribution to the community, which included being Chair of The Icehouse business growth organisation.
Chris is currently a Director on the Boards of Loyalty NZ, The NZ Initiative, and Chair of the Giltrap Group. Chris has a Bachelor of Commerce and Accounting from Victoria University and completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business executive programme.
Ian Walsh
Partner, Argon & Co
Ian is NZ’s foremost expert in designing and implementing transformational improvement programmes. He has been leading the drive to make NZ industries more productive for more than 25 years and has enabled some of this country’s best-known companies, including Fonterra, Turners & Growers and Gallagher Group, to realise their business objectives.
A certified six sigma black belt, Ian has also helped multinationals including Kimberley Clark, Unilever, Guinness and Procter & Gamble to transform the way they work. He currently lectures at Auckland University and The Icehouse on productivity, improvement and associated methodologies.
Debbie Simpson-Pudney
Head of Retail, Solutions and Innovation, Circana
Debbie Simpson-Pudney has spent close to 20 years in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market, working in Auckland, London and Dubai. For the past four and a half years, Debbie has been leading Circana’s consulting services and managing the company’s grocery, petrol and convenience retailer partnerships in New Zealand.
Kaitlin Dawson
Executive Director, Food Waste Champions 12.3
For the past decade, Kaitlin has entrenched herself in the waste minimisation sector, driving incredible results. Her curiosity for understanding human behaviour sparked her desire to change the waste system from the ground up. Previously, she co-directed a social enterprise waste behaviour consultancy in Melbourne designing and scaling innovative resource recovery systems, sat on the board of a Melbourne-based NFP that feeds the community with surplus food and is now impacting the future of food waste in Aotearoa by leading Kai Commitment and NZFWC12.3 Charitable Trust.
David Croy
Senior Strategist, ANZ
David has more than 25 years experience in financial markets and is widely regarded as one of the country’s leading commentators on interest rates and the dynamics of the New Zealand government bond market. David has also held various other strategy research and interest rate sales roles, in both New Zealand and the UK. He holds a Master's degree in Finance and Economics (with distinction) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand.
Mike Rudman
Director NextGen Group
Mike Rudman Director of NextGen, our training partner, with extensive experience in consulting and training in the New Zealand and Australia FMCG for over a decade. Before NextGen Group, Mike has worked across FMCG for over 25 years holding significant positions at Cumulus Wines, Glendinning, Fonterra, Lion Nathan and Unilever.
Pierre van Heerden
Grocery Commissioner
Pierre van Heerden was appointed Grocery Commissioner in July 2023. Most recently, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Mojo Coffee, General Manager Commercial Development of Zealandia, and Executive General Manager of Farrah’s Breads. Before this, van Heerden was Managing Director of Southern Sky Associates, a business consultancy. He has also been the Chief Executive Officer of Brancourts Dairy Group, Australia and Executive General Manager of Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing New Zealand for 10 years, Managing Director of Dick Smith Foods in Australia, as well as having held various executive roles with Sanitarium in Australia.
Vanessa Horne
General Manager, Competition, Fair Trading and Credit
Vanessa manages the Commission’s Competition, Fair Trading and Credit Branch. She is a highly experienced and capable leader in strategy, operations, policy development, service design, and law. Most recently Group Manager, Overseas Investment Office at Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), she has extensive ministerial and legislative experience. Her legal background spans radio spectrum auctions, Financial Service Provider legislation, rural broadband and energy safety. Vanessa also has a strong track record of growing and developing people and building strong, impactful teams through periods of change. Vanessa has a degree in Public Policy (Masters) from Massey University.
Andrew Riseley
General Counsel, Commerce Commission
Andrew has been at the Commission since 2017 and has over 20 years’ experience in competition law and economic regulation across five jurisdictions including Singapore, the UK and Australia. His team provides a centre of excellence for legal expertise with an impressive record in terms of enforcement outcomes and defended appeals. Andrew has a Master of Science in Regulation from the London School of Economics as well as degrees in law (Hons) and economics (Hons) from Monash University.
Samantha McNaughton
Deputy CE, Hanga-Aro-Rau
Samantha McNaughton has been involved in the vocational education sector for more than a decade and has held various senior positions at Competenz, MITO and Skills International.
Prior to her current role, Samantha led the strategic industry engagement and learning design and innovation functions, including standard setting, quality assurance, resource development and programme innovation at Competenz. She is acutely aware of the workforce development challenges facing New Zealand and is particularly passionate about ensuring all people have clear and accessible educational pathways that support sustainable employment and prosperity.
Samantha McNaughton will present at a panel discussion on the future of the vocational education system, our sector workforce needs and the importance of industry voice in the designing the new system.
Chris Foord
Partner, Argon & Co
Peter Stevens
CEO, GS1 New Zealand
Peter Stevens is CEO of GS1 New Zealand and has decades of experience in supply chain enhancement, and global standards. Peter has been Chief Executive of GS1 New Zealand since January 2004. Before joining GS1, Peter worked in senior roles at BearingPoint, Standards New Zealand and Apple Computer. He has served as a Senior Lecturer in IT marketing at Victoria University and an Adjunct Professor in Information Systems & Computing at Unitec.
Florence van Dyke
Global
Sustainability Lead at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
She is the co-founder of Chia Sisters, a health beverage company supplying supermarkets nationally and exporting across Australasia. Chia Sisters is one of the highest rated B Corps nationally. Florence is a Trustee and Co-Founder of Businesses for Climate Action. For her work in business and climate change, she is recognised on the Forbes 30 under 30 List and as an Edmund Hillary Fellow.
Florence is a lawyer by training. She holds a Master of Laws from UC Berkeley and previously working at Bell Gully and for the United Nations.
Hamish Reid
Managing Director, Pollination
Hamish has +30 years’ experience in consumer brand building and sustainability strategy and implementation having worked for Fonterra in New Zealand, Danone in Paris and Saatchi & Saatchi in London. In 2005 Hamish’s focus moved to where consumer brands meet sustainability. He spent five years from 2019 on Synlait’s executive team leading sustainability. In 2022 Hamish took up the role of Managing Director at Pollination, leading the firm’s global food and fibre advisory business, working exclusively on the climate and nature agenda with global food companies including Danone, Unilever and General Mills.
Jennifer Hambleton
Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jennifer leads the competition law team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts. As a highly experienced competition and consumer lawyer, she advises on the full suite of competition and consumer law issues and economic regulation, including advertising and promotional activities, Commerce Commission investigations, inquiries, and enforcement actions, merger clearances, Commerce Act authorisations, exclusive arrangements, cartels, leniency applications, and collaborative activities. Jennifer has deep knowledge of and interest in FMCG and grocery markets, and has assisted clients with compliance, Commission investigations, and navigating the new Grocery Supply Code and related regulations. Jennifer is recognised for competition law by Chambers Asia Pacific 2024 and the Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Mike Pretty
Non-Exec Chair at The Kraft Heinz Company - Australia & New
Zealand; Chair of New Zealand Food & Grocery Council
Mike’s career spans over 30 years in the New Zealand food industry having started in the food sector in the UK. In NZ he has held many senior roles at Heinz Wattie’s NZ including six years as the Managing Director and six years as the Marketing, Research and Development Director. Prior to becoming Managing Director, he was Global VP for Heinz Ketchup and Marketing Capability, with an office at HJ Heinz’ WHQ in Pittsburgh.
Mike has been on the NZ Food and Grocery Council since 2017 and is currently the Chair.
Mike Cullerne
Mike has over 20 years of experience in the FMCG industry in both NZ and Australia, including his current role as Managing Director, NZ for the Arnott’s Group. From starting his career as a merchandiser in Auckland he has gone on to lead large and diverse teams, built and executed successful business strategies, and overseen operations as an executive director.
In addition to running a large FMCG business, Mike's recent experience in acquiring a smaller NZ supplier (180degrees) and investing in local manufacturing gives him valuable insights into the challenges faced by NZFGC members. As a result, he is well-positioned to advocate for their needs and collaborate with other stakeholders to address industry-wide issues.
As a board member Mike is focussed on creating an environment where suppliers can thrive both domestically and aboard. This includes ensuring our industry can attract the best talent, build better sustainable supply chain solutions, and is equipped to navigate the rapidly changing commercial arena.
With firsthand experience in the rollout of the Grocery Code of Conduct in Australia, Mike has a strong understanding of the impact the regulatory environment can have on the FMCG industry. Mike has taken on the role of Chair of the Industry Relations Working Group and is currently leading a resetting of this important group to suit the environment created by the competition reform.