Business Alumni
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The Business Alumni was developed by the School and the Old Boys’ Association in 2010 to recognise Old Boys who have made a significant contribution to business creation and development.
The Business Alumni has developed an area in E Block, where commerce subjects are taught, that honours Old Boys who have been or are:
- Business leaders who have acted as a role model for others in the industry
- Contributing, or have contributed, to the economy and society through business enterprise
- Demonstrating community responsibility and involvement
It is the Business Alumni’s intention to name one or two new members annually to join the Palmerston North Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Business Alumni and as this list grows we hope the biographies will inspire those who take time to read what those in our alumni have achieved.
The Business Alumni hopes that young men, who are aspiring business leaders of the future, are able to read the achievements of our Business Alumni inductees and accordingly set goals for their own career. The young men of the school do appreciate the achievements of our Old Boys and it is important for them to recognise the opportunities available and to read about Old Boys who once sat in the same seats as they are sitting in now.
We believe that it is important to acknowledge those who make a difference, who take the opportunity to lead in their careers or personal lives as these people make a difference to the quality of our lives. As a school, we continue to emphasise the importance of competition and achievement. We have many proud Old Boys and we are indeed proud of them and for the difference they have made; their actions have endorsed our values.
Sir Peter Blake said “It is vital to get people to understand the problems and make them realise it is not just for governments to control. It needs the average person to say enough is enough for the right informed reasons.”
We believe that the Business Alumni tradition is in keeping with the high standards the School strives to develop and maintain, and we hope that the actions and achievements of our Old Boys may inspire generations to come.
Business Alumni Inductees
PNBHS 1951 – 1955 – Albion Club
The third recipient is a name known to all of our young men, and in fact to all those who have been through the school since 2002, thanks to his support of the wonderful performing arts building that bears his name – the Speirs Centre.
Nelson began at Boys’ High in 1951, where he was in form IIIA with Ron Eglinton, a future Chairman of the PNBHS Board of Trustees, and Jonathan Hunt, future Minister of the Crown and High Commissioner to the UK.
Nelson was a fine all-round pupil at Boys’ High: he was a regular in the Albion 4 by 100 yards relay team and he was runner-up in the Junior 100 yards in 1951. He won the 75 yards in 8.25 seconds in 1955 and was awarded a School Blue for athletics in his final year, 1955. He also played rugby: 4th XV in 1954 and in the 2nd XV in 1955, along with one of our guests this evening, and fellow Business Alumni member, Mr Barry Clevely. Nelson has a noteworthy performance against Napier BHS: “In the second half”, the Palmerstonian tells us, “Speirs scored two magnificent tries near the touchline” in the team’s 9-3 win. (To the young chaps – Gents, tries were worth only three points in those days).
Nelson was also an accomplished musician, playing the trombone in the school band for several years. He was a Sgt. Major of the Band, Headquarters company in the School Cadet Battalion. He achieved School Certificate, University Entrance and Endorsed School Certificate as well as Higher School Certificate in 1955 and was a College House as well as a School Prefect.
Nelson joined his father’s timber and joinery business after leaving school, and he was the joint CEO of that business from 1958. From 1963-79 he was CEO and Director of MSD-Speirs Ltd (sawmillers, builders’ suppliers, housing construction, property developers) which was listed on NZX in 1976. In 1976 the company partnered with Canterbury Timber Products Ltd, pioneering a fibreboard product known as “Customwood’.
In 1976 the company received a successful takeover bid from NZ Forest Products. Nelson established and became the Director of Speirs Group Ltd in 1966. From 1967-80 Speirs Foods had a chain of 12 fast-food restaurants branded ‘Big Tex’, which were sold in 1980 with arrival of McDonald’s in New Zealand. Since 1980, Speirs Foods has produced and distributed fresh salads across the country to both New Zealand supermarket chains, for retail sale in delicatessens and produce departments, and to the industrial market.
Speirs Finance was established in 1978 to provide finance to small and medium scale business enterprises, primarily to fund vehicle fleets. Funding was provided largely from borrowings from the public and financial institutions, supported by an A1+ credit rating granted by Standard and Poor’s.
In 2008 Speirs Finance was sold to an NZX company but was repurchased by Speirs Group in 2012 in partnership with three merchant banks. Speirs Group maintains a minority shareholding. Speirs Finance continues to provide facilities to business enterprises, large and small, primarily for their funding of vehicles and heavy machinery and equipment. Speirs Finance is a significant participant in the NZ commercial asset financing sector. Nelson is a director of the parent company, Equipment Leasing and Finance Holdings Limited, also encompassing AB Equipment, a nationwide heavy, mobile equipment supplier.
Nelson has been active in the community for many years and has been a member of Lions International since 1964 and has been a great supporter of PNBHS – the Speirs Centre being testament to this. He married Mary Bibby, and has three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
PNBHS 1973 – 1975 – Gordon Club
Steve came to Boys’ High in 1973 and, like Colin, had in his form class another young man who would go on to become a member of our Business Alumni – Mr Ross George. Steve was in 3L2 with Mr John Lee as form teacher. Steve was in Gordon Club and played for the 5th Grade White rugby team in 1973. He would also play chess and be involved in the Duke of Edinburgh programme during his time at Boys’ High.
Steve gained School Certificate in 1975 but left school part-way through his 6th form year. When entering the work force, Steve was given a choice – forestry or state insurance. He chose insurance and he worked for State Insurance until 1980 when he moved to Marsh Insurance as a broker.
In 1983 Steve joined Colin and as a result Crombie Lockwood opened an office here in Palmerston North, which was the company’s second office, with the New Plymouth, Wellington and Christchurch offices opening soon after – as I mentioned earlier, Crombie Lockwood has grown significantly since those early days, with 31 offices throughout the country and employing over 900 people.
Steve was a majority shareholder and Chief Executive Officer for Crombie Lockwood until 2006 when the company was acquired by ASX listed company Wesfarmers. He was the Executive Chairman of Wesfarmers Insurance Broking until 2014 when the company was sold to Gallagher, a global leader in insurance and risk management services. Since then, Steve has been Managing Director of Gallagher Global Brokerage New Zealand, Australia and Asia, incorporating Crombie Lockwood, Pen Underwriting and Elantis Premium Funding.
Steve has several business interests outside of the insurance industry, including hotels, carbon farming and commercial property and tourism businesses. Steve heads the Lockwood Property Group which has property investments throughout the country.
Steve has two sons and in his spare time he skippers his own boat and with Simone he enjoys fishing and diving. He is also an avid car collector, and in 2017 he bought a rare 1934 Bugatti that was once owned by a member of Louis Vuitton’s family from the estate of Central Otago man Bob Turnbull. The 1934 Type 57 Gangloff Roadster, which is a thing of rare beauty, was bought by Steve to display at car museums around the country.
Steve also operates and supports a number of conservation projects throughout the country.
PNBHS 1964 – 1968 – Murray Club
Born: 2 October 1950
Years at PNBHS: 1964-68
Club: Murray
School Prefect
Head Prefect College House 1968
1st in 6th Form Geography and History
1st in 7th Form Geography
1st XV 1967/68
3rd XI cricket 1968
Flyweight boxing champion 1966
Winner of the Hodder Brothers Cup for All-round Excellence in scholarship and sport in the senior school
After leaving PNBHS, Barry studied law at Victoria University, graduating with an Honours degree in 1973. He began working for major law firm, Chapman Tripp, in 1972 and has been with them since then, apart from three years working and travelling overseas in the mid-1970s. Barry had 35 years as a partner of Chapman Tripp from 1980 to 2015 and he has been a consultant since 2015.
Barry practised as a corporate lawyer in Wellington and Auckland from 1978 with particular specialty in mergers and acquisitions. In 2011 Barry received the New Zealand Dealmaker of the Year award at the Australasian Legal Business Awards. He represented the NZ government on the privatisation of Telecom (now Spark), on the bail-out and sale of the Bank of New Zealand and on the sale and bail-out of Air New Zealand.
Major private sector transactions included acting for Lloyds Bank on its sale of the National Bank to ANZ Bank, acting for Shell on the sale of its service stations,, acting for HJ Heinz on the sale of Tip Top and Tegel, acting on the merger of three businesses to form Heartland Bank, acting for the owners of Trust Bank’s sale to Westpac, representing Rupert Murdoch’s interests on the sale of their New Zealand newspapers (including the Dominion Post) to Fairfax and acting for the US owner on the sale of Carter Holt Harvey.
Barry has held, or currently holds, other positions including being a member of the New Zealand Racing Board, a member of the New Zealand Stock Exchange Markey Surveillance Panel, a member of the Financial Market Authority’s Audit Oversight Committee and he is a trustee of the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation.
Barry has been married to wife Jan since 1979 and he has three adult children.
PNBHS 1983-1987 – Kia Ora Club
CFA, BA, MCA hons (1st)
Born: 3 March 1970
PNBHS 1983 – 1987
Kia Ora Club
1st equal in 3HA 1983, 1st equal 4LD 1984
Winner of Ross Irwin Memorial Essay 1986
Hodder Brothers Cup for All-Round Excellence 1987
1st in English, French & History 1987
Head Prefect 1987
1st XI Cricket 1985 – 87
Senior A Badminton, Senior Chess & Debating teams
University Scholarship 1987
1988 Nomad Scholar to Haileybury, England
Business Alumni Inductee March 2019
Born in Palmerston North, Matthew left PNBHS after completing 7th form in 1987, taking up aNew Zealand Nomad Scholarship to Haileybury College in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom in 1988.While at Haileybury he distinguished himself by taking 6-37 from 22 overs of leg spin against Harrow School.
Upon returning to New Zealand, Matthew attended Massey University in 1989 & 1990, before heading to Victoria University where he studied from 1991-93. Matthew graduated with a BA and an MCA Honours (1st Class) in Economics.
From 1993-97 Matthew worked as an Economist, then Head of Research at institutional sharebroker Garlick and Co before heading to the United States. From 1997-2004 Matthew was a Director, Research Sales, mainly for Goldman Sachs JB Were in New York.Returning to New Zealand in 2004, Matthew was a Director at First NZ Capital in Auckland, where he was responsible for research sales globally. In 2009 he became a Portfolio Manager for BT Funds, where he co-managed $600 million of equities.
In 2013 Matthew founded Salt Funds Management and, as Managing Director, saw the companygrow into one of New Zealand’s largest equity fund managers, with $2.1 billion across listed equities, property and the widely followed Salt Long Short Fund.Matthew was the elected Chairman of NZ Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated from 2011-2015 andremains Chairman of the NZ Thoroughbred Pattern Committee, a role he took up in 2015. Matthew is a keen thoroughbred owner and breeder.
Matthew played first-class cricket for Central Districts and Wellington from 1989-95, and also played for a NZ Invitational XI. Matthew took 37 first-class wickets at an excellent average of 23.62.
Matthew lives in Auckland with his wife, Dianna, and their two sons.
PNBHS 1972-1976 – Gordon Club
B.Sc (Hons), M.A (Oxon)
Born: 8 March 1959
PNBHS 1972 – 1976
Gordon Club
University Scholarship
Proxime Accessit
School Prefect
1st XI Cricket
4th XV Rugby
Business Alumni Inductee November 2017
On leaving Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Bill completed an Honours degree in Chemistry at Massey University in three years. He then completed an MA at Oxford University (University College) in politics, philosophy and economics, where he was supported by a New Zealand University Grants Committee Postgraduate Scholarship. Bill was also awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship but he chose to attend Oxford instead.
Bill then taught for a year at Hill House Junior International School in London before returning to New Zealand, where he became a foreign exchange and then currency options trader for New Zealand investment bank, Zealcorp, and then the Bank of New Zealand.
After two subsequent years advising the new New Zealand Racing Industry Board on strategic matters, he co-founded, with fellow Old Boy Ross George, Direct Capital, now New Zealand’s most experienced private company investor. Direct Capital has invested more than $1 billion in private businesses in New Zealand and Australia, and in his two decades with Direct Capital, Bill held directorships in a number of successful New Zealand private companies, including Palmerston North’s own Ezibuy and New Zealand Pharmaceuticals.
In 2014 Bill became the founding chief executive of the $100 million philanthropic NEXT Foundation, leading NEXT’s significant environmental and educational investments, as well as taking oversight of previous philanthropic commitments made by NEXT’s benefactors, Neal and Annette Plowman.
Bill is a director of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, which offers global social change-makers a path to New Zealand citizenship through New Zealand’s Global Impact Visa and is currently chairman of the PNBHS Education Foundation Trust.
Bill lives in Auckland with his wife, Robyn and is a proud father of three.
PNBHS 1947-1952 – Albion Club
CBE, Knight Bachelor, A.T.C.L (London), LL.B (Victoria), D.Litt (Hon) (Massey).
Born: 5 April 1933
PNBHS 1947 – 1952
Albion Club
School Prefect 1952;
1st in Form V Upper;
3rd XI Hockey;
Senior Debating team;
Dramatic Club;
RSM School Cadets – Battalion 2IC for NZ Cadets
Business Alumni Inductee March 2017
Upon leaving PNBHS, Sir Brian studied at Victoria University in Wellington. Upon qualifying in law he returned to Palmerston North and was a partner in McBride Lusk & Elwood.
In the 1960s Sir Brian became an advisor/company director in a range of companies involved in the farming, timber, motor vehicle, finance and newspaper industries. For a time Sir Brian served as the Board Chair of the Tribune newspaper.
Sir Brian became a PNCC Councillor in 1968 and continued in this role until 1971 when he became Mayor of Palmerston North, a post he held until 1985. During this time he was also a member of the Wellington Harbour Board, was an Executive Member (and later President) of the New Zealand Municipal Association and was heavily involved in a range of other civic roles.
From 1985-1990 Sir Brian was responsible for the comprehensive reform of New Zealand’s local government structures. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1985 New Year Honours List for services to local government and to Palmerston North. He chaired the Survey Industry Review Commission in 1989/90 and was subsequently made an honorary life member of the NZ Surveyors Institute.
In 1990 Sir Brian became Commissioner for the Wellington Health Board responsible for Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kenepuru and Wairarapa where he was prominent in the reform of New Zealand’s hospital administration. Sir Brian was knighted in the 1990 New Year Honours List for services to local government.
In 1992 Sir Brian was appointed as an ombudsman and in 1994 he became Chief Ombudsman, a position he held until 2003. In 1999 he was elected as president of the International Ombudsman Institute.
Sir Brian has served on a number of boards since his retirement, and was Chair of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Board from 2004-15. He retired “for the last time” in 2015, at the age of 82. Sir Brian and his wife Dawn have three children and six grandchildren and live on the Kapiti Coast.
PNBHS 1953-1957 – Phoenix Club
BAgSci, D.Phil, D.Sci (Honorary) Rhodes Scholar
Born: 17 March 1940
PNBHS 1953 – 1957
Phoenix Club (Captain 1957)
Hodder Brothers Cup for All-Round Excellence;
Head Prefect 1957;
1st XV 1956 & 1957 (Vice-Captain);
1st XI Cricket 1956 & 1957 (Captain);
1st in English 1956 & 1957;
Senior 120 Yards Hurdles Champion 1957
Business Alumni Inductee November 2015
Born in Palmerston North in 1940, John left PNBHS to attend Massey University where he attained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. He was then awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, the first PNBHS Old Boy to gain the famous scholarship. While studying at Oxford John played for the University team against Wilson Whineray’s 1963/64 All Blacks.
Upon leaving Oxford, John worked as an economist for W R Grace in the United States and United Kingdom before taking up a role with Pfizer in strategic planning. He then moved with Pfizer to head operations in India and Bangladesh. While in India John made his international rugby debut, playing for India against Bangladesh.
Returning from the sub-continent to the United States, John became the International Vice-President of Pfizer before a move to Colgate Palmolive after being hired to develop Colgate’s first Strategic Plan. He went on to head Colgate Palmolive’s subsidiaries as Managing Director in South-East Asia out of Australia, the United Kingdom and Greece.
John then became Chief Technical Officer for Colgate Palmolive, in charge of Global Research and Development, IT and the Supply Chain and he worked in that role until his retirement from Colgate Palmolive in 2000.
Following his retirement, John was invited to take up a position as Adjunct Professor at the Stern Business School at the City University in New York and has been a board member of the Centre for Global Development, a think tank organisation that has played a significant role in setting foreign and budget policy in the United States. He currently serves on a number of boards, including that of Egenix, a biotech start up company researching drugs designed to prevent cancer pathways.
John and his wife Claire have two sons, Thomas and Christopher, and they currently live on a 70-acre property north of New York.
PNBHS 1971-1975 – Albion Club
BBS (Massey University – Majoring in Finance)
Born: 27 February 1958
PNBHS 1971 – 1975
Albion Club
Athletics;
Hockey
Business Alumni Inductee November 2014
Born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, in 1958, Robin earned a degree in business studies at Massey University before beginning his career in 1982 as a Chartered Accountant for Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young) in Wellington. He subsequently accepted the offer of a transfer to London.
In 1986, Robin joined United International Pictures as Controller for the Far East, then travelled to Los Angeles to become Director of Operations for Warner Bros. International. Relocating to Europe in 1992, he spent four years as a self-employed consultant advising clients such as CIC and the Hewitt Group.
Robin joined Adidas AG in 1996 as Head of Corporate Services/Reporting, and has been working for the brand with the “three stripes” ever since. After stints as a vice president for Reporting and then Taxes, he became Chief Financial Officer in 2000. He was elected to the Adidas Executive Board in 2001 and has since been responsible for Finance. In 2005, he assumed additional responsibility as Labour Director.
A fluent German speaker, Robin is married and lives near the Adidas AG global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of German automotive supplier Schaeffler AG. And while he remains a lifelong fan of New Zealand rugby, Robin shares his passion for the sport with the Bavarian Rugby Association, where he acts as Patron.
PNBHS 1974-1978 – Gordon Club
BSc, BE (Hons), ME
Born: 4 June 1960
PNBHS from 1974 – 1978
Gordon Club
Captain Gordon Club 1978;
2nd XV Rugby Team;
Manawatu Secondary Schools Rugby Team;
Business Alumni Inductee October 2013.
Bachelor of Science (Physics), Massey University, Bachelor & Master of Engineering with Honours (Electrical and Electronics), University of Canterbury. Awarded the IPENZ Fulton-Downer Gold Medal 1986 & the IPENZ Evan Parry Award 1989.
Simon grew up in Palmerston North. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physics, from Massey University, followed by a Masters in Electrical Engineering at Canterbury University. He lives in Auckland with his family. When he’s not spending his free time with his wife and kids at the beach, you’ll find Simon at the races cheering on a racehorse he has a stake in.
Simon spent nearly 15 years in the energy sector where he worked in various senior positions, including CEO of Powerco Ltd and Station Manager at the New Plymouth Power Station. He also ran his own engineering consultancy and contracting company before first joining Telecom as General Manager of Network Delivery in 1999. After nine years’ service, including several years as Chief Operating Officer, Simon left in 2008 to lead the successful transformation of Auckland International Airport Ltd as Chief Executive before returning to Telecom in 2012.
As the company adapts to its new role as a retail service provider, Simon sees an enormous opportunity for Telecom to reshape itself as a customer-centric business and to re-forge its deep links with New Zealanders.
Simon Moutter returned to Telecom in August 2012 to take over as Chief Executive. As CEO he’s responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the company that provides mobile, broadband and IT services to more than two million New Zealanders every day, as well as in Australia.
PNBHS 1950-1954 – Kia Ora Club
BCom (NZ), FCA
Born: 26 December 1936
PNBHS from 1950 – 1954
Kia Ora Club
Head Prefect 1954;
1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket;
Hodder Brothers Cup for outstanding academic and sporting pursuits;
Business Alumni Inductee February 2012.
Chartered Accountant, Bachelor of Commerce in Economics at Victoria University, Wellington; University prize for Accountancy in 1956, University Blues for rugby 1957-59 and athletics 1957; Rhodes Scholarship nominee in 1957, NZ Society of Accountants Travelling Scholarship in 1958; Life Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in NZ in 2003; Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand in 2006; Honorary Vice President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.
After ten years with professional accounting firms, he joined the academic staff of Victoria University in 1965, becoming Professor of Accountancy in 1971, before retiring 35 years later in 2006. In 1999 he was included in Victoria University’s shortlist of the ‘great teachers of the century’ and on retirement, the ‘Don Trow Visiting Research Fellowships in Accounting’ were named in his honour.
Director: NZ Stock Exchange (1989-2002), Ryman Healthcare (1999-2010), Opus International Consultants (2007-2010) and Northland Co-Operative Dairy Company (1993-1997).Chairman: Statutory management of Equiticorp (1989–2009), NZX Discipline (2004-2008), Audit and Investment Committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand (from 1997).Trustee: NZ Law Foundation (1992-1998) and Jack Shallcrass Educational Trust (1998-2008). bhad bhabie diss track
Don was frequently involved in setting standards in accounting and auditing; for stock exchange compliance; as an expert witness on accounting matters for the Securities Commission and in court cases. Emeritus Professor Don Trow is widely regarded as New Zealand’s “Mister Accounting”, having ‘cut his teeth’ on preparing financial statements for his father while he was still at PNBHS.
PNBHS 1960-1964 – Albion Club
Colin started at Boys’ High in 1960 and he was a fine all-round pupil. He began in Form IIIB, was in Albion club, and had a fellow Business Alumni member, Bruce Lambie, in the same form class.
Colin did well academically, achieving School Certificate in his 5th form year in 1962, University Entrance and Endorsed School Certificate the following year, followed by Higher School certificate when he was in the Upper VIth in 1964 – that’s Year 13 to those of you of a younger generation.
While at Boys’ High, Colin was fully involved in school life. In his 3rd form year, he was in the Eighth-Grade Red rugby team which under the guidance of Mr Doel, went through the season unbeaten to win the Eighth-Grade championship. In fact, Colin enjoyed a successful rugby career at school – in his five years playing rugby, his teams played 60 games, for 49 wins, five draws and only six losses. Two unbeaten seasons – the Fourth Grade A team went through the 1963 season without a loss – the year before the 5th Grade A team had lost just once, to Wanganui Collegiate. Colin was captain of the 2nd XV in his final year, coached by Errol Brookie, and in his team was future All Black Ian Stevens. In the Palmerstonian, Mr Brookie remarked that “Crombie was rarely out hooked”.
Colin was also a good tennis player and athlete. He was runner-up to Ian Bevins in the junior tennis championship in 1962, in a three-set thriller, and he would go on to play for the Senior A tennis team. He was a regular member of the Albion 4×100 yards relay team.
Colin was in the cadet force; he was platoon corporal of B company in 1962, rising to be the Regimental Sgt Major Warrant Officer 1 of the School Battalion. In 1964 he was the school’s Deputy Head Prefect.
Upon leaving PNBHS, Colin began working in the insurance sector. He subsequently qualified for both the New Zealand and Australian Insurance Institutes, and he would go on to become a Life Member of the Corporation of Insurance Brokers, NZ.
Colin was a founder of insurance brokerage firm Crombie Lockwood in Napier in 1978 from the basement of his house. Crombie Lockwood grew to become one of the largest insurance brokers in New Zealand, and today the company employs around 900 staff operating from 31 offices throughout the country. Colin retired as chairman of Crombie Lockwood in 2008 after 30 years at the helm.
In 2014 Colin was awarded the QSM (Queen’s Service Medal) for philanthropy and services to the community. He said he was “stunned but absolutely pleased and honoured to have been considered” for the QSM. In what Colin considers to be his most rewarding project, he and his wife Diana have spent 15 years providing academic scholarships for tertiary study to the sons and daughters of hard-working families through the Penzance Charitable Trust.
Colin and Diana have also supported the restoration of the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery. Colin’s philanthropic work is not limited to New Zealand, either: he helped establish the Rose Charity Eye Clinic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The clinic has become the leading eye clinic in Cambodia, assisting people in rural areas with sight difficulties.
Colin lives in Hawke’s Bay, and he has continued his interests in business as joint founder and director of a telecommunications company, a security company, and currently an innovative stock food business. He has been a member of the Iona College Council for more than 10 years and is a member of the College Foundation. Colin is also a life member of Outward Bound.
Colin’s love of sport continues, and he says when the rivers of Hawke’s Bay finally clear from the ravages of Cyclone Gabrielle, he will resume his passion for fly fishing.
It is a privilege to be able to recognise Colin’s success.
PNBHS 1954-1956 – Albion Club
Born: 26 April 1938
Years at PNBHS: 1954-56
Club: Albion
College House 1954-56
1st XV 1956
Senior A Tennis Team 1956
School Cadets – “B” Company Sergeant
Runner-up 1954 Open Backstroke 33,66, 100 yards to Barry Street
In the opera chorus for “HMS Pinafore”, the school production 1956.
After leaving PNBHS, Barry qualified as a pharmacist. He was the winner of the Kodak Prize at Pharmacy School for examination success. In 1965 he bought the Waikanae Pharmacy. Later, with five others, he formed the Waikanae Property Enterprise which developed a number of projects in the Wellington and Kapiti areas.
In 1973 Barry was appointed as the original manager of RDC, a property development company. He was CEO of RDC from 1973-88 as the company expanded to more than 50 staff in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
RDC completed a number of major developments during Barry’s time as CEO, particularly in Wellington. Properties were acquired near Parliament where Bowen House is now located; NZI House and Mercer Tower were developed, and the re-development of Stewart Dawson’s Corner in Wellington saw Barry and his team win an architectural award. RDC shaped the urban renaissance of Wellington City. Colenso house – the first development designed by the famous Sir Ian Athfield.
Barry led the development of the National Bank Twin Towers in Auckland, as well as New Zealand’s first K-Mart in Henderson. During Barry’s time at the helm of RDC he was appointed as Director of the National Land Company which was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. RDC completed in excess of $700 million New Zealand wide developments.
He is Chairman of Ngahina Developments Ltd. A joint venture company between iwi and a public company (Alpha Securities Ltd). Barry has been a Director of Alpha Securities for over 40 years.
Barry has been a trustee of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Foundation for over 40 years.
Barry was asked to become a part-time lecturer at Massey University; originally intending to be just a few weeks, Barry ended up staying for 12 years. He was a recipient of Massey University’s Achievement Award and was made Deputy Chair of the Massey Property Foundation. He was also awarded a fellowship of the Property Institute of New Zealand.
Barry went on to form MC2 Group, where he has been Managing Director since 2003. MC2 Group has been responsible for a number of major property developments and Barry has been a much sought after property consultant. MC2 Group have diversified into viticulture with the development of Horowhenua’s first substantial vineyard.
In 2018 Barry was inducted into Kapiti-Horowhenua Hall of Business fame.
Barry is married to Hazel and has three daughters, Amanda, Sarah and Penny. He is grandfather to six.
PNBHS 1980-1984 – Phoenix Club
BBS, CA
Born: 17 March 1967
PNBHS 1980 – 1984
Phoenix Club
1st in 5BN 1982
1st in 6BE 1983
1st in 7th for Accounting 1984
Senior A Tennis Team 1984
1st XV 1984School Prefect 1984
Business Alumni Inductee March 2019
Upon leaving PNBHS, Mark studied at Massey University and graduated with a BBS, majoring in Accounting and Finance. He was awarded a Massey Senior Scholarship for post-graduate study, which he did not take up, instead joining Price Waterhouse in Wellington where he spent two years in auditing roles. After a year with Westpac in corporate banking, Mark moved into investment banking with Southpac Corporation, a corporate advisory firm which was a division of South Pacific Merchant Finance and the National Bank. He transferred to Sydney in 1995 to support the establishment of a new corporate finance office.
Mark joined the Deutsche Bank in 1995 as a director within the corporate finance division, providing advice to companies on mergers & acquisitions and equity raising. He then transferred to London where he would become the Managing Director, Co-Head of European Mergers and Acquisitions in utilities and energy and was also in charge of graduate recruitment and training for the United Kingdom.
Returning to New Zealand in 2007, and after a 15-year career in investment banking, Mark retired from executive roles and moved into governance and consultancy. He has built up a portfolio of Board roles and is currently a director of Z Energy and Chorus, Chair of Milford Asset Management and the SIL/MFL Mutual Funds, in addition to previous roles as director of Genesis Energy and Argosy Property. Mark is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and a member of Chartered Accountants NZ and Australia.
Mark has been competing in endurance events for some years, including ultra-marathons in the
Sahara and Gobi Deserts and Ironman triathlons. He is a two-time finisher at the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii and has competed successful in a number of Ironman NZ events, where his results include a first in age-group title.
Mark lives in Auckland with his wife, Angela, and has two daughters.
PNBHS 1984-1988 – Vernon Club
BA, LLB
Born: 30 December 1970
PNBHS 1984 – 1988
Vernon ClubSchool Prefect
Deputy Club Captain, Vernon
1st XI Cricket 1987 and 88
Premier A basketball team 1986-88
Represented Manawatu in Cricket and Swimming
Business Alumni Inductee November 2017
After leaving school, Bart studied at Otago University from 1989-93, where he completed a BA and LLB. He was admitted to the Bar in 1994 and was a graduate lawyer in Auckland from 1994-96. He then completed his Masters in Commercial Law (with Honours) at the University of Auckland from 1996-98, completing his thesis in sports law and the media at the University of Vermont in the United States in 1997/98.
In 1998 while working as a lawyer with Greenwich Natwest Investment Bank, Bart founded a sports agency in London, Global Sports Management, after helping his brother-in-law, All Black Tabai Matson, with a contract at French rugby club Brive. He went on to form a similar company, Accelerate Sports in 2003. In 2006 both companies were purchased by Essentially Group, which appointed Bart as ChiefExecutive. He steered the company through a listing on London’s alternative market and saw the company expand with offices in London, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India and Japan.
After the company merged with Chime Communications in 2009, Bart became the Chief Operating Officer of its sports division, CSM Sport & Entertainment, with more than 650 staff in 13 countries.
In 2010 Bart completed an Advanced Management Programme at the world-renowned Harvard Business School in the United States. He continued to work in London until he sold his company in 2013. Bart then led a consortium that purchased the Melbourne Storm NRL club from Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd.
Bart took over as Chairman shortly afterwards and he relocated to Melbourne. Bart is currently Chairman and shareholder of the Melbourne Storm, and also of the Sunshine Coast Lightning Netball team. He is also Executive Chairman at sports agency TLA Worldwide, a company that along with athlete representation and sports marketing, organises high profile sports events. TLA was responsible for bringing the All Blacks to the United States for matches in recent years.
Bart lives in Melbourne with his wife, Pippa, and two children Andie and Finlay.
PNBHS 1973-1977 – Murray Club
LLB
Born: 5 February 1960
PNBHS 1973 – 1977
Murray Club
Junior 800m and 1500m champion
Member of the NZSS Champion Road Race team
School Athletics and Swimming teams
Senior Debating team
Kapa Haka group
1st XV 1976/77
School Prefect & College House Head Prefect
Business Alumni Inductee November 2017
Upon leaving PNBHS Ross studied Mathematics and Economics at Massey University before transferring to Canterbury University where he studied Law and the Arts. In 1983 he worked as a law clerk in Christchurch, and while in Canterbury Ross played for the Canterbury Colts rugby team, Canterbury Maori and Canterbury B.
In 1985 Ross joined the Hong Kong office of US law firm Baker and McKenzie, and then in 1987 he joined BKW Partners, a private equity investment company in Hong Kong. While at BKW Ross became a director and shareholder of the company. During his time there Ross played for the Hong Kong rugby team from 1985-87.
In 1994 Ross returned to New Zealand to start up New Zealand’s first private equity fund, Direct Capital,with fellow Old Boy Bill Kermode. Direct Capital has grown to be New Zealand’s most experienced private company investor and it has invested $1.2 billion in private businesses in New Zealand and Australia. The company’s New Zealand investor base includes sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, community trusts, iwi groups, religious trusts and other institutional investors.
Direct Capital has invested in close to 70 private companies to fund growth, acquisition and succession initiatives. Current funds have invested in 19 portfolio companies that employ more than 5,000 staff. Ross currently holds directorships at Bayleys Real Estate, e-commerce company Fishpond Ltd, and Complectus Ltd, a New Zealand financial services supervisory business.
In 2016 Ross was presented with an Honorary Lifetime Award from the New Zealand Venture Capital Association, and in 2017 he was awarded the New Zealand Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Leadership Tribute “for his outstanding leadership commitment to the New Zealand private equity industry”.
Ross and wife Deb are heavily involved with education. Deb founded Teach First, and they established a boarding hostel for Maori boys to attend Auckland Grammar School and girls to attend Epsom Girls’ Grammar.
Ross and Deb have two children and live in Auckland.
PNBHS 1960-1963 – Kia Ora Club
BAg (Massey), MBA (Cornell)
Born: 5 November 1945
PNBHS 1960 – 1963
Kia Ora Club
Junior Lightweight boxing champion 1960;
PNBHS inter-school athletics team 1960 – 1961;
2nd in the 880 yards, 1960 inter-school athletics championships;
1st in the 1961 school intermediate 440 yards,
3rd in the 440 yards, 1961 inter-school athletics championships;
1st in Form VB in 1962
Business Alumni Inductee March 2017
Bruce began his accounting career with Spring Goddard and Pritchard Chartered Accountants in Palmerston North while studying part-time to qualify as a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. He gained a Bachelor’s degree from Massey University and later completed an MBA at Cornell University, New York.
Bruce emigrated to Canada in 1969 where he worked for PWC then Traders Group, a Toronto-based merchant bank and became a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
In 1974 Bruce transferred to London with Traders Group to set up their UK operations. Principal activities in this role included financing deep sea cargo vessels.
In 1980 Bruce moved to New York, and in 1983 he was elected as a Senior Vice-President of the National Bank of North America. He headed the bank’s specialised industries department, which was responsible for ship lending activities and the financing of aircraft, from his Wall Street office.
In 1986 he returned to the United Kingdom as Deputy Managing Director of Ship and Offshore financing of Den Norske Bank, a position he held until 1997.
In 1997 Bruce retired from Den Norske to set up his own consulting business. He now divides his time between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Bruce has published several articles on leverage leasing for aircraft and ship financing and has presented papers in New York, London and Hong Kong on a range of marine and aircraft financing.
PNBHS 1950-1954 – Gordon Club
MA (Hons)
Born: 30 April, 1937
PNBHS 1950 – 1954
Gordon Club (Captain 1954)
1st XV Rugby 1952-54;
Silson and Rotary Essay prizes;
Manawatu Secondary Schools High Jump Champion 1954;
1st Form VI Upper French, History and Geography;
1st Form VI French;
1st Form Va English
Business Alumni Inductee November 2015
Upon leaving PNBHS David attended Victoria University, where he gained an MA (Hons) in History. In 1959 he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Wellington, and in 1964 he became First Secretary for the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
In 1968 David returned to Wellington to become the Assistant Head of the Africa and Middle East Division for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a role he was in for two years before being seconded to London as the Special Assistant (Political) to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.
In 1977 David was appointed as New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji with accreditation to Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu. He later became Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which time he also served as High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and Ambassador to Nepal based in Wellington.
From 1985-88 David was the New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, where he was a permanent representative with brief inter alia to advocate disarmament and nuclear-free policies. He then became Director General of the Department of Conservation until his appointment as Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
In 1992 David became the New Zealand Ambassador to Japan and in 1994 he assumed the role of Director-General of IUCN, the World Conservation Union, a position he held until 1999.
Since 1999 David has filled a number of roles, including acting as a consultant on a range of environmental and conservation issues, as a member of World Bank Advisory Groups and as Vice Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Oceans Policy in New Zealand. Most recently, he has been a member of a panel examining the social and environmental impacts of the Nam Theun 2 Dam in the Annamite Mountains region of Laos.
PNBHS 1964-1968 – Phoenix Club
BCA, MPP (Dist.), DCom (Hon), FCA, FInstD, INFINZ (Cert)
Born: 9 July 1950
PNBHS 1964 – 1968
Phoenix Club
Rugby, Softball, Tennis;
Chess;
ATC Cadets
Business Alumni Inductee November 2014
Paul was a partner of sharebrokers and investment bankers Jarden & Co and a director of Credit Suisse First Boston NZ Limited (now First New Zealand Capital Limited) until the early 1990s. He held leadership positions in research and investment banking and was CEO from 1987 to 1993. Paul has been a professional director since then.
He is currently Chair of the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, the Gillies McIndoe Foundation and Todd Family Office Limited, and is a Board member of Chamber Music New Zealand Inc, IHC Foundation Inc, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Inc, The New Zealand Treasury and The Todd Corporation Limited.
Paul is a former Board member of Barnardos NZ Inc (Chair), Comalco NZ Limited, Databank NZ Limited, EDS NZ Limited, Fletcher Challenge Limited, Fletcher Building Limited, Gough Holdings Limited, Greenstone Fund Limited, Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation Inc, Jardine Fleming China Region Limited, New Zealand Post Limited, New Zealand School of Music Limited, Queen Margaret College, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, South Eastern Utilities Limited, Telecom NZ Limited, Tower Funds Management Limited (Chair), Victoria University of Wellington Foundation, Victoria University of Wellington Institute of Policy Studies, Wrightson Limited, Wrightson Farmers Finance Limited (Chair), and Young Enterprise Trust Inc (Chair).
PNBHS 1958-1961 – Gordon Club
B.Com, BCA (Hons), FCPA
Born: 19 December 1944
PNBHS from 1958 – 1961
Gordon Club
Member Debating Team 1959-61;
Lifesaving Instructor 1961;
Form Prizes in English, Geography and Current Events;
Business Alumni Inductee November 2013.
Degree (Accountancy), Honours Degree (Economics), Victoria University.NZ Treasury 1964 – 1969; Wellington City Council 1971 – 1977; Victoria University, Senior Lecturer Government Finance, 1970-77; Australian National University 1979-1981, Australian Department of Finance, Queensland Public Service Commission and Victorian Treasury 1981 – 1993; OECD, Paris, 1993-97; International Monetary Fund then the World Bank, Washington DC 1997-2005; Meridian Energy, Director; Tertiary Education Commission, Chair; Independent Commission of Inquiry into Local Government Funding, Chair; Royal Commission on Auckland Governance; IMF and World Bank, Consultant.
David studied for an accountancy degree at Victoria University part-time, joined Treasury and then did an honours degree in economics. He was active in student affairs and Labour politics and was elected to the Wellington City Council in 1971 at age 26 and served two terms. Twice an unsuccessful candidate for Parliament – Wellington Central in 1972 (missed by 27 votes) and 1975.
His professional life has focused on public sector reform – as an academic, consultant, NZ and Australian and international civil servant.
David was Senior Lecturer in Government Finance at Victoria University 1970-77 then joined the Australian National University. He then held senior positions in the Australian Department of Finance, Queensland Public Service Commission and Victorian Treasury between1981 and 1993.
He joined OECD (Paris) 1993-97 as public sector reform specialist before transferring to International Monetary Fund then the World Bank in Washington DC 1997-2005 working on public sector reform in over 40 developing countries.
Since returning to NZ in 2006 David has been a director of Meridian Energy, Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission, Chair of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Local Government Funding and a member of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance. He currently serves on three charitable boards including Auckland City Mission, is active in his Iwi (Ngai Tahu) and continues international consulting work for IMF and World Bank.
PNBHS 1943-1947 – Albion Club
AC, MB, BA
9 April 1929 – 10 February 1993
PNBHS from 1943 – 1947
Albion Club
1st XV Rugby
Companion, Order of Australia;
Bachelor of Arts (Science and Education) at Victoria University, Wellington;
Bachelor of Medicine at Otago Medical School, Dunedin;
NZ’s Top 100 History Makers;
Australian of the Year 1990;
Lions Clubs International: Melvin Jones Fellow;
Rotary: Award for World Understanding and Paul Harris Fellow.
Business Alumni Inductee February 2012.
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of New South Wales in 1965;Director of National Trachoma and Eye Health Programme in Australia in 1975;Created the Fred Hollows Foundation in 1992.
Fred practised medicine in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, London and Cardiff. He studied ophthalmology at Moorefields Hospital in London before moving to Australia. Through the National Trachoma and Eye Health Programme, Fred worked extensively with 465 remote Aboriginal communities and checked more than 112,000 people. He found 50–80% of people had eye disease, a number that he set about reducing. He simplified operating procedures and gave sight back to many hundreds of people.
He had a determination to bring modern eye health services to poorer communities and countries. One of the obstacles to their vision was the high cost of the intraocular lenses IOLs) used in modern cataract surgery, which put IOL implant surgery out of reach of most people in developing countries. By pushing boundaries and demanding change, the Fred Hollows Foundation opened modern intraocular lens manufacturing laboratories in both Kathmandu (Nepal) and Asmara (Eritrea) in 1994. They made IOLs for 3.5% of the cost of other lenses, and high quality, low cost IOLs became available. Millions of IOLs have been produced and allow eye surgery to be performed for about $25.
Fred said, “I believe that the basic attribute of mankind is to look after each other. ….. We discover our own humanity by helping others.” He also believed, “Don’t ever ‘half do’ a job, don’t ever compromise. Slog away until you get the job done.”
263 Featherston St, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
P O Box 4049, Palmerston North 4442
Phone: +64 (06) 354 5176
Fax: +64 (06) 354 5175
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