Mike Creed
Mike is a director of Morrison Creed – Business Advisors & Chartered Accountants. His role is that of Business Coach to a range of clients, assisting them to run successful businesses.
Mike is also on the Investment Committee of the Manawatu Investment Group (MIG).
Dr. Abby Thompson
Abby Thompson is the CEO of FoodHQ – where food ideas meet science. FoodHQ is a collaborative initiative that brings together New Zealand’s smartest food science minds to drive innovation in the food industry. Abby is well connected across the wide range of organisations that make up the New Zealand food innovation landscape. Her previous roles included Director of Riddet Innovation (Massey University), where she led commercially-focused research and development work within the food and nutrition area, and Director of FoodPilot (part of the New Zealand Food Innovation Network).
Shane O'Brien
Shane is the Managing Director of Colspec Construction Ltd, involved mainly in financial management and governance roles within the business. Having been involved in the building industry for some 46 years overall, Shane set up the Colspec group 39 years ago and continues to be an integral part of the business today. Careful and considered succession planning has meant that Colspec has remained vibrant, and its business focus has been sharpened by new ideas and technology introduced through that process.
Shane is an active Angel Investor, and is a Board member of two start-up local businesses, involved in the bio-tech space, as well as a Directorship of the over-arching angel investment company. Mentoring, and the passing on of his experience is what keeps Shane young at heart and motivated to keep pushing the envelope, for efficiency and sustainability in each business venture that he is involved in.
Shareena Sandbrook
Shareena Sandbrook is the co-founder and Managing Director of Frogparking, a Palmerston North-based market leader in innovative parking management solutions whose products and services utilise cutting-edge technology to bring parking management, guidance, and enforcement into the digital age.
Frogparking is the latest in a long list of successful start-up ventures with high growth in the tech sector. Shareena holds a Bachelor of Business Studies in Marketing from Massey University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies, and an Executive MBA from Waikato University. Shareena has business experience in a wide range of industries, including investment banking, HR, retail finance, patents/intellectual property, and aviation.
Rahui Corbett
Rahui is a Chartered Accountant and recently became a partner at Morrison Creed.
Rahui is passionate about the accounting industry and embracing the change brought on by technology.
Rahui is our resident baker randomly arriving at work with morning tea much to the delight of the team.
Rahui enjoys keeping fit and can often be found at the gym, playing netball or chasing after her very active daughter. Rahui likes to spend her free time with family and friends, dining out and generally enjoying life.
Simon Barnett
Simon is the founder of OBO. Innovation at product and process level, with lashings of good marketing has enabled OBO to lead the world in field hockey goal keeping equipment. 70% of the keepers at the Rio Olympics used OBO.
He has a passion to see innovative local companies thrive, particularly in the international market place and believes Palmy is the perfect home for clever, curious, and globally successful businesses.
Lyn McCurdy
Lyn has worked in businesses ranging from small to medium enterprises to corporate multi-national companies and has a genuine understanding and empathy for what it takes to run a successful business.
Since moving to New Zealand in 1995, Lyn has been co-owner of start-up enterprises, worked in economic development, tertiary education and private consulting. She holds tertiary qualifications in science and education and in 2016 completed her Master of Business Studies-Resource Management at Massey University, researching strategic human resource management (SHRM) decisions in Maori Enterprise. In 2017 Lyn commenced her PhD, continuing her studies in SHRM and indigenous enterprise and organizational models. Lyn runs her own consulting and research business.
Chris Deere
Chris runs Integration Technologies Limited a Palmerston North based business providing hardware and software solutions to the Oil and Gas industry with a global presence in over 60 countries.
Chris has spent most of his life in Marketing and Brand Development in the global soft drinks industry but taking over ITL bought him closer to home and a move back to Palmy (where he studied at Massey) has ignited his passion for what local innovation when nurtured well can offer on a global stage.
Wayne Masters
Wayne has been Managing Director for ComputerCare NZ for the past 15 years, an award winning IT support company operating across 3 branches in the Central North Island. He is also a director of Constant Vigil, an electronics start-up and Stopbank Software, a software development company.
Daniel Goymer
Daniel has been the Technical Director at ComputerCare for the past ten years. To remain relevant in business today you need to constantly review and improve your product offerings. In his role, Daniel has continually pushed for change, championing the development of new products and solutions to meet the challenges of the ever changing IT landscape.
Linda Stewart
Linda is CE of the Central Economic Development Agency aka CEDA; leading a team of enablers, connectors and doers who are serious about delivering great outcomes for businesses across our region.
With a background in sales, business development, head hunting and recruitment while working within family owned businesses, through to some of the largest global companies such as Mars Inc. and Virgin, Linda brings a strong consumer focus, and on delivering outcomes that will create value and make a difference. Linda believes that great ideas can come from anywhere, and has a real a passion for unlocking the potential in people.
Rob Whitfield
The designer dude at WD +, an industrial designer adept in the art of transforming ideas into commercially viable products through his unique skills of melding beauty and creative design with production imperatives. Visualising in all dimensions. Listening in every sense.
A business mentor for BMNZ since 2013, Rob enjoys working with both fledgling and established business people enabling insights into their businesses whilst offering alternate views and injecting enthusiasm when needed.
Mike West
Hi, I’m Mike West. I work on the More FM Manawatu Morning Show with Gareth Pringle and Johnelle Hosking. I’m passionate about morning radio and have been since I was 8, which is why I have been doing the same show on the same station for just over 28 years. I’m also passionate about promotions, marketing, social media and technology. It’s great to also be a part of the BCC family.
Jemma Brackebush
As Communications Senior for the Central Economic Development Agency, Jemma enjoys using her skills as a story teller in her day to day role. Every day allows her to work across the different areas of CEDA which includes; economic and business development, international education and showcasing the region's lifestyle, business, work, study and visitor opportunities.
Jemma has previously worked as a broadcast and online reporter for Radio New Zealand, where she covered regional and rural news. Her next position took her to America where she covered the intersection of fashion, luxury and technology for Digiday in New York City. This wide experience means she's as comfortable talking beef breeds, as she is American beauty brands. A career highlight includes interviewing the Editor in Chief for both Marie Claire and W Magazine, whilst overlooking Manhattan from their high rise offices. Jemma is outcome driven and focused on getting to the core of the information to tell interesting and relevant stories.
Karina Kagei
Karina's passion is design, and she loves using creativity to add value to business.
Over a decade in the industry has taken her from Palmerston North to Auckland and back again. She has gained extensive experience in marketing and branding, and after being won over by the internet,found herself focussing on digital media campaigns and online marketing for the retail sector. She's since become even more "inspired" as the Design and Brand Manager for Manawatu-based internet service provider Inspire Net.
Karina enjoys challenges that provide opportunities for creative thinking, and taking projects from concept right through to the finished product. Design ideas are everywhere, and she's always on the lookout for inspiration.
Peter Ellingham
Peter is the Innovation Specialist at CEDA (Central Economic Development Agency), delivering the Callaghan Innovation programme for the entire Horizons Region. With a background in scientific research, and over 25 years experience in the sales & marketing of cutting edge scientific equipment, Peter is now delivering the Callaghan Innovation Grant Programme to the Horizons region. This includes working with start-ups, back shed inventors and established high tech companies.
Peter loves living in Manawatu because of the diversity of people and landscapes located within such a small area.
Mike Saywell
Mike is the owner of The Design School with 3 campuses in the North Island. The Design School helps people harness their talent to achieve formal qualifications and utilise their creativity as a career.
He grew up in Christchurch and after moving to Wellington, completed a Bachelor of Design majoring in Industrial Design. He began teaching full-time at The Design School in 2000, while also operating a freelance design studio and purchased the School in 2005.
For the last few years he has been engaged by NZQA to develop Arts and Design Qualifications for tertiary education and also by the Ministry of Education to develop the NCEA Creative Industries Vocational Pathway Award.
Stephen Parsons
Steve Parsons is a leading Manawatu travel agent and, in 2018, celebrated the 30th anniversary of Stephen Parsons House of Travel. His company is at the forefront of individual, personalised, group, commemorative and space travel. Steve places great emphasis on supporting and mentoring staff, providing employment pathways, ensuring his agents are equipped to create the best holidays possible and designing unique experiences for all his clients. Steve’s regional success is also due to his active participation in the community. He’s a Rotarian, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Marist Rugby Club, a former Regent On Broadway Trust Board representative and an enthusiastic supporter of Arohanui Hospice.
Terry Southern
Co-founder and CEO of Beta Solutions, Terry’s expertise lies within product development, project management, business management, business strategy, and electronic design and manufacturing. He has a passion for learning and understanding how things work and enjoys sharing this information.
Outside of work Terry enjoys the outdoors, aviation and table tennis - while his life long interests in space-exploration makes for exciting bedtime stories for his 3 young kids.