Board of Directors

Craig has worked as a diplomat, economist, investment banker and Chief Executive Officer of BT Funds Management (NZ) Limited. He has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Wharton Business School in Philadelphia, authored reports to the New Zealand Government on the Taxation of Investment Income (which led to the PIE regime), and the creation of New Zealand as a funds domicile. He currently chairs the listed companies Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited and AIG Insurance (NZ Board). He has directorship and private equity interests in financial services and other businesses.

Philip is a solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and Victoria. He has worked as a corporate finance adviser in New Zealand to the corporate sector on debt and equity matters for more than 30 years. He is currently a director of Powerco, Matariki Forests, South Port New Zealand and Papa Rererangi I Puketapu (New Plymouth Airport). Philip is also a strategic adviser to clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He was a member of the Local Government Infrastructure Expert Advisory Group tasked with advising the Minister of Local Government on improvements in local government infrastructure efficiency.

David runs an investment advisory firm and has a background in institutional investing and economic policy. He has worked for the NZ Superannuation Fund and the OECD in Paris, as well as a range of governance roles in the investment and energy sectors. 

He is currently Chair of New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy and a director of GasNet Ltd and the European-based renewable energy developer, Galileo. 

David has an M.Sc in Economics from the London School of Economics, and a B.Soc.Sci (Hons) in Economics and Physics from the University of Waikato. 

Linda is professional company director with over 20 years governance experience, combined with 30 years senior financial management experience having worked in both the banking and energy sectors in New Zealand.

Linda holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Diploma in Banking. Linda is a Certified Treasury Professional, a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand (INFINZ), a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Certified Fellow of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and a Fellow of Governance NZ.

Linda is currently chair of Crown Irrigation Investments, Central Lakes Trust and Central Otago District Council’s Audit and Risk Committee. She is a director of Kiwi Wealth, Dunedin City Holdings and Alpine Energy. Linda is also a member of the Capital Markets Advisory Committee and the Risk and Audit Committee of The Treasury.

Alan has over 35 years’ experience in the financial services and local government sectors at executive level, with over twenty years in banking, insurance and funds management followed by his current role as General Manager Corporate / CFO at Whangarei District Council.

His involvement with LGFA began in its initial planning stage, as a representative of the ‘tight nine’ councils that worked together to turn the concept into reality in 2011. He was an inaugural member of the Shareholders’ Council, which he chaired from 2014 before joining the Board in 2021.

With a background leading technology companies Helen is an entrepreneur with interests in a diverse range of innovative companies. Former executive roles include Managing Director of Microsoft New Zealand and Head of Pivotal Corporation Asia Pacific. Helen was the Managing Director, Markit Group (now S&P Global) following its purchase of NZX’s TZ1 Registry providing transparency and integrity to environmental markets. Helen founded and was CEO for Organic Initiative Ltd (Oi) until early 2022.

Current directorships include Chair of Kara Technologies Ltd and Director of Organic Initiative Ltd. Helen was the inaugural Chair, The Network for Learning Ltd (N4L) and has acted as Director for numerous public, private and public sector organisations.

She is a member of Global Women and a Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors. Helen received an international honorary membership to Beta Gamma Sigma, Auckland University of Technology Chapter and is a Kea World Class New Zealander. Helen is a judge of the NZ Hi-Tech Awards and was a judge for Kiwinet Awards until 2018.

Helen was recognized in the 2017 Queen’s Honours Awards as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to technology and business, and won the New Zealand Women of Influence Supreme Award 2016. Helen was awarded Most Inspiring Individual at NZ Innovation Awards 2017, Next Magazine’s Woman of the Year in Business & Innovation, and Most Inspiring Women Leader at the NZ International Business Awards in 2019.

Sarah is a Chartered Accountant with a professional career spanning business advisory, financial management, and corporate services. 

She is currently GM – Organisation Performance of Taupō District Council and has been in local government leadership roles since 2017, across three different Councils. Sarah is passionate about making a lasting, positive difference in the sector and the communities they serve.  She is a member of Taituara Financial Management Reference Group, which tackles issues of national significance around policy and practice as it relates to local government financial management.

Sarah is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and has held board positions with several community organisations.  She is currently the Chairperson of Waipā Networks Trust and HRT Property Holdings Trust.

Sarah has been recognised for her financial management abilities including winning ‘Emerging Financial Manager’ at the 2021 NZ CFO Awards.