Board of Directors Profiles

Jamie Tuuta is a descendant of Tuta Tutere and Pare Hough on his grandfather’s side and Manuera Dix on his grandmother’s side. He has spent most of his life living between Taranaki and Wellington but has always maintained strong links with whanau on Wharekauri and continues to hold land interests on the island. Jamie maintains a keen interest in tribal politics. He was chair of Te Runanga o Ngati Mutunga until December 2009, when he was appointed a Trustee.

Jamie has a range of skills and experience, in particular a background in law and science. He is currently a self employed consultant, advisor and company director. Current work includes providing advice on the Emissions Trading Scheme and Treaty settlements, membership of the government’s PEAK Group for Sustainable Land Management and membership of the Investment Advisory Panel for the Primary Growth Partnership. Jamie is currently chair of Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation and a director of organisations in the health and fisheries sectors.

Over the years Jamie has held a range of positions for various organisations within the private sector including, agribusiness, fishing, investment, health, Treaty settlements, Maori development and education, including 12 years in governance roles.

Jamie’s focus as a Trustee-director is on consolidating the present position of the Trust and executing a strategic plan with a clear vision that will excite iwi members and allow the Trust to lead positive, unifying change.

Robin Page has lived on the Chathams for 42 years apart from five years spent at boarding school in Christchurch. His family have been fishers on the Chathams for several generations and he is looking forward to passing this opportunity onto his own son in due course.

Robin was self-employed for 22 years and his governance experience includes the Young Fishermen’s Association, Federated Fishermen’s Association, Founding Executive Member of Cramac 6, Pau Mac 4 Executive, and the Rock Lobster Industry Council.

Robin's key objectives as a Trustee-director are to ensure the organisation simplifies its structure, reduces overheads and through this grows profit. As a lifelong Chathams resident Robin has seen the practical impacts of poor economic development on the Islands and feels strongly that profits made by the Trust from the Fisheries Settlement Assets should be re-invested in Chathams quota to help the island to control its own destiny and further develop a fishing industry that increases island jobs and income.

Robin wants to see Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri work alongside other island groups to help the whole island community to move forward.

Robin is committed to ensuring a strong Chathams and a healthy legacy for following generations.

Tom McClurg is Ngati Mutunga and was the General Manager of Strategy and Planning for Aoteroa Fisheries Limited. He has an intimate knowledge of the quota management system, an in-depth understanding of the fishing industry and a reputation for providing sound strategic and economic advice. 

Tom has held executive management positions in the Ministry of Fisheries and the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission and prior to this as a principal of the Corporate Finance Division at Ernst and Young, he provided financial advice to a range of primary production companies including those in the fishing industry. 

Tom McClurg holds a MSc in Natural Resource Management (First Class Honours) from Lincoln University and a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey. He has been a director on Maori owned fishing companies and he was a founding director of the Seafood Industry Council (SeaFIC) and the New Zealand Paua Management Company. He now runs his own consulting company, Toroa Strategy Ltd,

offering advice to companies operating in a range of sectors.  He has also been engaged by the World Bank to provide fisheries management and fisheries development expertise.

Joseph Thomas is currently a Senior Consultant with Polson Higgs & Co in Christchurch and has a long history of engagement with the Chathams. Prior to joining Polson Higgs in October 2006, Joseph was CEO of the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust.  He has over 10 years’ experience in various governance roles as a director, trustee and councillor.  Joseph is a chartered accountant, an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management Inc, and a certified management consultant and member of council with the Institute of Management Consultants of New Zealand.

Joseph’s areas of expertise include governance and management, strategic and business planning, problem solving and decision making, human resource management, organisational change, and delivery of corporate training.  Joseph is active in Maori business development through the delivery of Maori Business Facilitation Services and Maori Trustee Training for the Canterbury-Westland region.

In 2000, Joseph received the NZIM/IBM Young Executive of the Year Award and in 2002 received the Young Chartered Accountant of the Year award for the Upper South Island region.
 
 

Andrew is currently Managing Director of Koau Capital Partners Ltd.  Andrew worked for the Ngai Tahu Group for six years, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer of Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation (NTHC).   NTHC is an investment company, and diversified conglomerate with assets over $600m and across the property, tourism, rural, healthcare and seafood industries. 

Andrew’s earlier background includes work in Asia, Mexico and London for Halliburton (oil and gas construction), culminating in the role of Global Proposals Manager. He began his career as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouse Coopers. 

Andrew has strong experience and skills in capital allocation, mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring and asset performance management.