Independent Chair

Rob Campbell, appointed in September 2020, has more than 30 years’ experience in investment management and corporate governance. He is the Chair of Ara Ake and Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology. Rob trained as an economist and has worked in a variety of capital market advisory and governance roles over a long period.

Independent Director

As well as being an independent director at New Zealand Rural Land Company, Sarah is also an independent director for NZX-listed, Comvita. She is the former CEO of Lifestream International, a New Zealand-owned company specialising in bioavailable, ethical, plant-based health foods. Previously, Sarah acted as the chief executive of Designer Textiles International. From 2011 to 2014, she held a number of senior roles with Fonterra, including vice president of international farming based in China, managing director of dairy nutrition, and managing director of RD1 — Fonterra’s chain of rural retail stores. Prior to that, Sarah spent a decade as a managing director of Healtheries/Vitaco. Sarah is a veterinarian by training. Sarah was appointed in April 2020.

Independent Director

Hailing from Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Waikato-Tainui, Tia Greenaway currently leads the Rautaki Māori team for He Pou a Rangi, Climate Change Commission and is responsible for delivering the Iwi/Māori aspects of the Commission’s work programme.

Tia has broad experience in the Māori sector and holds various roles on Iwi and Ahu Whenua Trusts and Committees operating mainly in farming and forestry. Tia is passionate about improving wellbeing outcomes for our taiao and our mokopuna and has been a key contributor to the development of the wellbeing framework He Ara Waiora - A Pathway towards Wellbeing, a collaboration between Māori thought-leaders and the Treasury. Tia has a Bachelor of Music, a Masters in Professional Accounting, and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Director & Management Company Co-Founder

Christopher is one of the founders and directors of New Zealand Rural Land Management. He is also the founder and managing director of Elevation Capital Management. He was previously a Partner of Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty, co-head of institutional equities at Goldman Sachs JBWere (NZ) and a foundation broker of the New Zealand Exchange (NZX). Before that he was an Individual Full Member of the NZ Stock Exchange (NZSE). He has been a board member of the Financial Markets Authority since 2019 and the NZX Listing Sub-Committee since 2008 and a former member of the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal (2013 -2022). He is also a director of NZX listed Allied Farmers Limited, Bethunes Investments Limited and Swimtastic Limited. Christopher graduated from the University of Auckland with a BCom (Economics) in 1996, and has undertaken further study at the University of Auckland, Columbia University (New York), New York University (NYU), London School of Economics (LSE) and the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Director

Shelley is Chair of Allied Farmers and is a director of Heartland Bank, Hobson Wealth Holdings and Hobson Wealth Partners, Partners Group Holdings and Partners Life, and 9 Spokes International. She is also a chair of TaxGift and PaySauce. Shelley’s governance experience includes businesses involved in fintech, large scale technology infrastructure and payments innovation, wealth management, venture capital and education based growth for SMEs. Shelley has extensive banking experience in the New Zealand market. Her last role as an executive was leading BNZ Partners, which spanned all aspects of business banking and wealth management for Bank of New Zealand. Shelley was appointed in April 2020.

Co-Founder & Director

Richard is a founder and director of New Zealand Rural Land Management. He is Managing Director of Allied Farmers and is currently the CEO at Bellevue Enterprises — a bovine genetic improvement business with interests in dairy farming, porcine genetics, pork sales and commercial property. He is also a consultant at global investment management firm Elevation Capital Management, where he focuses on special situation investments. Richard has been involved in a number of industries including tourism, agriculture/ biotechnology and fine art auction houses – in functions ranging from finance, to marketing, strategy, strategic review and implementation. Richard holds a BCom in finance and economics from the University of Canterbury, with post-graduate certificates in value investing from Columbia University (New York), and agricultural businesses and leadership from Harvard Business School (Boston). Richard is currently on the board of the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand (INFIZ) and was recognised within the financial services industry by being awarded the INFINZ Emerging Leader Award 2017.

Co-Founder & Consultant

Christopher is one of the founders and directors of New Zealand Rural Land Management. He is also the founder and managing director of Elevation Capital Management. He was previously a Partner of Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty, co-head of institutional equities at Goldman Sachs JBWere (NZ) and a foundation broker of the New Zealand Exchange (“NZX”). Before that he was an Individual Full Member of the NZ Stock Exchange (“NZSE”). He has been a board member of the Financial Markets Authority since 2019 and the NZX Listing Sub-Committee since 2008 and a former member of the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal (2013 -2022). He is also a director of NZX listed Allied Farmers Limited, Bethunes Investments Limited and Swimtastic Limited. Christopher graduated from the University of Auckland with a BCom (Economics) in 1996, and has undertaken further study at the University of Auckland, Columbia University (New York), New York University (NYU), London School of Economics (LSE) and the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Co-Founder & Consultant

Hayden is a founder and director of New Zealand Rural Land Management. He is the independent director on various large scale dairy farms in Canterbury and Southland, which produce more than 7 million kilograms of milk solids and includes New Zealand’s largest organic milk producer. He also chairs Bicoeta, an anaerobic digestion company, is a trustee of the South Waikato Investment Fund, where he chairs their risk committee which is responsible for their investment assets, and is an independent director at Rowing New Zealand. Hayden is an experienced advisor with more 20 years’ experience in providing governance, structural, financial, and risk management advice. He is currently the managing partner for Findex Waikato and heads Agribusiness New Zealand for Findex. Hayden has held key finance and management roles with the Bank of New Zealand as a senior partner and at National Australia Bank’s Agribusiness unit, which saw him specialise in farming and NAB’s corporate bank, and their food and fibre sector portfolio in Melbourne.

General Manager - Corporate

Xavier is the General Manager - Corporate for New Zealand Rural Land Management. He has experience across valuations, project finance, debt advisory, and mergers and acquisitions. Xavier’s previous roles include Crown Irrigation Investments Limited, Todd Property Group, Deloitte Corporate Finance and Bancorp Corporate Finance. Xavier holds an Master of Business (MBus) Finance (Distinction) from the University of Otago and a BCom from Massey University.

Consultant

Elisha Friedlander is a finance professional with a decade-long career in investment banking & corporate finance. At New Zealand Rural Land Management, Elisha leverages this experience to drive and facilitate transactions. Elisha was previously a VP at Macquarie and gained experience at Goldman Sachs and KPMG. Elisha has a BCom/LLB from the University of Auckland and underwent further studies at Harvard and Stockholm University.

Investment Associate

Josh is an Investment Associate for New Zealand Rural Land Management. He has experience across a variety of high performing agribusinesses in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and East Africa. In these roles Josh engaged in farm management, international project management, financial modelling, capital raising and client relationship management. Josh holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Lincoln University.