Brett O’Riley - NZICT Group Chief Executive Officer

Brett has over twenty years experience in the ICT sector. Prior to joining NZICT, he was Managing Director of Ochre Services and Ochre Networks in Australia, responsible for building a start-up telecommunications infrastructure development business with projects in Australia and Asia.

Brett has also held senior executive roles at Gen-i, Telecom New Zealand, Nava Networks, Southern Cross Cable Network and Pacific Gateway Exchange. Earlier in his career he spent time in corporate and public affairs - he was been both a press secretary and ministerial advisor under previous National and Labour governments.

He is vice chairman of the Advisory Council of the Pacific Telecommunications Council. Brett also writes and speaks regularly on a range of ICT issues.  

Andrew Hunt - Kinetics Group 

Andrew is CEO of Kinetics Group Ltd, an Auckland based system integrator focussed on the small and mid-market sectors. He is actively interested in the wider business environment, and is a director of EMA (Northern) and a member of the Business NZ Council.

He has also been involved in local area network support and design for Small and Medium business. Before forming Kinetics Group, Andrew had roles at Rudd Watts and Stone (now Minter Ellison) and NZI Group.

He graduated from Auckland University with a BSc and a good working knowledge of most varieties of (cheap) beer. (He will one day get around to framing the diploma!)

Bennett Medary - Simpl

After more than 20 years as a recognised leader in the commercial use of technology - 15 of which have been spent at the helm of The Simpl Group, the systems integration company he founded in 1992 - Bennett Medary doesn’t describe his work as creating IT solutions, but rather harnessing technology to enhance people’s lives.

Bennett is a pioneer in New Zealand systems integration, renown for facilitating collaboration among industry sectors and organisations, particularly within the healthcare sector.

Unafraid to question perceived truths or voice views alternative to established thinking, Bennett is a vocal proponent of using vision to drive positive, long-term solutions that benefit New Zealand’s productivity and sustainability. 

Bob Pinchin - Swaytech

Bob Pinchin is currently Director of SwayTech, a specialist marketing and communications company, and has over 25 years experience working in the ICT sector in New Zealand and the UK. SwayTech is also responsible for the running of the highly successful NZ Hi-Tech Awards programme under contract to the Hi-Tech Trust.

Chris Quin - Gen-i

Chris Quin, CEO of Gen-i Australasia, is responsible for delivering converged technology and telecommunications solutions to Gen-i’s corporate, government and business clients across New Zealand and Australia.   Chris leads a team of 3,000 people at one of Australasia’s fastest-growing and innovative ICT services providersChris is a board member for the New Zealand Centre for Social Innovation, which brings together public, private and community partners to create new solutions for New Zealand’s most pressing social needs. Chris is also a board director of ICE HOUSE, a founding partner and mentor for the Omega programme (assisting skilled immigrants), and an active participant in Microsoft and Hewlett Packard’s APAC advisory boards.Before joining Telecom in 1991, Chris was Chief Financial Officer for Mitel and a Financial Accountant at Orica (formerly ICI).  

Chris has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University in Wellington.

Daryl French - IBM Asia Pacific

Daryl is currently a senior manager with IBM Asia Pacific, responsible for sales re-engineering, change management, and business performance. He has been part of the ICT industry for over 25 years, mainly in sales, marketing and senior management roles, and in the course of his career, worked in a number of countries, including Japan, China and India.

Alongside his corporate career, Daryl is also an entrepreneur: developing new markets; starting or running a number of businesses. He has been involved with a number of acquisitions and company restructurings. Daryl now mentors other entrepreneurs and business leaders, and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Canterbury University. 

Geoff Hunt - Kordia

Geoff Hunt joined Kordia in 2005 and has lead the company through its transformation from a sunset, analogue broadcast TV transmission centric business to a modern digital broadband centric business.

His previous role was managing director of ALSTOM’s (became AREVA) New Zealand operations. Over a ten year period ALSTOM/AREVA NZ was grown from its electricity transmission network maintenance and construction roots to include power station maintenance and refurbishment, becoming the largest (equal) telecommunications network maintenance and construction business and secured the contract to maintain Tranzrail’s (now KiwiRail) locomotive and wagon fleet. The business was also expanded into the electrical and telecommunications sectors in Australia.

Geoff has a Masters degree in electrical engineering, was a Confederation of British Industry Scholar, is a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers in NZ and a Member of the NZ Institute of Directors.

Geoff Lawrie - Cisco

Geoff is Chair of the NZICT Board until a new Chair is appointed at the August 2010 Board meeting.

Geoff is the New Zealand Country Manager for Cisco Systems. He was previously the Managing Director of GDC Communications Ltd, a telecommunications and IT services company. Prior to that Geoff was the MD of Microsoft’s operations in New Zealand for several years.

During his final year with Microsoft, Geoff was director of strategy development for the Asia Pacific region. Preceding Microsoft, Geoff held a number of senior sales and marketing related positions with Unisys.

Geoff was a Director of Brainz Instruments Ltd, a bio-technology start-up specialising in brain function monitoring equipment, from its commercial incorporation until its successful listing on the ASX three years later.

Geoff holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management and Marketing from Otago University, which he has supplemented with post graduate study courses in management and finance at Macquarie University in Sydney and Columbia University in New York.

Ian Clarke - Fronde

A broadly experienced executive, Ian is CEO at Fronde Systems Group having spent 11 years at the company in a variety of roles and the last 2 as CEO. Ian brings wide ranging perspectives based on his experience in the IT, energy, broadcasting and agricultural sectors.

A healthy, cohesive and effective NZ ICT sector is critically important in enabling New Zealand’s economy to grow at a faster rate and compete globally. NZICT has made great progress since inception to become a cohesive and effective voice for ICT in New Zealand. Ian is keen to apply his skills, experience and effort to supporting that progress by joining the board.

Areas in which Ian is particularly interested in contributing include developing ICT workforce depth and quality, engaging with Government regarding policy as well as their procurement strategy, and supporting innovation initiatives.

Paul Muckleston - Microsoft

Paul is currently Microsoft NZ’s Director of Marketing & Operations.

Paul is an internationally experienced senior manager with a proven track record in the technology sector. Paul returned to NZ in August 2009 after 4 years with Microsoft based in Paris and then Munich working in the Central & Eastern Europe HQ. Initially as Director of Strategy & Business Management and then as General Manager of the Small & Medium Business, Solutions & Channel organisation across 24 subsidiaries & 33 countries employing >500 staff and >US$600m revenue.

Previously Paul was with Microsoft NZ holding a variety of management positions. Paul offers diverse experience across Leadership, Management, Sales, Marketing, Strategy and Business Development functions in both start-ups and mature business, Developed & Developing countries, Line & Staff roles.

Paul holds a BBS in International Business and Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Massey University.  

Richard Laverty - NZTE

Richard is responsible for the NZTE’s engagement with New Zealand companies in the ICT, Creative and Services industries, including related sector development initiatives.

Richard has recently returned to New Zealand after four years as NZTE’s Regional Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa based in Hamburg, Germany where he was responsible for NZTE’s client engagement and project activities throughout the wider region.

Richard has 20 years of industry experience spanning engineering, R&D, business development, strategy, and general management, gained during a career within the New Zealand dairy industry. During his time with Fonterra, Richard spent eight years based in Europe, including two years as general manager of the European milk-protein business. Subsequent New Zealand based roles included corporate strategy and global ingredients marketing management. After leaving Fonterra in April 2004, Richard joined a beverage technology start-up, of which he is a director and shareholder

David Boyes - Westpac (Independent Board Member)

David is General Manager of Customer and Technology Services at Westpac New Zealand responsible for over 1,100 employees in a wide range of teams that include IT, Operations, Call Centres and Simplification. Customer and Technology Services are responsible for driving the processing of the bank’s business as it directly relates to the customer and supports the technology framework that enables Westpac to reach its strategic goals.

David’s career in IT has spanned more than 25 years working in a variety of roles for IBM Global Services, Databank and the National Bank of New Zealand. David has a MBA from Massey University and is currently serving on the board of The Warehouse Financial Services.

David Stone - Telecommunication Carriers’ Forum (Independent Board Member)

David is currently CEO of the Telecommunications Carriers’ Forum (TCF) industry group. Prior to that David was Head of Industry Affairs for Vodafone, and represented Vodafone on the board of the TCF. He has extensive industry experience having begun his career with CLEAR Communications in 1996, and has subsequently worked with a number of other industry members.

Prior to joining Vodafone four years ago, David was Manager, Strategic Development for United Networks Limited.

David has a BSc in geology (and worked for a time as an exploration geologist) and LLB (Hons) and MComLaw(Hons) degrees but gave up being a lawyer years ago.