Executive Team 2023

President

Peter Macdonald 

“I completed my law degree at Canterbury University and my background in Human Resource Management and, over the last 25 years in all facets of employment law. My clients are mainly employers and I have represented a number of large companies in all aspects of employment law over many years. In addition, I have served as a government appointed Statutory Manager in 10 schools including Wakatipu High School.

 I am now working towards finding more time to also pursue some personal interests including fishing, long hill walks, e biking, casual bowls and, of course, grandchildren!

Vice-President

Sarah Dean

Sarah is the founder and Patron of the RTA Trauma Charitable Trust trading as the National Road Trauma Centre. Sarah has a diverse background in both the commercial, local and central government sectors in New Zealand and Australia. She has a passion for human capital development and social economics.

Sarah believes in effective collaborative leadership, that is, working collaboratively with the right people to establish opportunities and initiatives that support those in our community. Sarah works closely with government, non for profit organisations and the sector to help implement change.

Some of Sarah’s most recent achievements include. In 2019 Sarah led the Trust’s formal restructure, rebrand to the Road Traffic Accident Trauma Charitable Trust trading as National Road Trauma Centre. After significant stakeholder engagement and consultation Sarah led and developed the Trust’s five year strategic plan, branding with the enduring vision of a National Road Trauma Centre.

In 2020 Sarah appointed a new Board to support and deliver its five year strategic plan.

In 2021 Sarah lead the nationalisation of the Canterbury Road Trauma Awards to the New Zealand Road Safety, Emergency Response and Healthcare Awards and served as Board Chair. Sarah now serves as a Patron and as a member of the New Zealand Road Safety, Emergency Response and Healthcare Awards Executive Committee.

Sarah’s own personal business background includes being a part owner and shareholder of two specialied physiotherapy clinics in Sydney, Australia specialising in chronic neck and back pain along with specialsing in the treatment and prevention of sports injuries, including Olympian athletes.

In her spare time Sarah enjoys staying fit and active. Most weekends she often travelling to Banks Peninsula.

Sarah’s finance is of Ngāi Tahu decent. Together they are in the process of establishing their own business.

Immediate Past President

Dean Percy

Dean Percy is the Managing Director of The Mark Creative Agency.

Having held key marketing and management roles within retail, construction and energy industries over the past 20 years, Dean possesses a wealth of insight and practical experience. Dean’s ability to understand, engage and inspire others, brings success to client relationships and outcomes.
Dean is one of those rare individuals who is a calm and considered thinker who thrives on the fast paced nature of the industry while keeping his eye on real world solutions that fit the needs of both the client and the marketplace

Secretary & Digital Communications Officer

Michelle MacWilliam

A specialist in the areas of developing business relationships, particularly in the local domestic market and between New Zealand and China, she is experienced in strategic planning, executing events and projects and building long term relationships across cultures via her business Duo Communication Ltd.

Michelle also works alongside SME business owners under the brands Retail Selling & Michelle Mac in the areas of business process re-engineering & crisis management whilst ensuring that focus is retained on sales and marketing so as to ensure desired outcomes are obtained. from an omnichannel perspective.

In 2014 was a finalist in the North Canterbury Business awards, professional section and was a national category finalist for local and regional/influencer in the New Zealand Women of Influence awards.

Michelle is currently the South Island executive committee member for the New Zealand China Trade Association. Chair of the Christchurch China Sister Cities Committee and serves on the board of governance for one of the Christchurch Women’s Refuge centres.

Treasurer

Colin Ross

Colin has significant banking expertise, market knowledge and connectivity gained over 38 years working for ANZ and HSBC in Wellington and Christchurch.

Senior Global Relationship Manager at HSBC for the last 20+ years, my responsibilities covered the management of a vast portfolio of import/export middle market and large corporate customers in the South Island across a diverse range of industries. Facilitating working capital, trade finance, foreign exchange and transaction banking.

He is passionate about helping and supporting NZ businesses to grow and succeed. He is excited to now transfer his banking skills to help and ensure businesses receive the most beneficial solutions and finance needed from its bank to grow, while saving managements teams productive time by preparing and negotiating with banks on the company’s behalf.

Reviewing and assessing financials to prepare new funding applications, annual reviews or debt consolidations to the bank will help businesses as a client and the banks as the funder to save time, money and make the process easier.

 Independent, expert, affordable banking advocacy working for the client to deliver across-the-board banking expertise.

Committee Member

Mark Phillips

Mark is director of Nikau Capital Ltd involved in financial services, and director of Pounamu Productions in film production and BTL Global, a property development company. His prior business experience includes an associate directorship at Bears Stearns in Singapore and Head of Fixed Income, National Australia Bank, London.

Committee Member

Warren Head

Warren is Managing Director of Head Consultants Ltd, providing services in business development, capital raising, financial public relations for listed and private equity businesses, media relations, and government relations.

He is also Chairman and Executive Director of MG Publications, a business media publisher in commercial and legal data, shipping & trade, investment, and current affairs. He is an award-winning financial writer and commentator.

Warren is a past president of the Christchurch Business Club and past secretary providing a depth of knowledge to the club’s history for the executive committee.

.

Committee Member

Dr Peggy Burrows

Dr Peggy Burrows was appointed as a Justice of the Peace at age 33 and served on the bench in the District Court as a member of the Deportation Review Tribunal for a decade. For over thirty years Peggy has been the Business Manager for Burrows Harness Racing Stables a family business owned in partnership with her husband, public trainer Donald Burrows. Peggy is the Director at Peggy Burrows & Associates, a boutique leadership development consultancy she established in 2017.  Peggy is an Associate with AMINZ, and has over three decades of mediation, governance and leadership experience at senior levels in Education, Law, Conservation and Animal Welfare. Peggy is an experienced educator and currently leads Haeata Community Campus, a large modern learning environment located in East Christchurch. Peggy brings a professional clarity to her work in business, education, disputes resolution, mediation, advocacy and adjudication. Most importantly Peggy puts people at the centre of everything she does.