Prior to stepping into The Association’s Chief Executive role in June 2009, John held various marketing and senior management positions in NZX listed companies extensively involved in manufacturing, exporting and biotechnology activities. In these capacities he spent significant periods in international markets developing new opportunities for a diverse range of New Zealand primary produce and crop protection products.
John has held establishment and guiding roles on the New Zealand venison industry’s Game Industry Board and the NZ Food and Beverage Export Council.
Through the 1990’s he spent a number of years as Director Commercial Development at The University of Otago. In that position, newly created at the time, he was responsible for intellectual property protection and commercialisation and for “start-up” company formation.
He also played a lead role in the establishment of the University’s widely-acclaimed $8.5 million Centre For Innovation.
John is “Southland born and bred”, gained his commerce degree (marketing and economics) at The University of Otago and has, for the major part of his career, undertaken his mainstream employment roles from a Dunedin location.
He has recently joined the Orokonui Ecosanctuary Business Board and the Board of the University Bookshop (Otago) Limited.
Diana has extensive legal and practical experience in employment law and human resources. Initially Diana worked in general practice undertaking mainly criminal, family and employment law. She has had many roles within OSEA having been an employment lawyer, Board Member and now Managing Solicitor. Having worked with OSEA as an employment lawyer from 1998 to 2001 she joined the Mainland Poultry Group as its Human Resources and Compliance Manager. She took the lead in collective negotiations for that company in Auckland and Dunedin and gained wide experience in the practical application of all aspects of employment law in a national setting. It was during this time that Diana became a Board Member for the OSEA. In 2008 she was invited to return to the Association as its Managing Solicitor. Diana is currently a member of the Competenz Board and a past member of the OSEA Board and Otago Polytechnic Council.
Will Martin is our Business Advisory Manager, this being a recently created commercial support position where Will works closely with Chief Executive John Scandrett. Will continues to be a key member of the Legal Team and in that capacity will still report directly to Managing Solicitor, Diana Hudson.
As Business Advisory Manager Will oversees aspects of OSEA commercial activities, with a particular involvement covering the expansion of BusinessNZ initiatives including those of ExportNZ and ManufacturingNZ. Will travels throughout Otago and Southland meeting with members and various businesses and community groups.
Will completed his studies at the University of Otago in 2002 and graduating with degrees in Law and Commerce (majoring in Management), and finished his postgraduate studies in Management in 2008. He was admitted to the Bar as a Barrister & Solicitor in 2003 and first worked with a leading Queen’s Counsel and subsequently a commercial law firm specialising in litigation and commercial law.
He joined the Employers’ Association as a lawyer in May 2006. Over the years he has appeared before, and prepared work for, various Courts and Tribunals including the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Privy Council, and the Employment Relations Authority.
Will has been involved in a number of voluntary organisations during the past decade in governance and operational roles, and is also a retired Navy Reserve Officer holding the rank of Lieutenant. Currently Will is a founding Trustee of the Kavanagh College Alumni Charitable Trust, a supervising volunteer lawyer with the Dunedin Community Law Centre and an Employment law subcommittee member with the Otago branch of the New Zealand Law Society.
Rachel Brazil is a senior lawyer, having specialised in employment law for over seven years.
Initially working for the Employers’ Association for 3 years, Rachel specialised in all areas of industrial relations and employment law. This included preparing employment agreements; managing incapacity, disciplinary and performance issues; negotiation of collective employment agreements; assisting businesses with restructuring and redundancy situations; privacy law/human rights issues; personal grievances; organisational reviews; Mediation, Authority and Employment Court representation.
Subsequent to this, in September 2007, Rachel took the reins of the Dunedin branch of a private practice law firm continuing to specialise in employment law, creating a successful branch of the business that continues to this day. This developed Rachel’s experience, allowing her to continue providing employment advice to small, medium and large businesses and organisations as well as providing services to employees.
Rachel is very pleased to return to the Employers’ Association and continue her work providing a wide range of employment law services, including legal representation and advice on the interpretation and application of employment law, collective bargaining and supporting employers through challenging situations they may face through the litigation process including to the Employment Authority and/or Employment Court.
Kristen Gawn
Health & Safety Advisor
Kristen manages all aspects of the associations health and safety including the delivery and design of OSEA health and safety training and expert advice to our members. Kristen is very skilled at the maintenance and modification of the health and safety programmes required by the Health and Safety Employment Act 1992 and its Amendments (2002). Kristen’s dedication and commitment to the Association’s members has earned her a formidable reputation in the health and safety industry. She works closely along side Ray Wills, the associations other Health & Safety Advisor.
Previously Kristen has held several roles as a Health and Safety Specialist for major employers and has spent well over a decade within the industry. In August 2006, Kristen joined the Otago Southland Employers’ Association.
Ray designs and delivers training and advice to the Association’s members in all aspects of health and safety. Rays practical experience is considerable in the Health and Safety area and he has particular strengths with the construction and project management health and safety. Ray’s immeasurable knowledge with health and safety assists our members continually with success. He works closely along side Kristen Gawn, the associations other Health & Safety Advisor.
Previously Ray managed health & safety in the construction industry for several large companies and more recently project health & safety management involving contractors and sub-contractors. In April 2008, Ray joined the Otago Southland Employers’ Association.
Helen Young
Barrister & Solicitor (Southland)
Helen joined the team at the Otago Southland Employers Association in November 2009 as a legal adviser and advocate. Helen has worked with employers across both the public and private sectors and is able to provide professional and sound advice on all of your employment and human resource management issues.
Helen’s graduated with a law degree from the University of Canterbury in 1984. As a lawyer in private practice, she regularly advised on business purchases, mergers and restructures, property development, commercial projects, and all other aspects of business law. In 2000, Helen was appointed Chief Executive of Sport Southland, which enabled her to apply her knowledge and management skills in a sector she is passionate about.
Helen sat on the Tenancy Tribunal from 1986-1993. Helen also served on the Council of the Southern Institute of Technology from 1993-2002, Chair from 1998-2002. Over the years, she has been involved with a number of public sector and community organisations, including Hospice Southland, Southland Basketball Association and the Otago-Southland Chinese Association, to name but a few.
Helen is an experienced presenter and has previously conducted seminar training for the New Zealand Law Society’s Continuing Legal Education Programme and has also led numerous sport sector workshops and seminars.
Don Rhodes
Employers' Advocate (Central Otago)
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Don deals with employment related queries on a daily basis, providing practical advice to our Central Otago members on various employment and labour related issues. Don also specialises in people management and has designed and delivered many OSEA training programmes. Dons training assists our members and their employees in management positions to be effective team leaders and to establish and maintain effective working relationships through good communication techniques.
Don has enjoyed the longest employment relationship with the Association, and previously worked for an outstanding 18 years as an advocate for the Association in the Dunedin branch. The Association is delighted to have Don as a valuable team member working on a contract basis based in Central Otago.
Anne-Marie McKay
Member Services + Financial Services
Anne-Marie is the first point of contact for receiving telephone calls and greeting members in our office, where her commitment to providing outstanding service is well respected amongst the Association's members. Anne-Marie also assists with the finances and always ensures a high quality administrative service.
Previously Anne-Marie worked in the Regional Office of The Salvation Army Employment Plus. Anne-Marie joined the Otago Southland Employers’ Association in October 2007.
Sarah organises Employers' Association events and training and development programmes. She is also responsible for our ExportNZ, She's Motivated and Business Mentors business initiatives.
Sarah completed a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago in 2009, majoring in Marketing and Management. Since then Sarah has been working at a local recruitment agency where she effectively helped candidates through the registration process and was well respected with the clients she had contact with. Sarah still keeps her finger on the pulse in the recruitment industry as an Account Manager for an innovative on line recruitment tool, QJumpers.
In April 2010, Sarah joined the Otago Southland Employers’ Association.
Joanne has worked, since 2001, ensuring southern businesses have easy access to a suite of comprehensive professional development opportunities and events, tailored specifically to their unique needs.
A member of the Otago Southland Employers’ Association team since March 2010, Joanne continues to work closely with businesses, large and small, throughout Southland, Otago and Central Otago, managing and delivering the New Zealand Institute of Management’s training programmes.
Away from the office, Joanne is the Southland Young Enterprise Scheme (Y.E.S.) Co-ordinator and a Board of Trustee. In March 2011, she was appointed to the New Zealand Institute of Management Inc. national board.
Rachelle work’s closely with Joanne delivering the NZIM events and training programme for the Employers’ Association. Rachelle’s is a born and bred Southlander brought up on a farm just outside Invercargill. Rachelle’s passion for traveling persuaded her to live aboard in London before she settled back into Invercargill with her husband and is raising her family.
Rachelle’s career has seen her work in many administrative roles within a number of sectors, including medical, legal and manufacturing. She also brings a wealth of experience with computer programmes and support.
The Otago Southland Employers’ Association welcomed Rachelle to their team in March 2010.
President
Philip Broughton
Polson Higgs & Co
Philip is a Chartered Accountant, Maori. Business Mentor and a Partner of the firm Polson Higgs Dunedin. Philip provides a full range of business and accounting consultancy services to Maori, for the Otago/Southland region.
Vice President
Stuart McLauchlan
GS McLauchlan & Co
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Stuart is the Managing Partner of GS McLauchlan & Co Business Advisors and Accountants, a prominent businessman and company director. He is Board Chair and Director of several other companies.
Nigel McKinlay
Everyday Gourmet
Nigel is the working director of Orthotics Otago Ltd and of Everyday Gourmet. He also is a member OSEA council, and a board member of Upstart Incubator. He also has community involvement including Kaikorai School Committee, Chair, Fortune Theatre Board, member Otago Bridge club.
Paul Morriss
Otago Polytechnic
Paul is a Business Facilitator for Aadara Business Services ltd. Paul's prior experience includes a variety of managerial roles in various industries including retail, health, postgraduate education, and home improvement.
Ray Anton
Clutha Health First
Ray is the Manager of Clutha Health First and has been in the current position for the past 7 years, previously he worked in the District health board as strategic planner & quality coordinator. Mr. Anton is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of John McGlashan College, and Chairman of the Otago Southland Local Cancer Network.
Robert Gonzales
Waitaki District Health Services
Robert has been the General Manager of Oamaru Hospital since 2001 and was elected to the OSEA Board this year. Oamaru Hospital has been a member of the OSEA for a number of years and values the support, services and expertise the OSEA offers. Robert served in international missions for several years, including roles such as Director of a Mission Base in Manila providing health related services in squatter communities, and Mission School Director in Kenya, East Africa. He moved to New Zealand in 1989 and worked in Dunedin Hospital for approximately 12 years during which time he became the Service Leader for the Advanced Medical Imaging Services. He enjoys living in Oamaru with his wife and three children and is a member of the Oamaru Rotary Club.
Rachel Walker
Delta Utility Services Ltd
Rachel is the Human Resources Manager for DELTA Utility Services and has been working in Human Resources for the last 15 years. Rachel is a member of several boards including OSEA, HRINZ National Board and the Otago Polytechnic Council. Rachel is the Wild South President of the HRINZ.
Michael Weusten
Tile Centre
Michael, an engineer by training, joined the OSEA board as a Southland representative in 2007. He has a wide background in general management, leadership and governance, as well as a special interest in professional development, organisational growth and quality management. In addition to being board chairperson of companies in the tourism, brewing and charitable sectors Michael is also a board member of several other organisations including NZIM Southern, the Southland Chamber and Southern Group Training Trust.
Andrew Leys
New Zealand Credit Union South Dunedin
Since 2007 Andrew has held the position of CEO for Credit Union South. In 2001 Andrew's achievements were recognised by the World Council of Credit Unions when he was he inaugural winner of the WOCCU Young Credit Union Professional Award. Other appointments include director of the NZ Association of Credit Unions, and President of the Chamber of Commerce Southland.
Denise Lane
Night 'n Day Foodstores
Denise is a working director of Night ‘n Day Franchise Brand which she founded with her husband Andrew in 1990. Denise has been self employed retailing in the Grocery Industry for 30 years and is a past winner of the Wise Woman’s “Self Employed Woman of the Year for Otago/Southland.” She enjoys sports, family time and deep sea fishing.
Kate Skeggs
Bank of New Zealand
Kate is an International Trade & Cashflow Solutions Specialist with Bank of New Zealand, based in Queenstown and working with clients across Otago & Southland. Kate has been involved in the Banking Industry since 2004 when she graduated from the University of Otago with Commerce and Science degrees. Kate is actively involved with Export New Zealand activities in the region and is a member of the Queenstown Young Professionals.
