The NZGIF Governance Panel is a pool of directors that we can draw on for appointment to our portfolio companies.
We also utilise the panel in other situations where governance needs arise, such as with joint ventures and programmes we enter into with the public or private sector, or with financial instruments that we may arrange, issue or manage.
NZGIF-appointed directors have been selected because of their experience and knowledge of green investment and green finance. In creating this governance panel, we aim to grow the community of directors well-equipped with the skills required to support New Zealand’s transition towards a low carbon future.
Governance Panel Directors
Mel Hewitson, MNZM
NZGIF-appointed director on the board of NZGIF Solar Investments Ltd.
Mel Hewitson is an independent non-executive director of several NZ companies, primarily in the financial services sector. Previously, Mel had an executive career in institutional investment management, risk, compliance and financial regulation. She held senior roles at the Financial Markets Authority, Trustees Executors, ANZ Bank, AllianceBernstein and Tower Asset Management.
Mel is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® and holds Climate Competent Board Designation. Mel was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance in the 2022 Queen’s New Year Honours.
Dr Jamie Newth
NZGIF-appointed director on the board of Thinxtra Solutions Limited and Thinxtra Network Limited.
Dr Jamie Newth is the founder and CEO of Soul Capital which manages two impact investment funds, advises on a third, and leads various impact investment and enterprise ecosystem building activities. Jamie is also a Senior Lecturer in innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland Business School. He sits on a number of new venture boards, the Board of Ember Korowai Takitini, a large community mental health provider, and chairs its ventures arm, Ember Innovations. He also sits on the National Advisory Board for Impact Investing.
Mawae Morton
NZGIF-appointed director on the board of TNUE Limited.
Mawae Morton (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is an internationally experienced CEO and board member based in both Aotearoa and Hawaii. Mawae is currently a Non Executive Director for several New Zealand companies including Tupu Angitu and TNUE Limited. He serves as Executive Chair for aquaculture startups GreenWave Aotearoa and KinaNomics.
Mawae founded the advisory firm Matariki Group, and advises Pono Island Capital and Finistere Ventures among other clients. He was formerly CEO of the NASDAQ listed micro-algae company Cyanotech, and the private renewable energy startup Hawaii BioRefineryCo. Prior to that he held senior roles at Hawaii BioEnergy, the US$15b endowment for Kamehameha Schools, and KMPG Consulting. While at Kamahemeha he co-founded the First Nations Futures Program based at Stanford University.
Samantha Sharif
NZGIF-appointed director on the board of Carbn Group Holdings Ltd (and its subsidiaries).
Samantha is an experienced professional director and chair with key strengths in infrastructure, logistics and finance. She has been the CEO of a global aviation organisation, is an experienced commercial lawyer and started her career in the finance sector in London. Her current roles include Chair of New Talisman Gold Mines Ltd (ASX:NZX) and Director of NZ Automotive Investments (NZX), Motor Trades Association and SIL/MFL Mutual Funds.
Karl Smith
NZGIF-appointed director on the board of Kayasand Holdings Limited.
Karl is a professional director who brings an extensive range of governance and executive experience across a number of industries and sectors. He is currently Group Director and Chair of ZeroJet, Chair of FortHill Property, an investor in high quality New Zealand industrial property, and a director of Atlantic Marriner Limited, a business strategy and advisory consultancy.
Previously, he has held Chief Executive or senior executive roles with Gough Group, PDL Holdings, Progressive Enterprises, Crane Group and Citibank N.A. Past directorships have included Hamilton Jet, Ports of Auckland, Lyttleton Port Company, VetNZ, Halls Group and The Crusaders Partnership.
Karl is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and a graduate of The Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is also a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.
John Chandler
NZGIF-appointed director on the board of Carbn Group Holdings Ltd (and its subsidiaries).
John has a background in banking, funding and investment. He is a specialist in structuring, negotiating and leading complex funding transactions, with industry experience in banking, funding for agriculture, irrigation, transport, commercial property, power generation and other infrastructure. In 2009 he founded JC Capital – a boutique advisory and fund raising consultancy focused on the agri and infrastructure sectors. Clients include a wide range of borrowing entities, lenders, fund managers and other investors. He is also an independent adviser to NZ Trade and Enterprise’s International Growth Fund.