Board of Directors

Michael Ahie (Chairman)

Michael Ahie is a business owner and company director based in Wellington. He is a founding partner of business coaching company Shirlaws New Zealand Ltd, and a director of the Manawatu Bio Commerce Centre Ltd (a business incubation company), Manawatu Investment Group Ltd (an angel investment fund), Clearwater Ltd (a privately owned consulting company) and Farmers Mutual Group (a rural insurance company).

Mr Ahie received a First Class Honours degree from Massey University and has completed the Executive Development Programme at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He brings to Plant & Food Research broad international business and governance experience with multinational companies in sales, marketing, global strategy and business management. His past roles include senior roles with Toyota New Zealand Ltd, the New Zealand Dairy Board and Wrightson Ltd.

Alison Stewart (Deputy Chair)

Professor Alison Stewart is the Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre and Chair of aCoRE, the Association of Centres of Research Excellence. She is actively involved in developing and promoting the field of plant pathology and has a particular interest in the control of plant pathogenic fungi using antagonistic micro-organisms. Her research group has successfully commercialised three Trichoderma-based biocontrol products for the control of fruit and vegetable diseases.

Prof. Stewart was the recipient of the 2008 MAF Biosecurity Award for Excellence and in 2009 became a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of her services to biology, in particular, to the area of plant pathology.

Dr Mark Bayly

Dr Mark Bayly has a background in international marketing and management consultancy, with a strong interest in, and emphasis on, innovation.  He holds a PhD from the National University of Ireland, UCD, Masters Degrees in both commercial law and business, as well as a Bachelors Degree in science. 

Dr Bayly has been a board member of several companies.

Jane Hunter

Jane Hunter co-founded the highly successful Marlborough based Hunters Wines with her late husband Ernie Hunter in 1979. For her service to the wine industry since, Ms Hunter has been awarded an OBE in 1993 and received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Massey University in 1997.

Ms Hunter was also appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to viticulture in 2008, and in February 2009 was named a winner at  the annual KEA / New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, World Class New Zealand Awards – awards that recognise New Zealanders making an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s economic development.

Jim Scotland

Mr Scotland is a Hawke's Bay-based business consultant, and former Deputy Chair of state-owned enterprise AgriQuality Ltd and Director of Landcorp Farming Ltd.

Among his current governance roles are Chair of Port of Napier Ltd, Director of Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Ltd and Director of Hawkes Bay Airport Ltd.

Mark Stuart

Mark Stuart has broad general management and governance expertise combining entrepreneurial and public sector experience and a strong focus on innovation.

Mr Stuart has a background in building technology-based businesses including having led the founding teams of ZyGEM, Ectus and OBodies.  Mr Stuart was previously the Chief Executive of WaikatoLink, the technology transfer company of the University of Waikato.  As CEO of WaikatoLink, Mr Stuart was involved in the development and commercialisation of technologies based on intellectual property developed by the University of Waikato.

Mr Stuart has extensive governance experience including having been a Director of ZyGEM Corporation Limited, Graftoss Limited, Novatein Limited, Obodies Limited, Nouvoa Limited, Solenza Limited, RuralLink and Chairperson of Khipu Systems Limited. He is also a Council member on the New Zealand Angel Association and a member of the NZBio Advisory Council.

Todd Muller

Todd Muller currently holds a senior external relations role for the Fonterra Co-operative Group.  Mr Muller’s career has been strongly agribusiness focused with eight years senior management experience for ZESPRI International Limited with accountability for shareholder services, corporate relations and innovation. 

More recently Mr Muller was the Chief Executive of Apata Limited, a large kiwifruit and avocado post harvest facility based in the Bay of Plenty. He is also a member of the Council of the University of Waikato, where he graduated with M.Soc.Sc in 1992, and has had previous governance roles within the kiwifruit sector.

Stana Pezic

Stana Pezic is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Stevensons Group following her role as CFO at Metrowater, the Auckland City Council’s water retailer and infrastructure manager. Ms Pezic was previously General Manager at Whitcoulls Group Ltd, and has extensive experience in financial management, general management, strategy development and process change.

Her background spans infrastructure, manufacturing and retail, following various roles with Carter Holt Harvey, Whitcoulls Group, The Warehouse and Esso Australia.