Executive Committee and Member Reference Group

Raewyn leads IVS Group (Independent Verification Services) as CEO, guiding a dedicated team in delivering top-tier verification, training, testing, and support services. With over seventeen years of diverse leadership experience, including roles as CEO at Quantec and International Trade Manager at Tatua Dairy Co-operative, Raewyn blends executive proficiency with strong scientific business foundations.

In her strategic role, Raewyn collaborates with New Zealand's importers, exporters, industry sectors, and regulators, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance. IVS's mission under Raewyn's leadership is to inspire trust through independent assurance services, fostering growth and safeguarding client interests.

Raewyn is the chair of the Pledge Executive Committee.

Sherelle is the Chief Executive Officer of the Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Federation of New Zealand Inc (CBAFF), which represents the interests of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders nationally. CBAFF works with government, agencies and other supply chain industry associations responding to government measures affecting the industry.

Sherelle comes from a strong industry operations background in biosecurity, change management, customs brokerage, customs regulations, customer services, freight forwarding, governance, international trade/logistics, learning and development, people management, and supply chain management. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the Freight Forwarding Industry, with 18 years in Customs Management.

Sherelle is the deputy chair of the Pledge Executive Committee.

Rachel is Biosecurity Manager at New Zealand Apples and Pears Inc (NZAPI), which represents growers, packers and exporters throughout the pipfruit industry.

Having worked and studied within horticulture for more than 30 years, Rachel has a complex understanding of both the pipfruit sector and horticulture in general, which serves her well as a member of NZAPI’s executive team.

Rachel is passionate about the success of New Zealand’s horticultural industry and represents NZAPI in Government Industry Agreements (GIA) and on councils and working groups. She is also on Hawke’s Bay’s Horticulture Advisory Group, which engages and supports growers with various initiatives from wellbeing events through to technical assistance.

Mike is the Group Service Manager - Specialty Services, an executive position at AsureQuality, New Zealand’s largest Food Safety and Biosecurity company. Mike’s role includes leadership of a national field team undertaking post-border biosecurity surveillance and response, pest control, and animal disease management. Mike’s team also consists of a specialised chemistry and animal health laboratory, and a manufacturer of laboratory test kits.

Mike has over 20 years of leadership experience including working in government departments, state-owned enterprises and private companies and across a range of industries including public transport, logistics, and the primary industries. Mike’s career started in biosecurity as a Quarantine Inspector at the Ministry for Primary Industries at the border.

Kylie is Head of Risk and Assurance at Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL), which is approved by MPI as a Place of First Arrival (POFA) for international aircraft, passengers, and cargo to enter New Zealand. Kylie has leadership responsibility for the biosecurity portfolio for AIAL and collaborates closely with third parties operating at AIAL to build a biosecurity culture.

Kylie has 25 years of experience working in the aviation sector where she has held numerous leadership roles across operations, safety, risk, assurance, and compliance.

Allan is currently the General Manager for Marine and Multi-Cargo Operations at the Port of Auckland, which is a place of first arrival. He has over 44 years of experience in the global marine industry with expertise in shipbuilding, shipping commercial operations, and sustainable innovation. He manages marine activities, including pilots, tugs, cruise operations, and hydrographic work, along with vessel operations at the multi-Cargo terminal which oversees third party stevedores and a wide range of cargoes that are imported and exported from Auckland.

At the Port of Auckland, Allan led critical strategic initiatives in acquisitions of new cranes, new tugs, and new pilot boats. Allan has a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors (IOD) in Auckland.

Mel’s dedication to safeguarding New Zealand's agricultural sector traces its roots to her upbringing on her family’s farm, fostering a strong interest that has shaped her professional journey.

Mel joined ANZCO Foods in 2023 and is the Biosecurity Manager – a senior position in the business that reflects her 16 years’ experience in a range of related roles.

Mel’s career started in 2010 as an AsureQuality meat inspector. She has also trained in Readiness and Response for first line responders for all biosecurity incursion in New Zealand including Foot and Mouth disease. Mel then spent five years working on the Mycoplasma Bovis response programme where she had diverse responsibilities including supporting farmers and overseeing the on-farm cleaning and disinfecting process.

In her current role, Mel provides operational biosecurity guidance, contributes to strategic planning, ensures NAIT compliance across ANZCO-managed farms, manages the company's biosecurity obligations and actively engages in educating others. Mel’s goal is to apply sound business practices that safeguard the industry and contribute protecting New Zealand's agricultural landscape.

Growing up on her family’s farm in Mid-Canterbury, where their manage a mixed arable, sheep, pig, and beef operation, raised her awareness of the potential impact of a significant incursion on the industry.

Mel is ANZCO Foods' representative on the Pledge and joined the Executive Committee in late 2023, further solidifying her commitment to advancing biosecurity initiatives in the country.

John is the Director of Pest Management for Biosecurity New Zealand which is part of the Ministry for Primary Industries. His directorate is responsible for leadership and coordination across the Pest Management system as well as delivering large scale, national pest management programmes.  This includes the national Wilding Conifer and Wallaby Eradication programmes. 

In addition, John is responsible for several large on-going biosecurity responses, most notably the responses to Exotic Caulerpa and the Freshwater Gold Clam. 

John was previously Communications Director for the Ministry of Primary Industries, taking on that role in 2014. Prior to that he was General Manager of one of New Zealand’s largest public relations agencies.

Biosecurity New Zealand are co-opted onto the Pledge Executive Committee.   

Glen heads up the food and primary sector practice at Agite Consulting, and helps clients manage compliance and regulatory risk and stakeholder engagement.

With more than 20 years’ experience in food regulation & biosecurity, Glen is a seasoned crisis and risk manager with a wealth of media and public speaking experience.

He has advised many boards and is an experienced governor.

Leanne is the Chief Executive at Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH). Biosecurity within the management of New Zealand’s phytosanitary system and at the international level has been both Leanne’s passion and employment. She has worked for Horticulture New Zealand, MPI and the International Plant Protection Convention to reduce the spread of plant pests and diseases around the world.

Leanne sits on a number of governance and working groups as well as the Better Border Biosecurity (B3) Collaboration Council which coordinates biosecurity research across New Zealand’s crown research institutes.

Jo is the Engagement Programmes Manager in Biosecurity New Zealand’s Pest Management Directorate. She is responsible for a range of partnership programmes including the regional biosecurity collaborations, Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital and Biosecurity Taranaki, and the Biosecurity Business Pledge. She also leads a team of behaviour change, engagement, communication and marketing specialists supporting long-term pest management programmes.  

Prior to this role Jo was MPIs senior engagement advisor for the Ko Tātou This Is Us programme. Prior to joining MPI, Jo was the Director of Conventions and Events at Wellington Venues and worked at the communications consultancy agency Acumen as the Group Account Director responsible for leading their national events team.

Sirma is the Chief Executive of the Meat Industry Association (MIA) which represents red meat processors, marketers and exporters. The MIA provides a collective voice for the red meat industry interfacing between industry and government across a range of issues including policy formation on economic, trade, market access, biosecurity, industrial relations, compliance costs, environmental and animal welfare matters.

Sirma has an extensive knowledge of government processes and trade policy along with significant trade negotiations experience. She has represented New Zealand at international organisations including the World Trade Organisation and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Terry is the Chief Executive of Federated Farmers responsible for 60 staff, across 10 offices who provide the delivery of advocacy and policy development on behalf of farmers. He and the team are also responsible for continuing the development of the benefits of membership for 13,000 Federated Farmers members, and for influencing rural leadership and community resilience.

Previously he was Chief Executive of New Zealand Young Farmers and he spent more than two decades in the wine industry working on wine quality improvement and developing key export markets.

Eve leads the biosecurity function for Horticulture New Zealand, where her role is to proactively influence policy to ensure that New Zealand's biosecurity system is both robust and workable. Commercial fruit and vegetable growers consistently list biosecurity as one of their top concerns. Horticulture New Zealand works to make sure that the biosecurity system provides the protection growers require from exotic pests and diseases, and that the growers are aware of the biosecurity regulations, requirements and best practices applicable to their crops.

Eve's a trained veterinarian specialising in infectious disease research and control. She's been applying those skills across the biosecurity system for the last decade having previously led work in MPI's biosecurity response, surveillance and incursion investigation, and intelligence teams. She enjoys pulling together science and policy to find collective solutions to complex problems and then translating those solutions to the people who need to know from growers to government decision makers.

Sue is the Program Lead – Animals, On Farm Excellence, responsible for providing direction and advice on Fonterra biosecurity policy and standards. Sue oversees the identification of risks to the business strategy that originates from the on-farm space, from food safety to animal wellbeing, and biosecurity.

She supports the Fonterra Incident Management Team (IMT) and framework as a process lead, ensuring that disruptions to the business are managed at the most appropriate level of response and facilitating a return to regular operations as quickly as possible.

Sue has worked with the wider production animal sector and government supporting readiness and response planning for foot and mouth disease over the last 9 years.

Gary is General Manager Food Quality, Environment and Assurance at Silver Fern Farms. He leads a team of specialists responsible for food safety and quality, technical compliance, market access, policy and regulation, quality systems and environmental management.

Gary has a Bachelor of Technology (biotechnology) and a Master in Business Administration from Massey University. He has held a number of leadership roles within the industry including technical, industrial relations, health and safety and general management. Gary has also been also a trustee for the Meat Industry Superannuation scheme since 2006.

Steve is Customs Manager for Oceanbridge Shipping Limited, a privately-owned New Zealand business specialising in international movement of cargo by air and sea, to and from New Zealand and Australia. Oceanbridge is based in nine sites in both countries plus has agency relationships in most other countries around the world.

Steve has been with Oceanbridge Shipping for more than 25 years, with over 40 years in the industry. His experience spans international logistics, customs practices and regulations and supply chain management. Steve and his team of 15 are at the forefront of all regulatory information relating to free trade agreements, tariff changes and concessions. He sees his role as an educator and advisor, keeping clients up to date and informed while also acting in an advocacy capacity.

Lucy is a Biosecurity Advisor with SPS Biota. SPS Biota undertakes work in two different areas, as a Biosecurity Partner with the Ministry for Primary Industries providing Accredited Person and Transitional Facility Operator training and helping Transitional Facilities understand their role in the biosecurity system, and as surveillance experts, designing, managing, and implementing pest management programmes. Lucy joined SPS in 2021 and works across both of these programs, which has helped her gain an appreciation and understanding of the New Zealand Biosecurity system.

Prior to working for SPS, Lucy worked for many years in biosecurity in Australia, both for government and not-for-profit. She brings with her a varied background, an enthusiasm for getting involved and spreading biosecurity information, and passion for keeping exotic pests and diseases out of New Zealand.

Janti is the director of Xcelerate International, an importing and exporting company. The company imports food products from Southeast Asia and the Pacific to supply restaurants and supermarkets in New Zealand. She works closely with foreign exporters, manufacturers and freight forwarders to ensure that New Zealand biosecurity requirements are met.

Prior to importing food products, Janti worked for several years on sustainable development projects in Asia and the Pacific. She has a passion for sharing knowledge about biosecurity along the supply chain, for a better environment, business, and society. She expects that her bilingual skills, and understanding of foreign countries’ operations and regulation can promote New Zealand biosecurity standards and closer economic linkage between countries, through importing and exporting.

Ruth is responsible for operations, research, and general support to the partners at Agite Consulting.  

Previously, Ruth worked in a range of teams in the food regulatory space. Primarily she managed New Zealand office operations, with additional work in economic research and reporting, communications, committee relations and stakeholder engagement. 

At work, Ruth is happiest when working with analytics, storytelling through data, leveraging insights to drive impactful decision making and fostering collaborative environments for success.