About

Nicole Anderson (Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa, Te Aupōuri) (Director) is a chartered professional director, has a proven track record in governance across a range of sectors, bringing experience in strategic analysis, business planning and commercial development to Scion’s Board. She is currently a director at Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Far North Holdings, Top Energy and is the chair at Northland Inc, Northland’s Regional Economic Development Agency. After three years’ service she has also recently become Board chair at International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), the national authority for the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies and radiology services.

Brendon Green (Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāpuhi) (Director) is the founder of Kaitiaki Advisory Limited and holds board positions with Watercare, Tainui Kawhia Incorporation, Workforce Development Council Waihanga Ara Rau (Construction and Infrastructure) and Hiringa Energy Limited. He has served as chair for Tainui Kawhia Incorporation and Tirohia Landfill Generation Joint Venture. Brendon is co-chair of the Waikato Regional Skills Leadership Group, is a member of Taumata Aronui that advises the government around education for Māori, holds the position of Maangai Māori on Waikato District Council’s Infrastructure Committee and is a tribal member of Waikato Tainui’s Te Whakakitenga o Waikato. He has held technical and commercial roles with the NZ Dairy Board, Contact Energy, General Electric (Mexico and the US) and Mercury in developing its renewable energy portfolio under Mighty River Power. Brendon holds a degree in Chemical and Process Engineering and a Postgraduate Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology.

Greg Mann (Director) has over 25 years of management experience in organisations that conduct research and develop and market valuable new products, services and technologies globally. Currently, he is the General Manager of ArborGen Australasia, a leading supplier of conventional and advanced genetic tree seedlings to the forestry sector. Greg has a BSc (Hons) from Victoria University and has completed executive training programmes at Darden Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Stana Pezic (Director) has over 25 years’ experience in financial management and general management. She has experience as a CFO of companies in a range of industries including aged care, utilities, manufacturing and retail; and was previously a Director Plant and Food Research Ltd. Ms Pezic is a chartered accountant and has a BCom and DipBus from Auckland University.

Kiriwaitingi Rei-Russell (Te Arawa - Ngati Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngati Wāhiao, and Ngati Awa - Te Pahipoto) (Director) was born and raised in Rotorua. She has a legal and governance background with a strong focus on primary industries. An advocate for Māori economic and commercial development, she was the chief executive at Māori Investments for 10 years and is now the Head of Māori Alliances at Zespri based in Mount Maunganui. While being heavily involved in the kiwifruit industry, Ms Rei-Russell currently holds directorships on Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Waiu Dairy LP and Putauaki Trust. She is also the deputy chair of the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Inc and was the first woman appointed to the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. She was also a Future Director to the Board of Auckland lnternational Airport from 2016 to 2018.

Dr Jon Ryder (Director) is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS) - Pulp, Paper and Packaging and is directly responsible for all activities of these businesses: health safety and environment, EBIT, manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing and strategic development. Jon has gained over 30 years’ experience in the forestry, pulp and paper business. Jon’s interest in the industry started from his biochemistry degree from Manchester University and then a PhD from UMIST in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing. His career has spanned international boundaries starting in the United Kingdom in technical and production management of fine coated papers mills, in New Zealand with packaging paper manufacturing at Kinleith and then pulp mill management experience at Tasman. He also managed the Pulp and Paper Mills in Australia as well as sales and marketing functions for Australian Papers. Jon returned to New Zealand in 2012 to take up the challenge as CEO of the business formerly known as Carter Holt Harvey Pulp, Paper and Packaging. The name changed to Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS) in November 2015 following the sale of the business on 1 December 2014 to a joint venture between Oji Holdings and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ).

Phil Taylor (Director) brings more than four decades of experience in commercial forestry to his new director role at Scion. He has served on numerous boards and directorships, primarily focusing on research and development and community service organisations. He has gained international experience in forestry and governance and has held chief executive roles in forestry since 1999. Currently, Phil is the managing director at Port Blakely in Canterbury. In this role, he oversees all of NZ Forestry’s holdings. He also serves on the board of both the New Zealand Forest Owners Association and the Forest Growers Levy Trust.

Steve Wilson (Director) was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to industry, is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and a Life Member of Plastics New Zealand. Mr Wilson is a graduate mechanical engineer (BE 1st Class, Canterbury). He has had over 40 years’ experience as a CEO of companies primarily in the engineering, garment and plastics industries. He has had a diverse range of governance roles on boards of technology companies, venture capital companies and of manufacturing exporters.

Zara Morrison (Future Director) is a chartered accountant and has has worked in both New Zealand and Germany, starting her career at Ernst & Young Wellington Tax as a member of the Māori Sector Services Team (now EY Tahi). She is currently a Project Manager at Te Kura o Te Koutu in Rotorua, working in a full immersion Te Reo Māori environment. Prior to that she was a senior accountant at GHA – Chartered Accountants & Management Consultants, working for local Māori entities with interests in farming, forestry and geothermal energy. Ms Morrison obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Victoria University in Wellington, majoring in Biology. In the future director role, Ms Morrison will participate in Board meetings as an observer. The role is not an official Cabinet appointment.