Our Board members were appointed on 22 July 2009.
They are:
- John Auld
- Barrie Barnes
- Denise Bovaird
- Joan Harnett-Kindley
- Peter McDermott
- David Russell
John Auld is an experienced commercial and property lawyer from New Plymouth. In addition to his work as a lawyer in a provincial legal practice, he has long term experience in corporate governance and in business generally. John is a former council member and president of the Taranaki District Law Society and a council member of the New Zealand District Law Society. He was appointed a Disputes Tribunal Referee earlier this year and is the deputy chair of Port Taranaki, the deputy chair of the Western Institute of Technology and a former deputy chair of Taranaki District Health Board.
Barrie Barnes has had a long involvement in the real estate industry in sales, management and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). Living in Auckland, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1982, having acted in both a ministerial and judicial capacity in the District Court, remands and depositions. He is a qualified mediator and arbitrator, and a senior chairperson of a REINZ investigation sub-committee and REINZ prosecutor to a regional disciplinary sub-committee. Compliance and ongoing education have always been strong areas of focus. Barrie retired after 21 years from the New Zealand Army territorials, with the rank of Major commanding a joint regular and territorial ready reaction force unit. His business career is extensive, including strategic management and development, international negotiation and IP procurement and executive management at all levels.
Denise Bovaird is from Auckland and has held senior corporate and consultancy risk management roles for the last 12 years. She was president of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2007, served on the Institute's executive board for six years and on the council for 12 years. Denise owns her own risk management consultancy. She has worked on strategic risk management assignments with senior executives and directors in numerous corporate and public sector organisations both in New Zealand and Australia. Previously Denise worked as an investigating accountant with the Serious Fraud Office and has worked in audit and management consultancy for Deloitte in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Joan Harnett-Kindley has had wide practical experience in the operation and administration of real estate businesses in Christchurch, Dunedin and Wanaka. She has been a REINZ President and committee member of three districts over the past 20 years. Joan has served on licensing sub-committees, investigation sub-committees and has served as chairperson, panel member and prosecutor for regional disciplinary sub-committees. She is a fellow and life member of REINZ and was appointed to the Real Estate Agents Licensing Board in September 2006.
Peter McDermott has a background in banking, finance and property, and formerly held senior positions at the BNZ and National Australia Bank. He has extensive banking experience in New Zealand and offshore markets, and studied financial innovations at Harvard Business School. He is a director of a number of private companies including an internet-based financial services business. Peter lives in Wellington.
David Russell spent 35 years with Consumer NZ (formerly Consumers' Institute), the last 17 years as chief executive. He is currently on the board of the Domain Name Commission Ltd, ambassador for Lifetime Design (an organisation promoting accessible housing for the disabled and elderly), patron of the Plain English Action campaign, Chair of the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution Council, member of the Securities Commission's Code Committee, director of specialist internet book trader NZ Books Abroad, trustee of the Bougainville Library Trust, and a consultant on consumer related issues. David was awarded a QSO in 2007 and an honorary doctorate in commerce by Massey University in 2008. He lives in Wellington.
