Governance
REANNZ is governed by a Board of Directors, appointed by shareholding Ministers. Directors are supported by the REANNZ management team and staff.
Board of Directors
REANNZ is governed by a 5-person Board of Directors. Our Board consists of representatives from across the compulsory education, tertiary education, research, innovation and commercial sectors.
The member focused Board is responsible for establishing strategic policy, and guiding and monitoring the business and affairs of the company on behalf of shareholders. The Board meets monthly, and are committed to high standards of corporate governance.
Directors are appointed by REANNZ's shareholding Ministers following agreement by Cabinet for a 3-year terms. Directors may be reappointed for subsequent 3-year terms.
Our Board members
Professor John Raine - Chair
(term ends 2015, reappointment)
John is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and Enterprise) and Head of School of Engineering at the Auckland University of Technology. Previous to this, John was Regional Chief Executive for the Albany campus of Massey University and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and International) at the University of Canterbury. These esteemed recent positions are supported by a strong background in teaching and research in mechanical engineering, product and business development.
John is a board member of the Committee for Auckland Ltd, IPENZ, the Massey University e-centre Ltd, and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. He chaired the Tertiary Education Commission PBRF Engineering, Technology and Architecture Panel for the 2006 Research Quality Assessment round and has been a member of the 2008-2009 PBRF Sector Reference Group.
George L. Benwell - Deputy Chair
(term ends 2014)
Professor Benwell is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce) and Dean of the Business School at the University of Otago. After working as a surveyor, consultant and University of Melbourne academic, Professor Benwell joined Otago's Information Science Department in 1990. He led the Department from 2001-2006 and served as the School's Dean of Research. Between 1996 and 1999, he was the University's Academic Director of Research. In 2007, Professor Benwell was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean. He is director of Otago Innovation Limited, trustee of Taieri Community Trust and the Middlemarch Cottage Restoration Trust.
Susie Johnstone
(terms ends 2014)
Susie is the Managing Partner of Shand Thomson Chartered Accountants, based in Balclutha. Susie is currently Deputy Chair of the Otago Polytechnic Council and has also served on the boards of Southland, Otago and Southern District Health Boards, Tourism New Zealand, the New Zealand Blood Service and the New Zealand Hockey Federation.
The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants has recognised Susie for her expertise and contribution to the community. In 1996 she was selected as the New Zealand Young Chartered Accountant of the Year and in 2001 was awarded Fellowship status with the Institute. She is also a member of the Institute’s Governance Committee.
Jim Donnovan
(term ends 2015)
Jim is a professional director with wide experience in the public and private sectors, as well as industry bodies. His other current board roles include Isambard, Click Suite, the Institute of Directors, and the Tertiary Education Commission (where he has served for 10 years). Past public and industry boards have included the Manufacturers Federation (now part of Business NZ), the Electricity Supply Association, and various economic development agencies. Jim was the CEO of several substantial technology-based companies, including Electra (electricity distribution), Fronde (IT services) and Deltec (a leading telecommunications equipment manufacturer). He has also advised major corporations in New Zealand, Australia and SE Asia on business strategy and performance improvement. He holds a B.Tech (Hons) in Computer Science from Brunel University, London, UK.