Speakers and Facilitators

Jim Palmer

Jim Palmer is steeped in local government experience at many levels. Jim served as the Chief Executive of the Waimakariri District Council for 17 years, and has held leadership roles in the Greater Christchurch Partnership and the Canterbury Interim Regional Skills Leadership Group.

Mr Palmer has also had a wide range of prior governance experience on various entities including Trustee of Enterprise North Canterbury for 17 years, Co-chair of Canterbury Covid Recovery Oversight Group, Chair of the Canterbury Chief Executives Forum and most importantly, Chair of the Future of Local Government Review.

Dr David Wilson

Member of NZ Parliament

David has a deep and broad experience in economic development within Aotearoa New Zealand. That experience has been honed as an academic and lecturer in economic development, as Chair of Economic Development NZ, as CEO of Northland Inc and more recently as a member of Parliament.

David was also an integral part of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Provincial Growth Fund, introduced in 2017.

His contribution to ED was recognised by Economic Development NZ in 2018 with the conferring of its Distinguished Service Award.

Heather Warwick

CEO of Enterprise North Canterbury

Heather Warwick has been leading the ED Agency known as Enterprise North Canterbury since September 2003. She is responsible for supporting her high performing team and contributing to the economic wellbeing of North Canterbury community.

Heather has 20 years experience specialising in economic development, this includes serving for many years on the Board of Economic Development NZ. That is supported by the following academic achievements: Graduate Diploma in Economic Development at AUT and is also a graduate of the Institute of Directors, Company Director Course.

Heather has a high level of business knowledge and experience from having owned seven businesses over 25 years including wholesale and retail franchise businesses

Paul Linton

CEO of Northland Inc

Paul comes from Hawkes Bay, although he was born in Auckland and travelled extensively when young.

Paul's background covers a wide range of industries, both in New Zealand and overseas. He loves seeing people and companies develop to their fullest potential and support diversity of thought, gender and style. He is passionate about providing a healthy economic, social and physical environment we can pass on to future generations.

Outside of work you will find Paul surfing, in the gym or trying to find time to learn the piano.

Rachel Reese

Long serving Mayor of a local government body, Rachel's experience and skills were acknowledged in 2016 when she was was elected onto the Local Government New Zealand national council and again in 2017 when she was nominated for the role of President of LGNZ. Rachel also served as Deputy of the Regional Sector whilst her Central Government appointments have included the Rules Reduction Taskforce, the Local Government RM Advisory Group and the Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability of new Water Services Entities.

Her achievements were recognised in 2019 when she became the first New Zealander to be awarded a Vital Voices international fellowship, a programme supporting outstanding women political leaders. Founded by former US Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright.

Paul Morgan

Business Board, Federation of Māori Authorities

Tariq Ashraf

ED Lead, Waikato Regional Council

Chami Abeysinghe

CEO of Great South

Paul has been at the forefront of economic development for Māori in business for over 30 years. He has been involved with a range of Māori rights issues involving natural resources, including fishing, aquaculture and forestry. His experience as a director and in governance roles spans both the public and private sectors across agribusiness, property, science, entrepreneurial start-ups and business generally.

Paul served as chief executive of the Federation of Māori Authorities, representing and actively advocating for the interests of Māori business, from 1996 to 2007. In this role and general directorships, he has been actively involved in advocating government policy reform in land law, taxation, resource management, ETS, industry reform and many business issues during his career.

Tariq is a seasoned economic development professional with 21 years of experience in public sector and local government.

He collaborates with iwi and various stakeholders to develop and implement the Waikato regional economic strategy, fostering partnerships for regional prosperity.

From 2018 to 2025, he contributed to a 30-year land transport strategy led economic development at the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Previously, as a Senior Advisor at Waikato Regional Council, he supported governance groups and led funding analysis, and he began his career at the Ministry Economic Development as a Senior Policy Analyst.

CEO of Great South

Chami has previously held several executive roles internationally in the education, exporting, and marketing sectors, and has significant experience in stakeholder engagement, financial management and strategic planning.

As a proud Southlander, Chami is excited at the opportunity to lead Southland’s regional development agency.

“With so much going on across our region, it’s hard to imagine a more exciting time to be CEO of Great South!

Peter McKinlay

Executive Director of McKinlay Douglas Ltd.

Peter is internationally recognised for his expertise in local governance, collaborative leadership, and community-centred decision-making.

Recently named among 39 essential global thought leaders on leadership in local councils, he has spent many years advising governments, councils, local government organisations, and think tanks internationally.

His work focuses on strengthening local decision-making, collaborative governance, and the role of economic development as a core element of shaping resilient and prosperous communities.

Peter is a strong advocate for governance models that empower communities, encourage regional collaboration, and balance effective representation with efficient service delivery.

Widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading voices on local governance, Peter brings extensive international experience and a practical understanding of how bottom-up governance can strengthen productivity, social cohesion, and community outcomes.

David Cunliffe

Co Founder, Polis Consulting

David is experienced as a corporate and government strategist, and is a recognised leader in economic and regional development strategy. He is committed to combining rigorous analysis with strong relationships to achieve positive change.

He has advised private sector clients in a wide range of sectors, financial services, media, digital transformation, automotive, agribusiness, aquaculture, forestry, manufacturing, infrastructure, and insurance.

In the public and community sectors, he has worked widely with local and regional government, economic development agencies, Iwi and social enterprises.

As a former Minister of the Crown, Leader of the Opposition, diplomat and strategy consultant with The Boston Consulting Group, David brings an international perspective and deep experience in complex multi-stakeholder governance and problem-solving.

Ganesh Ahirao

Ganesh is a first-generation New Zealander. He acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa. Ganesh’s professional career in economics has spanned more than 40 years.

Most recently, he was Chair of the Productivity Commission Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa.

Before then, Ganesh led BERL – a NZ-owned consultancy – to be an Accredited Living Wage employer.

In addressing food poverty, he continues to argue for changes to establish an economic system that properly serves the communities of Aotearoa, rather than vice-versa. Outside of economics, Ganesh is an avid runner – and is always in training for his next (half-)marathon.

Trina Farr - Sponsor

GM Pacifecon

Pacifecon is a New Zealand business with New Zealand based researchers who have a wealth of knowledge on national construction.

For over 40 years Pacifecon has provided researched project information on upcoming commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure projects to its clients.

The team are passionate about construction and strive to ensure clients gain maximum value from its highl accurate project information.

Pacifecon’s team is based across the country, spending nearly 1000 hours researching each week to bring the most accurate up-to-date project information and industry news, including the compilation of a range of complimentary reports.

Councillor and former Chair Geoff Crawford

Northland Regional Council

Geoff Crawford is a Northland farmer, business owner and regional leader with extensive experience in agriculture, forestry, environmental stewardship and regional governance. He served as Chair of the Northland Regional Council from 2023 to 2025 and continues to serve as an elected councillor representing the Mid North constituency.

A respected voice in regional development, Geoff currently chairs the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee, helping guide collaborative economic and infrastructure initiatives across Northland’s councils and communities. His leadership focuses on sustainable regional growth, infrastructure, environmental management and strengthening opportunities for local industries and future generations.

The Summit Team

My sincere thanks to Pip Jamieson who has provided moral and strategic support throughout the planning and delivery of the Summit and to Darryl Mead who is an absolute wizard at communications.

Both Pip and Darryl have been an absolute delight to work with, not just because of their professionalism but also a shared committment to the Summit.

Pip Jamieson

Tasman District Council

Pip Jamieson is a highly experienced strategic leader and governance professional known for her ability to bring clarity to complexity and deliver practical, future‑focused solutions across sectors.

With more than three decades spanning central and local government, economic development, education, health, and the not‑for‑profit sector, she is recognised for turning ambiguity into direction and strategy into action.

Pip has held senior roles including Principal Planner at Tasman District Council, Manager Strategy at Nelson City Council, and multiple regional leadership positions at MBIE. Her work has consistently centred on stakeholder engagement, cross‑agency collaboration, strategic planning, and system improvement. She has led major programmes such as Long‑Term Plan development, regional labour market strategies, Provincial Growth Fund investments, and inter‑sectoral partnerships across Te Tauihu.

Alongside her executive career, Pip is an accomplished governance leader, serving as Chair, Deputy Chair, Director, and Committee Chair across organisations including Swimming New Zealand, Tasman Broadcasting Trust, YMCA Nelson, and the Nelson Benefits Review Committee.

Holding an MBA and a suite of professional qualifications, Pip brings intellectual rigour, relational leadership, and a deep commitment to community wellbeing. She is valued for her strategic insight, calm presence, and ability to make the complex simple.

Darryl Mead

Comms Lead

My career passion is people, culture and employee communications and my purpose is to help businesses to make work better.

I'm at my best making sense of complex communication challenges, or strategy and turning them into practical, simple communications or programmes of work. I'm known for being calm, practical, a proper expert - and I'm happy to own being really nice.

My all round experience is at a senior level both in house in large/global and small/local companies combined with many years in creative agencies, which means I've worked on everything from coaching leaders, change programmes, creative campaigns, writing, planning, facilitating and all the way to tactical front-line communications.

There's few challenges I've not come across.

Susan Houston

Susan is the Regional Focus NZ and Summit Coordinator, with over 30 years of executive leadership experience across public and private sectors. Her career spans Local, State, and Central Government roles in Australia, followed by 25 years working in New Zealand's Economic Development sector, primarily with not for profits.

Her expertise is leadership, strategic planning, and technology, and her focus is on fostering resilient communities and economies.

Career highlights involve presenting at the World Economic Forum held in Naples, Italy, living in Taiwan and working with the Taiwanese Olympic Organising Committee and being part of the small Local Government team that won Australia’s first Public Sector Quality Award for continuous improvement.

Susan also cites her role as CE of Economic Development NZ as one of the most demanding but rewarding roles she has served in.