Strategic Advisory Group
The Otago Business School Strategic Advisory Group brings together senior leaders from industry, business, and the public sector to provide independent external advice on the School’s strategic direction and long-term development.
The Group supports the School by offering insight, challenge, and informed perspective on key priorities, helping to shape its positioning in a rapidly changing and competitive global environment. Drawing on extensive experience and networks, members test ideas, explore opportunities, and identify potential risks to ensure strategic decisions are robust and well informed.
Through focused, issue-based discussions, the Group considers areas such as postgraduate and international growth, programme development, research impact, executive education, and the School’s broader strategic role.
Working in an advisory capacity, the Strategic Advisory Group plays an important role in ensuring the Otago Business School remains forward-looking, relevant, and well positioned for the future.
Alex Black
Chief Executive Officer
Alex Black is CEO of ADInstruments Ltd., a global leader in data acquisition and analysis solutions for life science research and education. Passionate about making science easier for researchers and educators worldwide, Alex is committed to delivering intuitive, high-quality software and hardware that empower discovery and learning.
Fascinated by science and technology from a young age, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Otago and later returned to study Marketing Management.
Alex began his career as a web developer working on large eCommerce projects before founding and running a successful digital marketing agency. He joined ADInstruments in 2014 as Head of Marketing and became CEO in 2020. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and is focused on building high-performing global teams and strengthening ADInstruments’ international partnerships.
Originally from the UK, Alex has travelled extensively and now proudly calls Dunedin, New Zealand home.
Mike Collins
Chief Executive Officer
Raised on a farm in Northern Southland and a Dunedin local for more than 40 years, Mike has built a career spanning local government, health, and education, with a strong focus on strategy, governance, and organisational performance. In 2021, he became the inaugural CEO of Business South, where he advocates for a thriving regional economy and works closely with business, industry, and civic leaders to strengthen productivity, skills development, and investment outcomes.
Mike brings a practical, systems-level perspective to economic and workforce challenges, informed by extensive experience in public sector leadership and stakeholder engagement. He is passionate about aligning education with industry needs, supporting sustainable growth, and ensuring regional institutions are future-focused, financially resilient, and centred on people and community impact.
Brett Ellison
Investment Manager
Brett (Ōtākou-Kāi Tahu) is an experienced executive across the iwi commercial sector. He has spent more than ten years in senior roles across Ngāi Tahu Holdings Group and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu focusing on the seafood and property sectors as well as Crown relationships and Settlement rights.
Brett is an investment manager with Koau Capital Partners and supports the property activity of various iwi, and also manages investments for the iwi-owned Hāpai property collective which spans the commercial, development and housing sectors.
Born and bred at Ōtākou, and a graduate (BA, MA) of the University of Otago, Brett is a director of Eke Panuku, an Auckland Council-controlled organisation driving urban regeneration in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. A former director of Rangitāne Holdings, Brett now chairs Te Rūnaka Ōtākou Ltd. He was elected as Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative for Ōtākou in 2025.
Kiri Hannifin
Chief Sustainability, Brand and Corporate Affairs Officer
Kiri joined Air New Zealand in November 2022 as the Chief Sustainability Officer, a newly created executive position recognising the importance of sustainability across all aspects of Air New Zealand’s operations and the increased focus the airline is placing on addressing its environmental impact. Her portfolio was expanded to include Corporate Affairs in June 2024.
Before joining the airline, Kiri was on the leadership team of Countdown/Woolworths New Zealand where she was responsible for Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, Health and Safety, Quality and Food Safety. Within this role she spearheaded the company’s programme to reduce emissions, managed the health, safety and wellbeing of the company’s 21,000 staff and led its internal and external stakeholder management activity.
Kiri has a LLB and BA (Political Science) from the University of Canterbury.
Peter Harris
Economic Futures Manager
Peter brings education, business, innovation and economic development experience to his advisory role with the Otago Business School.
After teaching at a secondary and tertiary level he co-founded a startup which designed, manufactured and distributed products for the NZ, Australian and US market. After the business sold he led economic development in Dunedin for ten years, after which he returned to the education sector to foster innovation at Otago Polytechnic.
His current role is as manager of the Economic Futures team within Queenstown Lakes District Council where he oversees Events, Film, Destination Management and Economic Diversification.
Academically he has tertiary qualifications in commerce, education, marketing and economic development.
Gretchen Hawkesby
Board Member – NZ Olympic Foundation and Auckland Grammar Trust Foundation
Gretchen Hawkesby is a highly engaged philanthropic leader and governance contributor with a longstanding commitment to advancing children’s health, education, and sport in Aotearoa New Zealand.
She previously served as Chair of the Friends of Starship committee and as Vice Chair of the Starship Foundation, where she played a key role in helping raise many millions of dollars to support New Zealand’s national children’s hospital, Starship Children’s Hospital. During her tenure she championed major initiatives including Starship’s National Air Ambulance service and nationwide community fundraising campaigns.
Gretchen is also actively involved in education philanthropy. She supports the Academic Endowment Fund at Auckland Grammar School and serves as a trustee of the Auckland Grammar School Trust Board. In addition, she is a trustee of the New Zealand Olympic Foundation, helping support New Zealand athletes in their pursuit of Olympic success on the world stage.
With a background in marketing and strong ties within New Zealand’s business community, Gretchen brings strategic insight, stakeholder engagement expertise, and a collaborative leadership style to her governance roles.
A mother of four, Gretchen balances her governance and philanthropic commitments with a strong dedication to family and community. She brings warmth, integrity, and a purpose-driven approach to her work within the Strategic Advisory Group.
Susan Peterson
Independent Chair/Director
Susan Peterson is a highly regarded business leader with deep expertise in governance, technology, and financial services. She is known for her focus on innovation, organisational culture, and sustainable growth, and for leading organisations through complex change.
Susan currently serves as Chair of Kiwibank and Vista Group International, and is an independent director of Xero, Mercury, and Craigs Investment Partners. Her previous governance roles include directorships at ASB Bank, Trustpower, Property for Industry, Arvida Group, and other leading New Zealand organisations.
Susan is a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and holds Commerce and Law degrees from the University of Otago.
Industry Engagement Advisory Group
The Otago Business School Industry Engagement Advisory Group brings together employers, business leaders, and regional stakeholders to provide practical insight that supports the School’s engagement, partnerships, and graduate outcomes.
The Group complements the School’s strategic direction by helping translate it into effective practice within the industry and regional environment. Members contribute perspectives on employer needs, workforce expectations, and emerging opportunities, ensuring that programmes and initiatives remain relevant, applied, and impactful.
Through focused, topic-based discussions, the Group explores areas such as employer engagement, work-integrated learning, graduate capability, executive education, and industry collaboration.
Working in an advisory capacity, the Industry Engagement Advisory Group plays an important role in strengthening connections between the School and the wider business community, and ensuring that its activities are grounded in practical industry insight.
Rachel Butler
General Manager
Rachel Butler is the General Manager of Startup Dunedin, Ōtepoti's entrepreneurial hub. Startup Dunedin delivers a range of programs, accelerators, events and teaching across the Dunedin community and tertiary sectors. Startup Dunedin was founded and funded by the University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic, and the Dunedin City Council.
Originally from Southland, Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Otago and began her career in the private sector before returning to Southland to work in economic development, supporting regional businesses and startups.
Rachel was part of the Mahuki Accelerator, an arts, museum, and technology accelerator run from Te Papa. She moved to Dunedin in 2018 as Programme Manager for the student startup programme Audacious, and subsequently stepped into the GM role. Rachel was named the Otago Daily Times 2025 Business Leader of the Year and is a passionate advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship and capability building across the region.
Duncan Croudis
Investment Adviser
Duncan Croudis is an Investment Adviser at Forsyth Barr, advising individuals, families, and institutions on portfolio strategy, investment selection, and long-term wealth management.
He holds an MBA from University of Otago and maintains strong connections with the Business School and the wider university community. Passionate about Dunedin, Duncan champions the University’s contribution to the city’s economic, cultural, and intellectual life and is a strong supporter of “town and gown” relationships.
Through his involvement with the Industry Engagement Advisory Group, he is focused on strengthening student pathways and building commercial capability across the region, helping ensure Otago continues to develop talent that benefits Dunedin and New Zealand.
Lauren Hall
Investment Adviser
Lauren Hall is an Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners, based in Dunedin. She works closely with a wide range of clients to provide private wealth management aligned with their long term financial goals. Lauren is known for her considered, client focused approach and her commitment to building strong, trusted relationships.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Marketing from the University of Otago and has experience across both fields. Prior to joining Craigs, Lauren worked in international education, working closely with education partners across the Americas, Europe and Japan, with a primary focus on business development and relationship management.
Outside of work, Lauren is actively involved in hockey, is a Trustee of the Otago Festival of the Arts Trust and a member of the Zonta Club of Metropolitan Dunedin.
Sam Lind
Head of Strategic Intelligence and Enablement
Dr Sam Lind is a senior commercial leader with deep experience in scientific traceability, global client engagement and commercial strategy. As Oritain’s Head of Strategic Sales, he works with major international brands to implement provenance verification programs, helping organisations protect product integrity and strengthen supply‑chain transparency. In this role he has been closely involved in the launch of high‑profile initiatives, including Oritain’s proof‑of‑origin mark for New Zealand wine, which applies advanced forensic science to authenticate production claims.
Sam has played a key part in Oritain’s rapid global expansion, supporting the company’s growth across sectors such as textiles, food, and premium consumer goods. He has also spoken publicly about the importance of scientific verification in countering greenwashing and building trust in sustainability‑focused markets.
Sam brings more than eight years of experience at Oritain, where he has contributed to both scientific development and commercial strategy.
Phil Stevenson
Partner - Family Enterprise Advisory
Phil is an alumni of the Otago Business School and completed his BCom(Hons) in 1999. Phil is now a Tax Partner at Deloitte based in Dunedin.
He is a strong advocate of the Business School and the University. His experience at the University of Otago gave him the springboard to launch his career – and through Deloitte’s employment of Otago graduates he sees the Business School continue to set graduates up for success and provide them with ongoing education opportunities.
Phil believes that the connection between the Business School and the business community is crucially important and can be a point of difference given the importance of the University to Dunedin.
Ben Taylor
EVP, Commercial and Production
Ben Taylor is Executive Vice President of Commercial and Production for Virtual Eye, the sports division of Animation Research Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. He leads global commercial strategy and live broadcast delivery, helping integrate real-time 3D graphics, data visualization, and immersive storytelling across major sports including golf, cricket, baseball, sailing, and racing.
He manages long-term partnerships with clients such as the PGA Tour, MLB, Fox, IMG, Paramount, and Comcast, bridging technology, production, and commercial value.
As part of the executive leadership team, Ben contributes to Virtual Eye’s continued growth in remote production and broadcast innovation, including Emmy-recognized advances in augmented live sports graphics.
Advisory alumni
The Taumata Advisory Board brought together external leaders, alumni, and advisors who contributed strategic insight and support to the ongoing development of the Otago Business School.
Past Advisory Board members
- Grant Bowie
- Craig Ellison
Director - Martin Enright
COO Ngāti Paoa Group Investments Ltd - Jonathon Gray
Director - Duncan Hawkesby
Company Director - Gretchen Hawkesby
Vice Chair, Starship Foundation Board of Trustees - Vanessa Stoddart
Independent Director - Jonathon (Jono) Wong
Head of Business Operations & Strategy for Global Partnerships, Google - John Ward
Director - Sue Bidrose
- Sir Eion Edgar
