THE WORKERS
There’s plenty of effort that goes into the work done by the NZSA – and that’s even before we get to the amazing volunteers who represent us at corporate shareholder meetings!
Oliver Mander
CEO
Oliver brings a broad suite of leadership and functional experience to the NZ Shareholders’ Association. His strength is as a strategic thinker, focused on transformative solutions, developing and implementing business strategies so that they come to life for organisations. He believes that a strategy means nothing without delivery.
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Teresa Hall
Administrator
Teresa studied a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing and Management in Dunedin
Grant Diggle
Researcher
Grant has worked in New Zealand and international companies in the banking, mineral and mining and motor industry sectors and in public practice as a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Secretary and Auditor. He has also held governance and executive roles at the Blind Foundation, Parkinsons New Zealand and Motor Neurone Disease Association. He is a Director of the British New Zealand Business Association.
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Linda Muchenje
Researcher
Linda is a final-year Finance PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s in Finance.
With three years of experience in the banking sector, she blends practical expertise with academic insights.
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THE BOARD
Keeping us all on the straight and narrow…
Sam Dixon
Chair
(app 2025)
Sam returned to his home town of Auckland to head up Murray & Co’s Fund Distribution business after a 25 year career in investment banking and fund management with JPMorgan and HSBC in London, Hong Kong and Sydney including stints in Moscow, Geneva, Milan, Beijing and Mumbai.
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Alex Ball
Deputy Chair
(app 2025)
Alex is a chartered accountant and enjoyed a varied 18 year international career with EY before spending 16 years as CFO of a number of NZ companies including Vector, TelstraClear, Transpower and EROAD. He also had a significant governance career as director or chair of a range of private companies. He currently provides strategic planning and execution advisory, fractional CFO, risk management and advisory board services through his own firm, and is a business coach at The Icehouse.
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Chris Steptoe
Board Member
(app 2023)
Chris brings a diverse range of skills and knowledge to the board, with a background in technology and funds management. He has a deep understanding of NZ capital markets, gained through his involvement as a retail investor with NZX experience and as an analyst for an Australasian fund manager, DMX Asset Management. His career has provided him with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses, having met with hundreds of CEOs.
Chris has been a member of NZSA since 2014, joining the Auckland Branch committee in 2016.
Deanna Chaing
Board Member
(app 2024)
Deanna Chiang has nearly 30 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry with Merchandise Planning, Customer Insight, Consumer Products and Company Startups.
After successfully selling Plum Sales and Merchandising, she is actively involved in industry governance and advocacy, serving as a board member of the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council (FGC). In 2024, she was the Chair of the Auckland Branch for the New Zealand Shareholders Association.
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Jon Raby
Board Member
(app 2025)
Jon Raby has over 30 years of senior executive and executive director experience in the banking, insurance and funds management sectors across New Zealand, Australia and the UK. This included a 25-year career with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia group. His work experience covers finance leadership, treasury, procurement, property, investment management, innovation & digital services, strategy, and asset & liability management.
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Joy Marslin
Board Member
(app 2022)
Joy has worked within the financial services sector for over 30 years in client services, wealth management, investment governance and leadership positions.
Joy holds a number of governance roles. She has recently resigned as the Board Chair of Simplicity NZ Ltd, but maintains roles as an independent director of Strategi Group, industry representative director for Financial Services Complaints Ltd, director of Impact Enterprise Fund, and independent member of Metis Investment Committee. She has recently been appointed as an independent director of Nelson Building Society and as Chair of New Ground Capital Limited.
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Louise Nicholson
Board Member
(app 2022)
Louise is a corporate communications specialist, with experience working for government, business, the media and agencies. She has held senior roles in New Zealand, Australia and Asia.
Louise’s specialty is issues and reputation management, with a particular focus on financial communications and the rights of investors.
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Martin Hawes
Board Member
(app 2020)
Martin Hawes is a financial author and presenter. He is a former Financial Advisor and lives in Christchurch. Martin is a Director of retirement income specialist Lifetime Income.
He is the author of 23 books on finance and investment and now writes articles for a range of publications. Martin also frequently speaks at seminars and conferences around the country and comments in the media. He is long-term member of NZSA.
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Dr. Sam Porath
Board Member
(app 2025)
Sam is currently Manager, Dynamic Asset Allocation at the Accident Compensation Corporation and has previously held roles including Manager, NZ Equities and Portfolio Manager, Strategic Tilting at the NZ Superannuation Fund, and as a consultant for Russell Investments to institutional investors in New Zealand and Australia.
Sam currently chairs the New Zealand Corporate Governance Forum, an institutional investor group committed to promoting good corporate governance within New Zealand companies for the long-term health of the NZ’s capital markets, and is a member of the NZX Corporate Governance Institute. In addition, Sam holds a PhD in mathematics specialising in differential geometry and is a CFA charterholder.
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Peter Watson
Associate Board Member
(app 2025)
Peter is a Chartered Accountant and finance professional with deep expertise in investment management, financial strategy, and corporate governance. Currently CFO and Investment Director at New Ground Capital, Peter oversees financial operations across multiple subsidiaries and impact funds, capital strategies, risk management, and financial planning to drive sustainable growth.
With a background spanning tax, audit, and transactions at Ernst & Young, as well as Inland Revenue, Peter has worked with a diverse range of businesses, from SMEs to multinational corporations.
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Philip Ascroft
Associate Board Member
(app 2024)
Philip is a partner at Chapman Tripp with 14 years of experience in corporate and securities law. With experience on many of New Zealand’s most significant initial public offerings and other equity capital markets transactions, Philip acts for issuers, underwriters and shareholders on all aspects of IPOs and capital raisings.
He also advises on listed company compliance and corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, takeovers and other corporate law issues.
Philip has an LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury and is Auckland-based.
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Ruth Tolise
Associate Board Member
(app 2022)
Ruth’s journey began in the banking and insurance sectors, where she has been able to hone her skills in specialist areas over three decades. Some of her specialisations include risk management, finance, compliance and corporate actions.
Alongside her corporate responsibilities, Ruth is deeply committed to continuous learning and being able to give back to her Pasefika community.
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