NZCT'S PEOPLE

Click on the names below to read background details

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MANAGEMENT

REGIONAL MANAGERS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Peter Dale, chairman

Peter is former Chief Executive of the Hillary Commission and New Zealand Golf. As Chairman of the NZCT Board, he is committed to representing the rights of venue operators to politicians and regulatory authorities. He has a keen interest in the role local government plays in supporting the community.
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Alan Isaac, Trustee

Alan has a background in risk minimisation. He is a former national chairman of KPMG, and has also been chairman of the Fire Service's audit committee and the Ministry of Economic Development's risk management and assurance committee. Alan is a board member of NZ Cricket, Rugby 2011 Ltd, SPARC, Wakefield Health Ltd and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
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David Pilkington, Trustee

David has extensive international management experience in the dairy industry as a Group Managing Director of NZ Milk Ltd; Group Managing Director - Global Operations, and General Manager Milk Powder Division for the Dairy Board; and Chief Executive of Milk Products Holdings (North America). He is also presently Chairman of Prevar Ltd, Old Fashioned Foods Limited and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, and a board member of Restaurant Brands Ltd, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, the audit & risk management committee of Wellington City Council, Rangitira Limited, Queen Margaret College, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, Zespri Group Ltd and Port of Tauranga.
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Ian Wells, Trustee

Ian has had a long and active involvement with many sporting organisations and has served on local, regional and national sporting boards since 1968. He is Chairman of the Board of Cricket Wellington, a Board member of New Zealand Soccer, and a member of the Miramar Rangers Soccer Club and New Zealand Tennis. He is also a Trustee of Positively Wellington Tourism. Ian has had executive roles with Wellington Newspapers Ltd and Independent Newspapers Ltd. As a member of the Newspaper Industry Association he is a strong advocate in the media world for NZCT and the gaming industry.
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Lesley Murdoch, Trustee

Lesley is a broadcaster and veteran sports commentator, and has previously represented New Zealand in hockey and cricket. Lesley is also a past chair of NZCT's Canterbury regional advisory committee.
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MANAGEMENT

Mike Knell, Chief Executive

Mike's expertise balances both the practical and theoretical needs of business. He spent 18 years in the New Zealand Fire Service as a volunteer and then 13 years as a professional, followed by more than a decade as a senior manager in the transport industry. Mike also has an MBA from Massey University. With his background, business acumen and client services skills, Mike is well placed to understand the communities and venue operators NZCT serves.
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Rob Holden, General Manager Sales and Service

Rob's gaming and hospitality experience spans the past 25 years. As a venue operator with gaming machines he has first hand knowledge of the time, effort and challenges associated with being a venue operator. In 1998 Rob started Associated Gaming Services (AGS), a private company that managed the service and auditing of NZCT machines. In September 2006, NZCT purchased the assets of AGS and employed Rob as General Manager Sales and Service.
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Mark Donaldson, Financial Controller

Mark, a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, was previously employed at Foodstuffs Wgtn Coop Society where he held the position of Accountant for Toops Wholesale Limited. In his five years there Mark was part of the Toops management team and also played a key role in the implementation of Foodstuffs new financial system. This background should allow him to further develop NZCT's financial processes going forward.
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Murray Charlesworth, Quality Assurance Manager

Murray has a long history in risk management with the banking industry. He has also been involved in the Scout movement for over 30 years, is a member of its national council representing the Lower North Island and serves on the St Patrick's College Silverstream Board of Trustees. As NZCT's Quality Assurance and HR Manager and Board Secretary, Murray oversees the management of our head office, human resources, quality audit functions and trustee support.
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Andrew Morgan, National Compliance & Regulations Manager

Andrew has unique experience in the gaming industry having previously worked as a senior gambling inspector with the Department of Internal Affairs - the youngest person to have held this position. Andrew combines his extensive experience of the regulatory environment with a first class honours degree in finance from Waikato University.
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Tony Gill, National Grants Manager

Tony has held marketing and sponsorship positions with Trust Bank and Westpac and worked with community organisations such as CCS and Life Education Trust. He has served on the Board of Trustees of two schools, and is an active supporter of his children's rugby, cricket and netball teams. His background allows him to have a full understanding of the needs of both funding providers and, more importantly, NZCT's valuable grant applicants.
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Ann-Marie Nansett, Communications and Marketing Manager

Ann-Marie's communications and marketing background includes roles in the state sector, financial services industry and public relations both here and overseas. She is responsible for all NZCT's communications and marketing functions.
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REGIONAL MANAGERS

David Stones, Regional Manager Northern

David spent 13 years with DB Breweries and has hands-on experience as the owner/operator of several gaming venues. This gives David an excellent grounding for his role as Northern Regional Manager. As president of HANZ for the past five years, David is a strong advocate for NZCT's publican membership - recognising that without their support, there would be no community grants scheme.
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Gary Lawry, Regional Manager, Central

Gary joined the hospitality industry in 1992, and fully understands the needs and aspirations of NZCT's venue operators. Gary begin in the industry as the manager of a number of pubs in the UK for the Morland Brewer Company, and joined the Wellington Licensing Trust on returning to New Zealand in 1996. Gary joined AGS (now owned by NZCT) in 1998 as an auditor, where he was able to consolidate his industry knowledge and gaming machine experience, and was appointed audit manager the following year. As a regional manager of the central region (with Darren Kerslake), Gary looks after the western and lower areas of the North Island.
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Murray Straight, Divisional Manager, South Island

Murray has a solid background knowledge of the issues our venue operators face in their day to day operations as he spent six years at Dominion Breweries in numerous sales roles in Christchurch, concluding with two years as Otago's sales manager. Murray's employment history also includes time spent in the grocery and produce industries, with five years as Otago/Southland manager for Rattrays Wholesale Limited and seven years with Turners and Growers in Dunedin and Christchurch.
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Darren Kerslake, Regional Manager, Central

Darren has 12 years experience in the hospitality industry, including other roles within NZCT, and extensive knowledge of venue operators' needs. As Regional Manager of the central region (with Gary Lawry), Darren looks after the east coast of the North Island.
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