Our Board members are responsible for the governance of ACE New Zealand and our Regional Champions provide consulting leadership in their region aligned to our strategy. We’re excited to welcome our new Board members and Regional Champions into the ACE whānau.
ACE New Zealand Board
Our Board has nine positions, six of which are elected positions and three are appointed to fill specific skills and diversity gaps not captured through the election process. The elected positions are staggered so that each year we have two elected members retiring and available for open election.
Congratulations to our two new elected Board members:
- Steven Price, Managing Director at Riley Consultants;
- Roger Vreugdenhil, Director Advisory Services, Asia Pacific at Stantec New Zealand.
We also welcome three appointed Board members:
- Josie Fitzgerald, NZ Leader – Water, Environment and Land at Aurecon and previous Chair of The Diversity Agenda Steering Committee;
- Sharon Parackal, Sector Lead – Transport at Frequency following her Emerging Leader Award last year;
- L’Rey Renata, Process Engineer at GHD and our Emerging Director board observer in 2025/26.
The elected Board members have also resolved to appoint current Board member and Vice President Penny Kneebone as President, and are working through the process for appointing our Vice President. We will announce this as soon as the position is confirmed.
ACE is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and strategic Board, who put their volunteer time into ensuring our organisation is strong and successful for our members and wider sector.
Thanks to our outgoing Board members
We’d like to thank our Board for 2025/26 for their dedication and commitment to ACE, with a special thank you to outgoing elected Board member and President Andrea Rickard for two phenomenal years as president and five years on the Board.
I’d also like to thank elected Board member and past Vice President Chris Short who resigned earlier this year following almost four years on the Board and his move into local government; Sam McKay who was appointed following her Emerging Leader Award in 2024; Siobhan Hartwell who was elected in 2024 and has now moved overseas; and Byron Konia who was appointed in late 2024. You have all have brought important perspectives to our Board table and your dedication and commitment to ACE is hugely appreciated.
ACE New Zealand Regional Champions
Our Regional Champions are our connection to the regions and your regional representatives working with you to bring our strategy to life in their respective areas.
We had elections for six Regional Champion positions this year but received nominations for only two regions. Our two Regional Champions who were appointed unopposed are:
- Mark Thomson, Woods (Canterbury/West Coast)
- Mark Weber, Kirk Roberts Consulting (Bay of Plenty)
For the remaining four regions seeking Regional Champions, we’re delighted to welcome back the following three reappointed Regional Champions:
- Luke Price, Strata Group Consulting Engineers (Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay)
- Friso Roest, WSP New Zealand (Northland)
- Chad Williams, Beca (Taranaki)
We also welcome Regional Champion Rob Napier, Resolve Group (Wellington) who was appointed late last year, and we will reach out to members in Otago/Southland to fill this regional role.
Congratulations Mark Weber, Mark Thomson, Luke, Friso, Chad and Rob. We are looking forward to working with you to build our presence in the regions.
Thanks to our outgoing Regional Champions
A huge thank you to our outgoing Regional Champions:
- JP Swart (Bay of Plenty)
- Andrew Davidson (Canterbury/West Coast)
Your investment and contribution to ACE is hugely appreciated and has made a real difference, especially to our new members who you have interviewed, welcomed and supported. Thank you both for your commitment to ACE.
Watch a recording of the AGM
The 2026 ACE New Zealand Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 24 August.
We shared our annual report, gave updates on what we’ve been up to over the past year as your consultant’s champion, celebrated our members and volunteers, and reported on the year ahead.
Watch a recording of the AGM: