Chris Twiss

Chris is an Investment Director for NZVIF's Seed Co-investment Fund. Over the last 20 years he has gained extensive venture capital, private equity, angel investment, merchant banking, legal and entrepreneurial experience in London, Europe and New Zealand.

Following an early career with listed agribusiness company Wrightsons in the South Island, Chris gained marketing and law degrees at Otago University before qualifying as a solicitor with Bell Gully in Wellington in 1993. From 1996, he spent seven years based in London working firstly as a commercial lawyer for Linklaters & Alliance and then as a corporate financier and venture capitalist with UK merchant bank Close Brothers PLC.

After returning to New Zealand in 2003 Chris was appointed to the newly created role of Executive Director of the New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (NZVCA). During his five years in this role Chris also served on the Boards of Incubators New Zealand and Connect New Zealand and co-authored "Fuel for your Business - An Entrepreneur's guide to Angel and Venture Capital Investment" - a New Zealand investment guide published by the NZVCA in October 2008. He is also the founder of New Zealand based kids' apparel company whippersnapper (http://www.whippersnapper.co.nz/)