Council Members

Phil McCaw - Chairman

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Phil is one of the pioneers of the New Zealand angel investment sector. He was a founding partner of Movac, and one of the first investors in Trademe. Phil's passion is working with talented and motivated businesspeople to bring their ideas to market. He is a hands-on investor who specialises in getting into the trenches and helping bulldoze through the tough first three years of business.

Dean Tilyard - Treasurer

Dean Tilyard is Chief Executive Officer of The Bio Commerce Centre in Palmerston North. Dean works primarily in investment for early-stage technology businesses and commercialisation from science institutions. He led the successful formation of angel investment group MIG (Manawatu Investment Group), whose 30 members are active in early-stage investing. In the past two years, Dean has raised $10m+ for technology companies.

Bill Murphy

Bill is a Director of Catalyst Management Services, CA's and specialist early stage business advisors. He is actively involved in education and advisory work for investors and entrepreneurs. Bill founded and manages the second largest angel investment group in NZ, Enterprise Angels whose 40 members are active predominantly in early-stage investing.

Bill Payne

bill_payne_pic5 Bill Payne is a prominent angel investor - possibly one of the most well known in the USA - he's previously been referred to as the closest thing America has to an Entrepreneur Laureate. His angel investing history stretches back almost 30 years including being involved in setting up four of the most prominent angel organisation in the USA. His visits to New Zealand aims to impart some of his experience to NZ entrepreneurs, investors and universities.

Chris Twiss

ctwissjpeg 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.

Colin McKinnon

colin-mckinnon Colin currently holds the position of Executive Director of the New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (NZVCA) and Executive Director of Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ). Colin has been in the NZVCA role since May 2008.

Duncan Mackintosh

duncan_mackintosh1 Duncan Mackintosh is the Chief Executive of WaikatoLink Limited. Duncan has initiated a number of key strategic initiatives while at WaikatoLink including the set-up of seed funds, an international internship programme and collaborations to facilitate commercialisation and increase the impact of innovation.

Greg Sitters

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Greg is an experienced IT professional and executive with more than 25 years working in NZ, Australia, Asia and the US. He was involved in setting up Sun Microsystems and Silicon Graphics in NZ, and has worked for these companies in NZ and overseas in executive management and international forums.

Marcel van den Assum

marcel_van_den_assum-1 Marcel van den Assum is a Professional Director and Independent Advisor. His roles include Chairman IInterGrid (GreenButton) Ltd, Chairman Voco Ltd, Director Simpl Group Ltd, Director Yonix Ltd, Director AngelHQ, Partner in Lush Design Gallery, and Advisory Board positions with private and public sector entities including New Zealand Inland Revenue. His focus is on innovative entrepreneurial companies or larger organizations driving inspirational transformation.

Mark Houghton-Brown

Mark is the founder & CEO of the Top of the South angel network, Venture Accelerator, and an active Angel Investor. He is a Chair of Organic Farm Holdings and a Director of Clean Planet & Minimonos and has core interests in progressive sustainability. Mark manages a boutique fund focusing on pinch-points and bottlenecks in global renewable energy, and enjoys coaching bright entrepreneurs to help then get established & make traction in the market.

Miles Hockley

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Miles is Senior Partner at Powerhouse Ventures Ltd in Christchurch. Powerhouse is an early-stage investment house that focuses on commercialising intellectual property generated in Canterbury's Universities and Crown Research Institutes as well as making investments in more mature, technology-driven businesses.

Dr Ray Thomson

ray_thomson BSc (Hons), PhD (Physics), Dip Acc

Dr Ray Thomson is a professional director based in Auckland. From 1979 to 1985, he worked as an investment analyst in sharebroking, firstly with Jarden & Co and then with O'Connor Grieve & Co. From 1985 to 1998, he worked as an executive director in charge of investments, initially with Omnicorp Investments and then with Strathmore Group.

Suse Reynolds

suse-reynolds Suse is Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Investment at Grow Wellington. Prior to beginning work in economic development two years ago, she was Executive Director for the business lobby group, The Trade Liberalisation Network.

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