M2PP - Key Persons


Andy Knackstedt


Blair Cunningham


Cassandra Crowley - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Deputy Chair of the Board
  • Member of the Board
Cassandra is a chartered accountant (Fellow), barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a member of the Institute of Directors. In addition to her commercial advisory work, she holds non-executive directorship roles across several sectors of the New Zealand economy. These roles include chairing several audit, finance and risk committees and overseeing digital transformation. She is a past president of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and has been recognised for her leadership and governance contributions with the Supreme Award for Excellence in Governance from Women on Boards. Cassandra chairs our Risk and Assurance Committee and is a member of our Investment and Delivery Committee.

Catherine Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Regulatory Committee
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Member since 23 September 2019
Catherine is a chartered accountant and has held senior management positions in the public and private sectors, including five years as director and Chief Executive of Maritime New Zealand. Catherine understands transport sector regulatory issues and has always been interested in how regulatory tools can be used to achieve safety outcomes. Catherine's current governance roles include deputy chair of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, chair of Diabetes New Zealand, trustee of the John Nesfield Trust and trustee of the New Zealand Law Foundation. Her past roles include deputy chair of Nelson Airport Limited, director of the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research (now Plant and Food Research), member of the Civil Aviation Authority, member of the Building Practitioners Board, member of the Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee and trustee of the Life Flight Trust. Catherine chairs our Regulatory Committee and is a member of our People, Culture and Safety Committee.

David Smol

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Regulatory Committee
  • Board Member since 1 February 2019
  • Chairman of the GNS Science Board
  • Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development
David has over 35 years' experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom in both the public and private sectors. He has worked in the energy sector in both countries, including as director of an Oxford-based energy consulting firm with clients in the United Kingdom and Europe, large energy utilities and transmission companies, renewable energy generators, regulatory bodies and government departments. In 2008, David was appointed Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development. From 2012 to 2017, he was the inaugural Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, where he was responsible for the stewardship of multiple regulatory systems. David is currently chair of the GNS Science Board, and Wellington UniVentures (the commercialisation subsidiary of Victoria University of Wellington). He is also a director of Contact Energy and the Cooperative Bank. David was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in 2018. David is a member of our Regulatory Committee.

Felix Marwick


Frances Adank


Hon. Simon Bridges

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber
Hon. Simon Bridges was the National MP for Tauranga and is a former New Zealand Leader of the Opposition and senior Cabinet Minister. As a member of Cabinet in the last National-led Government, he held several ministerial portfolios including Transport, Energy, Communications, Economic Development and Leader of the House. During his tenure as a Minister, Simon helped roll-out nation-building infrastructure like Ultra Fast Broadband and opened major new roads like the Waterview Tunnel as Transport Minister. He also implemented policies during this period to grow the electric vehicle market, as well as investments in KiwiRail to improve public transport options in New Zealand. Prior to standing for Parliament, Simon was a litigation lawyer including at law firm Kensington Swan and as senior Crown Prosecutor in Tauranga. Simon is currently also CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, a non-executive chair and director on a number of company boards and works in a range of sectors.

John Bridgman - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Member since 1 July 2020
John has over 35 years' experience in engineering and project management roles across Australasia and Asia. John is the Chair of City Rail Link Ltd and is a Director of Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities. Up until 2023 he was Chief Executive of Ōtākaro Ltd (now Rau Paenga Ltd), the Crown company responsible for the Crown's contribution to the rebuilding of Christchurch following the 2011 earthquakes. Previously, he has held a variety of senior leadership roles at AECOM (including as Industry Director - Civil Infrastructure in Australia and as Managing Director of the New Zealand business), as well as governance roles on major infrastructure projects in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom. John chairs our Investment and Delivery Committee.

Kaity Alexander


Natasha Utting


Ngarimu Blair

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Regulatory Committee
  • Director of Kāinga Ora
  • Investment and Delivery Committee
  • Member of Our People, Culture and Safety Committee
Ngarimu is currently a director of Kāinga Ora, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Ltd, a large property company responsible for the protection and growth of the tribe's commercial assets, and co-chair of the Tāmaki Makaurau Mana Whenua Forum. Ngarimu is a member of our People, Culture and Safety Committee and our Regulatory Committee.

Tracey Martin

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Chairman of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
  • Member of Our Investment
Tracey is currently the Chair of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and the former Chair of the Strong Public Media Business Case Governance Group and the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee. Tracey is a member of our Investment and Delivery Committee and our Risk and Assurance Committee.

Victoria Carter - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Member since 23 September 2019
Victoria has over 25 years' experience as a director on the boards of NZX, private companies and council entities in the transport, tourism, education, property and arts sectors. Founder of Cityhop, New Zealand's first and largest carshare business, Victoria is a known expert on mobility as a service. Victoria is a former Auckland City councillor and an accredited Fellow of the Institute of Directors. In 2016, she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts, business and community. She holds a bachelor of laws from the University of Auckland. Victoria chairs our People, Culture and Safety Committee and is a member of our Risk and Assurance Committee.