Tim Robinson – Bernina Northland – President
Tim is co-owner and director of Bernina Northland Sewing Centre, Northland’s premium sewing machine sales and service centre, along with sewing and quilting supplies, dress fabrics, wool and sewing haberdashery. Tim is now working full-time in the business, after spending 33 years working in the ICT business with Spark NZ, formerly Gen-i & Telecom, working at the frontline with a range of companies, from small medium enterprise businesses to large local based corporates, partnering with them to develop and implement innovative solutions to enhance their business performance. All these endeavours, and especially now with his own retail business, have provided him with an invaluable insight into the issues surrounding small business, in particular compliance.
On a personal level Tim was raised in Whangarei and attended Whangarei Boys High School. He is married to Sandy, has three 3 towering sons, and is a self-professed lover of all sports involving water. Skiing, fishing, boogie-boarding, sailing and just basically getting wet fills his family leisure time. Tim is currently the Secretary of the Kai Iwi Lakes Water-ski Club and is on the Board of Trustees for Whangarei Boys High School, where he was previously Chairman for 5 years.
Tim has been a serving board member of the Chamber for the past 15 years, was Vice President for 6 years and President in 2009 & then as immediate past president the following year. He brings to the Chamber Board a sound understanding of business, relationship management, information technology and sales, plus a real affinity for the uniqueness of doing business in the regional environment. Tim also provides ongoing board succession and continuity of board development.
Jeremy Tauri (Plus Chartered Accountants) – Immediate Past President
If you ask Jeremy Tauri what he likes most about his job, he will say it is helping people. Whether it is helping people understand their accounts or how to achieve success in business, he explains things in simple, plain-English terms.
Jeremy has been an accountant 21 years at Plus Chartered Accountants, in Whangarei. He is a trustee of the Hihiaua cultural centre and writes a column for NZME regional newspapers.
Jeremy grew up in Kaikohe but moved to Whangarei to study when he was 18. He now has young children and enjoys the perspectives on the future that being a parent can offer.
Sue Walters – Northland Scaffolding Ltd – Vice President
It has been an honour to be part of the Chamber of Commerce and the past two years as a Chamber Board member has been incredibly inspiring. We are lucky to have such a talented group of business men and women working hard on behalf of our region’s economy. The networking opportunities that are available through the Chamber are an excellent way to connect with fellow business owners.
I completed the NZ Diploma in Business at Northtec during the 1990s and more recently refreshed my knowledge at Te Wananga o Aotearoa by completing the Certificate in Small Business Management and Certificate in Money Management. Among business administration roles I also spent several years facilitating the KiwiHost Excellence in Customer Service courses.
Whangarei has always been my home and I Love it Here! I have a genuine passion to see our city and region grow and prosper so that my 3 sons can enjoy an exciting and vibrant place to live, where there are both traditional and innovative job opportunities and where the community looks after it’s own.
Danny Douglas – Gilmore Taylor Associates – Treasurer
Danny attended Kamo High School and completed his Business Management degree, majoring in Accountancy at Northland Polytechnic in 2002, and is a Chartered Accountant. He has been working for Gilmore Taylor Associates Ltd since its formation in 2016.
Prior to being employed at Gilmore Taylor Associates Ltd Danny worked for 13 years at Gilmore Brown Ltd. Before working as an accountant he worked numerous jobs including building, courier, and fishing with a long time deep sea fishing.
His experience at Gilmore Taylor Associates Ltd and Gilmore Brown Limited has helped him to develop a keen interest in helping businesses to grow. And he enjoys helping clients achieve their goals.
Currently, Danny is a Director of Gilmore Taylor Associates Limited, with a special interest in business advisory services and works with business owners from a wide range of Northland business sectors including;
- farming and agriculture,
- construction,
- retailing and wholesaling,
- professional sectors.
Murray Broadbelt – Employer Services
Murray is the Managing Director of Employer Services Ltd, an employment relations consultancy based in Whangarei.
The Company’s client base extends as far as Invercargill but maintains a strong Northland presence from its offices in Maunu Rd, Whangarei.
Prior to establishing Employer Services Ltd in 2002, Murray spent 6 years serving employers and businesses throughout Northland as manager of the Employers and Manufacturers Association’s Northland office.
Murray has previously been a Board member and Vice President of the Northland Chamber.
Murray is in his second four year term as a Trustee of Foundation North (formerly the ASB Community Trust) and is also a Trustee of the Northland Emergency Services Trust (Northland’s Rescue Helicopters).
Tony Savage – WRMK Lawyers
Northchamber takes a leading role in the economic transformation of Northland.
My background and skills will help Northchamber continue to be very effective in advancing business in Northland and making sure we maximise all of the opportunities available to us.
My relationship with business owners throughout the North, government agency representatives and local government will be an asset for Northchamber.
I have been a board member and president of Northchamber and have represented a large number of Northland community and business organisations.
I am a director of a business that is a large employer with offices in Whangarei, Kerikeri and Dargaville. I am a property and business lawyer.
I have been part of a campaign for better transport links, diversification of our economy and a huge increase in investment in Northland. In 2019 I ran a campaign for Mayor of Whangarei with very substantial business support.
Janine Abernethy – Marsden Metals Group Ltd
Janine Abernethy General Manager of MMGroup – Marsden Metals and Marsden Waste.
We are committed to serving our community and to supporting the prosperity of our community through growth in the economics of our region.
As the General Manager I have structured our team so that I can spend around 20% of my work day focused on the big picture of how good business in Northland will support the goal of making Northland a wonderful place to work and live.
I have experience as a board member in both private enterprise and Government Policy areas.
Natalie Blandford – Project Apōpō
Natalie is proud to be the proprietor of Project Apōpō – an Amotai registered Māori business, and Northland’s leading construction project managers delivering regenerative environmental legacies.
As a PMP certified Senior Project Manager with more than 18 years of experience working with consultancy, local government and central government organisations, Natalie leads award-winning project teams and has a strong track record of using globally recognised systems to manage her construction and other sector projects for environmental benefit alongside other project goals. Natalie has ancestral connections to Ngapuhi and Ngai Tahu and an aptitude for working in partnership or in consultation with Māori organisations on projects.
Darrell Trigg – Trigg Construction Ltd
Darrell’s governance journey began over twenty years ago as a Director of Trigg Construction Ltd. From there Darrell realised the value of best practice governance and became a Director of the Auckland Registered Master Builders Assn. from there Darrell has been involved in multiple advisory roles across the NZ built environment. The four directorship he currently holds, draw on that experience to add real value to each organisation.
Darrell’s strengths lie in practical solutions, best practice governance and not being frightened to wade into the heavy stuff to get the correct outcome for the business.
