NZEE Board

Tanya Pouwhare – Human Rights Development Lead and Deputy Chair

Tanya is proud to represent an organisation adding value to families & communities, by guiding and supporting the members/employers to raise employment standards, create rights respecting environments that put people at the heart. Tanya believes together, we can foster an employment environment that advances the safety, security, and welfare of all people.

Mike Chapman – Chair

As well as serving as Chair of New Zealand Ethical Employers Incorporated, Mike is Chair of the Food & Fibre Capability Leadership Group and Forum.  He is a Board Member of and volunteer for the New Zealand National Fieldays Society.  Mike assists other organisations with employment and labour issues, strategy, organisational structure, government relations and grower payments.  Mike is a partner in an Hawkes Bay apple orchard, partner in Wairua Hop Garden Limited Partnership and a Board Member of Wairua Hop Garden GP Limited.  Mike also publishes a monthly blog on topical and sector issues.  Previously Mike was Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand, of NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, of Kiwifruit New Zealand and was an inaugural Director of Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated.

Aaron Jay – Board Director

Aaron has worked in the Viticulture industry for over 20 years and is the founder and Managing Director of Hortus. Aaron has been a member of a number of industry and regional related governance boards, plus training providers Primary ITO Viticulture IPG, Vakameasina and sits on a number of private companies as a professional Advisory Board member. 

Deane Caughey– Board Director

Deane is the GM of Thornhill and has been involved in the wine industry since 1999 through vineyard ownership and for 17 years with Indevin Group. Based in Marlborough since 1999 he has spent his time in fishing, meat and most recently in the wine industry with the Indevin Group which included a board role for Seasonal Solutions and large-scale management of RSE teams.

Jason Thompson – Board Director

Jason has been involved with the central Otago wine industry for the last 22 years. Currently the owner operator of Viticultura Contracting Ltd and responsible for consulting , vineyard management through to wine making for a large range of client’s. Jason also owns and manages his own and lease vineyards. Jason is very passionate about the Central Otago region and the people working in it.