Governance
Council has recently shifted HBRIC to a governence model adopting majority of expert independent directors, to ensure that global best practice is brought to bear on the region’s endowment investment assets.
HBRIC’s Board has responsibility for monitoring and reviewing investment assets, selecting and appointing investment managers, ensuring alignment with Council financial and investment objectives and advising Council on its Group Investment Portfolio.
The Board can comprise a minimum of three and maximum of eight directors. Current Council policy is five directors: three independent directors (including the Chair) and two councillor directors.
Our Board
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(Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Hauiti)
Debbie was appointed as an independent director of HBRIC in September 2023 and then as Chair in September 2025.
She has more than 30 years’ executive experience across the commercial, financial and investment sectors in Australia, Asia and New Zealand. She is currently an independent director of Westpac New Zealand, Napier Port, Te Puia Tapapa Fund, and is the chair of SFS Private Wealth.
She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and in 2023 was the recipient of the Institute of Finance Professionals of New Zealand (INFINZ) Māori Finance Award Te Tohu Kahukura, for her contribution to growing the Māori economy through her governance and advisory roles.
Chair
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Sophie is Chair of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and was appointed as a Director of Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) in March 2026.
Sophie brings extensive experience in governance, regional leadership and the primary industries. With a background in sheep and beef farming and strong ties to Hawke’s Bay’s agricultural sector, she has a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping regional economies.
In her role as Chair of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Sophie is focused on long-term regional outcomes, including resilient infrastructure, environmental stewardship and sustainable economic growth.
Council-appointed Director
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Brendon brings more than two decades of experience in investment management and infrastructure to HBRIC including his recent tenure as Chief Investment Officer of Quayside Holdings Limited, the investment arm of Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
He has held senior roles in global institutions including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Macquarie Group, and served on the boards of companies spanning forestry, biotechnology, diagnostics, and agribusiness. Brendon holds qualifications in accounting and commercial law.
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With 35 years’ experience as an elected representative in central and local government, Neil is one of Hawke’s Bay’s most experienced political leaders. Having served two terms on the HBRIC board since 2020, Neil is the longest serving HBRIC director. He offers a unique set of skills directly relevant to fulfilling the key requirements of a council representative.
Navigating local government reform and protecting the region’s most significant public assets for future generations presents an extraordinary challenge to HBRIC governance. Neil’s experience and relationships with key stakeholders, and deep understanding of the local government sector, and the particular challenges faced by Hawke’s Bay’s councils are highly relevant for HBRIC.
Council-appointed Director
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Jonathan is an experienced strategy, corporate development, and mergers and acquisition executive with more than 25 years’ experience, including more than a decade in professional governance across boards spanning multiple industries and ownership structures - private, public, Crown, Council, and Iwi.
His career includes senior roles in both consulting and corporate environments, with experience at PwC, EY, boutique management consulting firms, American Express, and Air New Zealand. He now leads Elevate Capital Partners, a boutique strategy, M&A, and deal integration/separation advisory firm.
Jonathan has extensive governance experience, across a number of public and private boards and has served as chair or deputy chair in aviation, forestry, electricity distribution and regional tourism organisations. He has chaired Audit, Risk, and Investment Committees, serves on the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Risk, Audit and Assurance Committee, and previously chaired the Investment Committee for Tupu Angitu, where he remains a committee member.
He is a member of the NZ Institute of Directors, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a certified member of the Institute of Financial Professionals New Zealand.
Independent DirectorIndependent Director