Trustees & Staff
Anna Kominik, Chair
Anna Kominik is the Chair of the Hillary Institute of International Leadership and Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF). She is also the Chair of the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko, and was previously the Independent Chair of the Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand.
Anna is an experienced business leader who has worked for a wide variety of public and private sector organisations during the course of her career, including as the former Asia Pacific Director of Wisk, part of an international organisation developing a world-first, all-electric, self-flying air taxi. She is currently a director of Dawn Aerospace and advises in the New Zealand aviation and aerospace sector.
Anna holds a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, where she was a Rotary International Scholar, has a Certificate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University, and was a Commonwealth Foundation Emerging Pacific Leader.
An experienced governor, entrepreneur and senior executive, Anna is passionate about creating value and building equity, diversity and inclusion into all phases of the innovation cycle.
Rosalie Nelson, Chief Executive
Rosalie Nelson has had a portfolio career, spanning systems strategy, forecasting disruptive technologies, market and impact analysis, and business/economics journalism. Her most recent role was a General Manager, Strategy Impact and Insight at Callaghan Innovation, NZ’s Innovation agency, where she was part of a transformation executive team, responsible for developing its long term strategy, customer journey and impact reporting.
She spent over a decade working in Europe and Asia-Pacific, initially as technology editor for CNBC Europe, before becoming a Principal Analyst and Research Director for Ovum Inc, where she was responsible for researching, consulting and advising organisations on the impact of disruptive technologies. On her return to New Zealand, she revitalised the telecommunications practice for IDC NZ, before joining Chorus NZ, a publicly listed telecommunications provider, as head of Market Strategy and Insights.
Her passion is to see Aotearoa transformed through innovation founded on trust, kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment), and manaakitanga (care and respect for people). Aotearoa has a unique opportunity to redefine its economic future based on new models that build social, environmental and financial capital; her purpose is to serve the innovators, entrepreneurs and investors by helping to connect, ignite and develop the pathways toward this future.
Rosalie onboarded into her new role with the Hillary Institute and Fellowship in March, 21.
rosalie@ehf.org
Mark Prain, Founder & Kaitiaki
A graduate of Toi Whakaari/NZ Drama School (Wellington – 1978), New Zealand’s premier Theatre Arts school, Mark spent 15 years as a professional actor, director, playwright, jazz and opera singer. He then spent much of the last 25 working in NZ, the US and around the world in leadership roles. After five years with Greenpeace (1990–94), he became Executive Director of not for profit Sustainable Cities (1995–2000) and then of the “Redesigning Resources Business Leadership Group” (2000–04).
He is the author of two books on sustainable best practice (2002 & 2004), and wrote a column on the subject for the Business Monthly from 1996–2005. He further challenged his fading acuity (35 years after undergrad work), completing in 2016 a Masters (Hons) in International Law and Politics at Canterbury University. Mark continues to write occasional journalistic pieces and frequently presents as a provocative speaker from TED to Bioneers, to the European Environmental Foundation (Freiburg – 2018) and Sun Valley Resilience Institute (Idaho - 2019).
Having founded and led the Hillary Institute from 2006, Mark’s principal role now is to support the new leadership team and he is also writing a book with the 10 annual, global Hillary Laureates, he has been privileged to serve (2009-21). He is also the Director of Maven Ltd, a strategic leadership boutique on Arts and Social Enterprise and is in his 20th year as co-founder and ED of Untouched World Foundation, focused on leadership development with 18-30yr old rangatahi in NZ. An advisor to the Katerva Challenge for innovative climate change solutions (Canada) and Climate Changers (US), Mark is widely-regarded as an independent thinker and partnership broker.
mark@hillaryinstitute.org.nz
Camia Young - Trustee
Camia was appointed a Trustee of the Hillary Institute of International Leadership in February 2017 and a Director of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) in March 2021.
Since moving to Christchurch in August 2011, Camia has been involved in a number of community based initiatives including Exchange Christchurch (XCHC), the Gap Filler Pallet Pavilion; Te Putahi: Christchurch Centre for Architecture and City Making) and Studio Christchurch. Before moving to Aotearoa, Camia was an Architect in Europe with OMA (Holland) and Herzog & de Meuron (Switzerland).
Her experience weaves together architecture, property development, community development and entrepreneurship. She is currently a director of Ohu Development, Collett’s Corner and Mohua Ventures. Mohua Ventures is a venture founded by EHF fellows and a female led property development creating cohousing projects in Takaka, NZ.
Andrew Hoppin - Trustee
Andrew is an open source govtech entrepreneur, former government CIO, former space scientist, and angel investor passionate about contributing to ventures that build a more decentralized, egalitarian and democratic planet.
As an EHF Investor Fellow, he supports New Zealand impact entrepreneurs working on govtech, spacetech, healthtech, and blockchain tech ventures.
His own core venture, CoverUS, aims to drive towards a more efficient and effective US health care system by putting patients in control of their own health data, and using it to get insights about how to better afford their care.
He also manages ChainLink Capital Management, a small financial management firm that invests in a range of digital asset and blockchain technology funds. Andrew supports the maturation of decentralizing technologies because he believes they can help to restore our sovereignty over our personal information, and help to redefine and redistribute asset and transactional power in a more egalitarian manner.
Andrew was appointed an Institute Trustee in April 2021.
Dinnie Moeahu - Trustee
Dinnie Moeahu (Te Atiawa, Ngāruahine, Taranaki, Te Arawa, and Ngāti Porou) is a committed public servant and a second-term New Plymouth District Councillor. With a focus on community development, Dinnie has spearheaded various community initiatives and projects. He holds a Master's degree in Māori and Indigenous Leadership and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Canterbury, where his research encompasses Indigenous governance, sustainable practices, and cultural competency enhancement for organisations.
In 2019, Dinnie received the Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year award, recognising his significant contributions to positive change and community inspiration. His overarching goals are to foster collaboration between Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnerships, bridging Indigenous communities and businesses on a global scale, strengthen the link between traditional wisdom and modern issues, and prioritise Indigenous perspectives in sustainable development and cultural preservation.
Dinnie was appointed an Institute Trustee in August 2023.
Ian Short - Retired
Ian is the co-founder of The Connective, an organisation that helps design and implement alternative business models and investment structures that deliver for people and the planet. He is the former CEO of Climate-KIC, the world’s largest climate change innovation partnership, and of the Institute for Sustainability. Both organisations were established to support systems innovation. After starting his career in finance with the New Zealand Treasury and 10 years at a global investment bank, he was introduced to the value of a systems mindset when leading the establishment of an urban development corporation responsible for the regeneration of east London. Ian is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Chair of the Auckland Foundation and an RSA Oceania Board Member.
The Connective are leaders in developing and delivering systems-based, regenerative programmes that maximise economic, environmental and social returns for investors, communities and asset owners. They work with organisations challenging BAU or looking to create systems change. Primarily through piloting and scaling models that better understand inter-dependencies to reduce risk, improve returns, increase deal flow and deliver more for people and the planet.
Ian was appointed an Institute Trustee in December 2022.
Sacha McMeeking - Retired
Sacha McMeeking is Head of School of Aotahi: Māori and Indigenous Studies at Univ. of Canterbury. After serving Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as head of government and external relations for many years she founded as a change agent, a boutique strategy, sustainability and collaboration consultancy, Catalytic. Having pursued societal transformation through international human rights advocacy, Iwi development and public policy she is focussed on applying social entrepreneurship to solve complex global and local challenges.
She holds a Master of Law degree and was the inaugural Fulbright Harkness NZ Fellow in 2010, during which she developed kaupapa.org a bespoke suite of tools for Iwi and Maori organisations to make commercial and tribal development decisions according to tradition-based values. Sacha also serves on a number of not for profit boards. She is currently back at her role at UC following some (pre-Covid) months out at Cambridge University doing post-grad study.
Sacha was with the Institute for over a decade.
Anake Goodall, Chair - Retired 2021
Former Chair of both the NZ Board of Trustees and the International Board of Governors (the Hillary Summit), Anake has diverse management and governance experience including serving as CEO of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and as an immediate past member of the Environmental Protection Authority and its establishment board.
He currently serves on the boards of Meridian Energy, Te Pā o Rākaihautū and The Gift Trust, and is the former chair of the Ākina Foundation. He also holds the position of Adjunct Professor at the University of Canterbury. Anake is particularly interested in strategies to realise community objectives that integrate social, environmental and economic dimensions over the long run. He has an MBA, a Public Administration Masters from Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Government, and is a NZ Harkness Fellow. He retired from the HI board in March 21.
(Hon) David Caygill, Founding Chair - Retired
Founding Chair - Born and educated in Christchurch, David graduated B.A., LL.B (Hons) from the University of Canterbury. He was first elected to public office at age 22 and served three terms on the Christchurch City Council (1971–80). In 1978 David was elected to Parliament, representing St Albans. He served as and MP for the following 18 years, including six years (1984–90) as a Minister of the Crown. From 1993–96 he served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Following his retirement in 1996 he returned to his former profession as a lawyer, joining Buddle Findlay as a partner specialising in public law. In December 2003 he was appointed Deputy Chair of the Commerce Commission and in 2007 Chair of the Electricity Commission. David also served on a number of outside bodies, including as chair of the Accident Compensation Corporation. In 2000 he chaired the Ministerial Inquiry into the Electricity Industry and later the review of NZ’s Emissions Trading Scheme. An appointed councillor Commissioner on ECAN for 6 years he was also a trustee of the Christchurch Methodist Mission. David was the Hillary Institute's founding chair from 2007-14.
Catlin Powers - Retired
Dr. Catlin Powers came to the Hillary Institute as Chair of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship in 2019. From an impact entrepreneurship background and as the Chair of EHF . She previously led her solar energy start-up, One Earth Designs, from its inception in rural Asia to serve customers in 68 countries.
Dr. Powers’ is a European Environmental Laureate. Her solar energy research has been recognized by the United Nations Environment Program, US National Science Foundation, and St Andrews Prize for the Environment. Catlin retired from the HI board in March 21.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlinpowers/.
Melissa Clark-Reynolds (ONZM) - Retired
Melissa Clark Reynolds was an Institute Trustee for a decade. She is a Foresight Practitioner and Professional Director after 25 years experience as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of a number of Technology companies. She is a Governor of Radio NZ, sits on the Boards of Kiwi Insurance, Jasmax, Softed and Beef and Lamb NZ. Melissa was a Member of MPI’s Primary Growth Partnership Investment Advisory Panel until January 2018 and Chairs the LINZ Risk & Audit Committee.
Melissa was one of the first two New Zealanders to train with Al Gore as a Climate Ambassador. In 2016 she attended the Te Hono Bootcamp at Stanford University; trained as a Foresight Practitioner with The Institute for the Future in Palo Alto and trained with Clayton Christiansen in his approach to Disruptive Innovation through Harvard. Melissa retired from the HI board in March 21.
Peter Townsend (CNZM) - Retired
Peter Townsend was a founding Trustee of the Institute and served on the board for 13years. He announced mid-2017 his pending retirement as the Chief Executive of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce a position he held since 1996.
While partly retired to Wanaka, Peter went on to chair and maintain a number of key governance roles in Christchurch, including the crown-owned Otakaro Ltd and the Canterbury Health Precinct. He retired from the HI board in March 21.
Matthew Monahan - Retired
"Tackling humanity's greatest challenges requires new paradigms and integrated solutions. I was drawn to New Zealand because it offers an exciting canvas for such approaches."
Upon arriving to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2010, Matthew was captivated by the people, land, and potential. Originally from the midwest United States, he has always been an active student of entrepreneurship and technology.
After leaving college, Matthew joined forces with his brother Brian to create Inflection, an incubator of trust-based software tools, where he serves as CEO. Matthew is on the board of Kiwi Connect, helping to bridge connections with Silicon Valley. He is also a founding director of the Namaste Foundation.
Garry Moore (CNZM, CA) - Retired.
A founding Trustee of the Institute and Mayor of Christchurch for 9 yrs, Garry also founded the Mayors Taskforce which played a key role focused on youth employment in NZ. As Mayor Garry had a particular focus on environmental projects reducing the city’s energy usage by 30% and CO2 by 50% under his watch.
Peter Beck - Retired.
The Reverend Peter Beck is a former Christchurch City Councillor and was Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral from 2002-2012. Born in England, he and his wife Gay came to New Zealand in 1981. They have three adult children. A graduate of Oxford University and an Anglican priest for 44 years he has always seen his ministry as engaging with the issues of the world, getting out and meeting people in all walks of life, and exploring with them what gives meaning, value and purpose in their lives.
He was privileged to be asked by Lady Hillary to take part in Sir Ed's funeral in January 2008. Peter is also the Antarctica NZ Chaplain to Scott Base.