Board of Directors

Mark was appointed a Director in February 2010 and Chairman in October 2018. He is a professional director with a strong working knowledge of technology and technology-related businesses, as well as having extensive capital markets experience. A lawyer by training, with widespread corporate legal experience in private practice, he spent over 7 years on the senior executive team of Telecom NZ through until mid-2008, where among other things he had executive accountability for two business units. Mark is currently Chairman of Meridian Energy Ltd and Willis Bond Capital Partners Ltd (retiring from that Board on 30 September 2020), a director of ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited and a member of the Advisory Board of NZ Treasury.

Abby was appointed a Director in June 2018. She is a professional director with over 12 years’ governance experience, with qualifications in both law and accounting. Abby has experience in a range of senior management, finance and legal roles, with a focus on corporate finance and commercial transactions. Abby is currently the Chair of Z Energy Limited and a director of TVNZ and Sanford Limited.

Mark Cairns has been Chief Executive of Port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s largest and most successful port, since 2005. He will retire in June to pursue a full-time governance career. Mark was previously Chief Executive of Toll Owens Limited and Owens Cargo Company Limited. Mark has extensive experience in logistics, infrastructure, contracting and significant exposure to capital markets.  He has a First Class Honours Degree in Civil Engineering, a degree in Business Studies and a Master of Management.  Mark is also a director of Meridian Energy Limited, Northport Limited,  Quality Marshalling Limited, and Coda Group Limited.  He is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and a Member of the Institute of Directors. In 2019, Mark received the prestigious Caldwell Partners Leadership Award from the Institute of Finance Professionals and the Deloitte/Management Magazine Executive of the Year Award in 2012.

Fiona was appointed a Director in July 2021.  She is a professional director, holding governance roles across a range of business sectors including renewable energy, natural gas, technology, and financial services. She is a director (and audit committee chair) of Tilt Renewables Limited, Gentrack Group Limited, the First Gas Group, BNZ Life Insurance Limited and BNZ Insurance Services Limited and Wynyard Group Limited (in liquidation). Fiona’s Executive career was in the financial services sector in New Zealand and overseas. In New Zealand, her roles included Chief Operating Officer of Westpac’s investment arm, BT Funds Management, and General Manager of AMP NZ’s Wealth Management division. In Sydney and London, Fiona managed the Risk and Operations function for AMP’s private capital division. Prior to this, Fiona was a senior corporate and commercial solicitor in New Zealand and overseas, specialising in mergers and acquisitions. Fiona is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a member of Global Women.

Mark was appointed a Director in September 2015. He has extensive experience in the technology sector, with a decade’s governance experience, predominantly in the high tech and innovation space. An electrical engineer by training, with widespread operations and marketing experience, he spent 4 years on the senior executive team of Vodafone NZ, where among other things he had executive accountability for the fixed line business and as Director of Marketing. Mark previously served as chief executive of Pacific Fibre, ihug and financial services company, Paymark Limited. Mark is currently Chief Executive Officer of private equity owned UP Education and a director of a number of private companies.

Peter was appointed a Director in July 2016. He brings to Freightways many years of senior executive experience with the Lion group of companies in both New Zealand and Australia. Peter’s last executive roles were as Managing Director of Lion Nathan New Zealand and Managing Director of Lion Dairy and Drinks, based in Melbourne. Peter retired from Lion in 2014 and has since developed his career in governance. Peter is also a director of Sanford Limited and is involved in a number of private companies both in New Zealand and in Australia.