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Our Leadership Team.

  • Simon Arcus

    Chief Executive

    Simon has extensive experience in business including financial services and leading membership organisations.

    Prior to his current role he was a Senior Governance Consultant at Mercer Consulting in Melbourne working with superannuation funds. He also held a contract role at the Victorian Auditor-General’s office.

    Simon has been Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute of Directors (IoD) and while there authored the original version of the IoD’s ‘Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice’ and founded the IoD Governance Leadership Centre. He also developed the current Chartered Director pathway.

    Simon has also led the Victoria Farmers Federation and worked at Marsh Insurance and the Master Builders Association of Victoria.

    He is currently on the board of Business New Zealand, Taiwan Trade Development Ltd, and the Advanced Manufacturing Association and was previously a director of a risk and compliance company, and chair of the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Wellington Division 2012-2018.

    Simon has an LL.B and B.A. from the University of Otago, and was admitted as a solicitor in 2001.

    He has a PGDip in Business from Massey University, is a Chartered Company Secretary and is a Fellow of Governance New Zealand (2019).

    Simon Portrait BW 2024 Web
  • Amanda Wood

    Member Services Manager

    Amanda Wood is head of Membership Services at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Business Central, incorporating learning and development, events, international and a number thought leadership initiatives.

    Amanda has over a decade in executive leadership experience and 25-years in business planning, project management, and team development. She has managed complex projects and lead teams through change.

    She has varied experience in leadership roles from organisations such as ANZ, Outward Bound and the Motor Trade Association. She believes that her greatest successes stem from collaborating with diverse groups, including organisations, government agencies, and communities to achieve shared goals.

    She is currently on the Industry Stakeholder group for Hanga-Aro-Rau and is part of the Women in Automotive Consortium.

    Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University and has completed advanced training in negotiation and leadership and The Leadership Mindset Programme from the Auckland School of Business.

    Amanda Wood Portrait 2024 Web
  • Conor Whitten

    Corporate Affairs & Advocacy Manager

    Conor Whitten is our Corporate Affairs and Advocacy Manager, responsible for policy, government relations, media engagement and marketing.

    His work also includes involvement with our Business Leaders Forum, diplomatic corps and Taiwan Business Council.

    Conor has had a long career in communications, primarily as one of New Zealand’s leading broadcast journalists.

    He is also a former foreign correspondent and political reporter in Parliament’s Press Gallery, with extensive experience covering major international events. Prior to joining the Chamber, he was a member of award-winning current affairs show ‘Sunday.’

    Conor has strong networks across politics and commerce. The stories and successes of our members are an inspiration for Conor and give him a passion for helping New Zealand businesses to succeed. He has a Bachelor of Communications from AUT.

    Conor Whitten Portrait 2024 Web
  • Hayden Blucher

    Membership Manager

    As Head of Membership at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Business Central, Hayden is responsible for meeting the diverse needs of our members and forging quality stakeholder relationships.

    Hayden is a natural ‘connector’ who thrives on engagement and is driven by building strong relationships and great results.

    His current role has a strong commercial focus, building on previous experience as Operations Manager and in our Learning & Development team. His career experience includes hospitality, tourism and events and his broad remit at the Chamber has included managing compliance, human resources, and internal change processes.

    Hayden Blucher Portrait 2024 Web
  • Justin Joubert

    Finance Manager

    Justin Joubert is the Finance Manager of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Business Central. He has over a decade of experience in various senior management roles in corporate finance.

    Prior to his current role he was the Chief Financial Officer for Bidvest McCarthy VW Audi in South Africa. Justin’s knowledge of the corporate financial world is highly valued at Business Central. He has modernised systems and processes and has a keen eye for using technology to solve challenges.

    He looks forward to continuing to build strong relations between Business Central and its members and making a meaningful impact across our region, from Wellington to Nelson and the Lower North Island.

    Justin is a Chartered Accountant with a BCom (Hons) degree from the University of Pretoria he obtained in 2004.

    Justin Joubert Portrait 2024 Web
  • Kacie Lewton

    Executive Assistant

    As Executive Assistant to Chief Executive Simon Arcus, Kacie plays a critical support role in the organisation. She also oversees the day-to-day running of the office.  

    Kacie’s professional approach and strong relationship building capability is a key to her effectiveness. She is a natural diplomat with a background in the legal sector, including a role with leading law firm Meredith Connell.

    Kacie says that the challenges of an energetic young family outside of work help her stay ‘match fit’ to deal with anything.

    Kacie Portrait 2024 Web

Our Board


Karun Shenoy

President, Wellington Chamber of Commerce

Karun's professional career has largely been in the Information Technology industry in New Zealand with strong digital, commercial, strategic & risk capabilities. His governance experience includes chair, independent director, trustee roles and Finance, Audit & Risk committee experience. He is Chair of English Language Partners, a  director of Angel HQ and  Chair and Independent Director of Copyright Licensing NZ among other roles.

Jo Healey

Chair of the Council

Jo is currently Country Leader for Kyndryl New Zealand, having an extensive experience in technology sales and customer success. She had held senior executive positions with several multi-national technology companies including Capgemini (formerly Intergen) and IBM. She is on the board of Scots College and was a recent board member of WellingtonNZ.

Adele Rose

Deputy Chair

Adele is Chief Executive of 3R Group, a company that combines imagination and science to repurpose waste and who embed the principals of the circular economy into our lives. She has a long involvement in sustainability and commercialising sustainability initiatives for real and long-lasting impact.

Adele represents Business Central on the Business New Zealand board along with our Chief Executive Simon Arcus. She is currently Deputy Chair of Business New Zealand.  She has been a member of the Sustainable Business Council for nearly and decade and member and sponsor of WasteMINZ since 2012.

Siah Hwee Ang

Siah Hwee Ang is Professor of International Business and Strategy and Professorial Chair in Business in Asia at Victoria University of Wellington. He is also the Director of New Zealand’s Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence. He has been a strong supporter of our Export NZ initiatives.

Before joining Victoria University of Wellington, Siah was Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Auckland Business School and continues to be a Visiting Professor to a few Asian universities.

Jono Dean

Jono is an independent consultant with a career spanning tourism, hotel, and golf course management.  He was Chief Executive at Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (in liquidiation) following a career with Accor Hotels spanning 12 years, where he was general manager for Accor's flagship brands in Christchurch.

Brad Olsen

Brad Olsen is the Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics, a leading economic consultancy. He completed his undergraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington, finishing with a BCom and BA (majoring in Economics, Public Policy, International Relations and Political Science). Brad is one of New Zealand’s youngest Justices of the Peace.

Mark Oldershaw

Mark Chief Executive of Whitireia and WelTec Polytechnic in Wellington.  Prior to this he was Chief Executive EIT for five years and has made an important contribution to EIT which is widely recognised and one of New Zealand’s high performing ITPs. Before joining EIT, Mark was the Chief Executive of the Industry Training Federation.

Man on phone

Get in touch

Phone:
04 473 7224
Email:
info@wecc.org.nz
Postal Address
PO Box 1087
Wellington 6140
Head Office:
Level 13, NTT Tower, 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011