Chairman, Remuneration Committee Chairman, Audit & Risk Committee Member

Kevin Atkinson is a Hawke’s Bay-born director who has spent the majority of his working life in the technology sector. He is the Principal and Managing Director of the software company Information Management Services Limited. He is also the Chairman of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and a Director of Hawke's Bay Rugby.

Kevin is an Accredited Director of the Institute of Directors (AMInstD), a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FInstD) and a Fellow of the Institute of Management (FNZIM). He was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Business and the Community in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Audit & Risk Committee Chairman, Remuneration Committee Member

John Palairet is a Chartered Accountant and Consultant with accounting firm BDO and provides specialist advice in business valuations, acquisitions, company restructuring and commercial disputes.

He is Chairman of Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited and Anglican Care Limited and a director of ETEL Limited. John is an accredited member of the Institute of Directors. John has served on the board since 1998 and is Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Audit & Risk Committee Member, Remuneration Committee Member

Philip Hocquard is a business adviser, company executive and director with
broad experience of many different types of business, corporate and commercial structures, financing options, business strategies and governance. He holds a law degree from Victoria University and was a partner of the Hastings legal firm, Bannister & von Dadelszen, for over 20 years before retiring in 1999 to set up an independent mentoring business providing strategic, legal and general advice to selected private businesses.

Philip was appointed to the Board in July 2009. He is a senior management executive or director of a number of privately owned Hawke’s Bay companies and Chairman of some of those. Philip is also a Trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Helicopter Rescue Trust.

Audit & Risk Committee Member

Keith Valentine has over 30 years experience in the energy industry through managing high growth power electronic companies designing and exporting hi tech products for global markets.

He retired as Executive Chairman of Vectek Electronics Limited (now ABB Power Quality) in 2009. Keith currently provides advisory services to high growth companies in strategic planning, export market development and commercialisation of technologies.

Keith has a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), is a member of the Institute of Directors and has been an independent Director of Unison subsidiaries; Unison Contracting Services since its formation and ETEL since its acquisition.

Keith was a Director of the Board from 2003 to 2008 and was reappointed in July 2010.

Audit & Risk Committee Member

Paul Connell is an independent director and corporate consultant with over 30 years of commercial, financial and governance experience. As a Charted Accountant and accredited member of the Institute of Directors, he has a strong financial and governance background. He has 10 years of experience on public company boards, including chairing committees. He currently is currently an independent director and chairs the audit and risk committee of listed Zintel Group Limited.

Paul has been involved with business start-ups (including public listings and bond issues), strategy development, business planning, restructuring and management over a wide range of industries and through different economic cycles.

Paul was born and educated in Hawkes Bay and currently lives in Auckland.

Audit & Risk Committee Member

Brenden Hall is an independent director and business adviser with over twenty five years of experience across a multiple of industries including electricity, information technology and agricultural export.

Brenden holds a commerce degree from Victoria University of Wellington, is a director of ETEL Limited and is a member of the Institute of Directors. He currently provides advisory services in strategy development, mergers and acquisitions and export market development.

Brenden joined the ETEL board in May 2009 and the Unison Networks board in July 2011. He was born and educated in Wellington and now resides in Auckland.