Our leadership

James joined Airways in July 2014 as the Chief Financial Officer, responsible for Airways’ financial management, procurement and property activities. In February 2023, he was appointed Chief Executive.

Prior to joining Airways, James held leadership positions in the investment management industry while living and working in Tokyo, San Francisco and Hong Kong. Over this time, James gained experience in corporate planning, financial management, startup companies, strategic outsourcing and stakeholder management.

James' vision for Airways is to generate value for shareholders and customers by delivering quality services at a competitive price. He enjoys his involvement in driving varied and interesting projects across the Airways group, working with many talented Airways people. 

James holds degrees in Accounting and Economics from Victoria University and is a qualified chartered accountant.

James Evans was appointed Acting General Manager Commercial in January 2025. In this role, he has responsibility for ATS training, products, aviation services, commercial activity and Aeropath, who  specialise in  Aeronautical information and Procedure Design. 

James brings extensive leadership experience and a deep understanding of air traffic control to this role.

James first rated as an Air Traffic Controller in 1996 at Nelson Tower. Since then, he has worked as an operational tower and surveillance Air Traffic Controller in New Zealand and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

From 2014–2019, James was the Operations Manager for surveillance services at Dubai International Airport. He managed day-to-day civil and military operations and the operational development and implementation of projects which realised significant improvements in safety and capacity within Dubai’s airspace.

In 2019, James returned to Airways to manage the operational surveillance arm of Airways, responsible for delivery of air traffic services within New Zealand’s Domestic and Oceanic FIRs.

Ben joined Airways in November 2023 as the General Manager of Air Traffic Services (ATS) responsible for delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective ATS within the New Zealand Domestic and Oceanic Flight Information Regions (FIRs) with a focus on building strong customer relationships and driving team culture engagement and performance within ATS.

Ben joined Airways from Canada where he started his career in Air Traffic Control in 1989 for the National ANSP holding Tower, Terminal and Enroute ratings.

From 2004 to 2023, he held various positions within operations’ management, including Director of ATS Standards and Procedures, General Manager of the Montreal FIR, Assistant Vice President AIM and Flight Operations, Vice President Operational Support and more recently, Vice President & Chief of Operations at Nav Canada.

On a personal level, Ben enjoys travelling, golfing, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, and trekking.

Jamie joined Airways in January 2021. As General Manager People and Partnerships, Jamie is responsible for strategy, strategic customer and stakeholder relationships, communications, public affairs and sustainability.

Jamie brings to Airways a wealth of experience in the public sector with his previous role as the Chief of Staff for the New Zealand National Party and prior to this he held senior roles in National and Labour-led Governments advising senior Ministers on significant Transport, Economic Development, Energy and Resources and Infrastructure policy issues.

Jamie has a well-regarded leadership and management style. He is a strong communicator and has excellent relationship management skills honed through years of working with senior decision makers and stakeholders.

Jen Nepton is the Acting Chief Information and Technology Officer at Airways New Zealand and has been with Airways New Zealand for over 25 years. With a strong background in air traffic services development, Jen has been instrumental in advancing the technological capabilities of the organisation. Jen's expertise in software engineering and air traffic management has significantly contributed to the safety and efficiency of air navigation services in New Zealand and beyond.

Kim specialises in safety, governance, change and safety culture. Since joining Airways in 2010, Kim has integrated Airways' governance functions for safety (health and safety and operational safety), audit and risk management, security management and analysis and advisory. Kim has lead the creation of the integrated Airways Safety Management System, encompassing the CANSO standard of excellence, CAA Rule Part 100 and the Health and Safety Act 2015.

Becoming a Just Culture Champion in 2015, Kim’s focus is on embedding a safety culture that enables positive reporting, accountability and learning.  Kim is also the Crisis Manager for Airways.

Kim is part of the Global Safety Network for CANSO, a participant in the NZ Business Leaders forum and a member of a number of risk and audit forums. 

Prior to joining Airways, Kim held senior roles in companies such as British Gas Trading and Deloitte (UK).  Kim has a commerce degree from Lincoln University and is a qualified auditor.

Tim joined Airways in October 2023 and is responsible for Airways’ financial management activities. Tim manages key relationships with Airways' Audit and Finance Committee and the New Zealand Treasury.

Tim is a highly capable finance executive with more than twenty years’ experience in senior finance and commercial roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer and previously Chief Financial Officer at Fisher & Paykel Appliances.

Tim has demonstrated ability to successfully lead change and business growth in a global environment, having had extensive experience establishing and growing relationships with key stakeholders across distribution networks, business partners and with internal stakeholders.

He brings a breadth of finance function leadership plus strategic commercial experience to the role at Airways.

Denise was appointed as Chair of the Airways Board in January 2019, bringing with her a wide range of governance and management experience. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and holds degrees in zoology, economics and resource management.

Denise is currently Chair of Predator Free 2050 Ltd, a director of Predator Free Wellington Ltd, and a trustee of the South Youth Foundation.

She was previously Chair of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) and Zealandia, and has held a number of board roles.

Denise was Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment from 1996 to 2001.

As director of Leadership Matters Ltd, she works with boards and executive teams on leadership and strategy development.

Darin was appointed to the Airways Board in April 2018. He is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Darin’s current governance roles include directorships of Hawke’s Bay Airport Ltd, Auckland One Rail Ltd, ACL Ltd, Absolute Solutions Group Ltd, and in the not-for-profit space with Youth Hostel Association (YHA) of New Zealand and the Canterbury Cricket Association.

Darin brings with him a background in aviation, transport and tourism, having held chief executive and senior executive roles across airport, air navigation, aviation security and airline organisations throughout New Zealand and the Pacific region.

Most recently, he led the Pacific Aviation Investment Program (PAIP) on behalf of the World Bank Group across six countries in the Pacific region, and the reform and restructure of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office. The programme delivered over US$350 million of infrastructure renewal, technical assistance, regulatory oversight and capacity building.

Darin undertakes a variety of work within New Zealand, as well as continuing to work across the Pacific region, supporting donor organisations in the development and preparation of investment programmes.

Louise was appointed to the Airways board in November 2024. She is an experienced professional director and Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ senior management experience across a number of industries in New Zealand and overseas. In particular, she has held senior executive positions within the New Zealand financial services industry and is an experienced leader with a wealth of financial management acumen.

Her current board appointments include Chair of the National Provident Fund and Chair of Unity Credit Union board. She also sits on the boards of Superannuation Investments Ltd and Mutual Funds Limited. Her previous executive roles include Chief Executive of Rata Foundation, Chief Executive of Perpetual Trust and Chief Operating Officer for Assure NZ (subsidiary of AXA).  

In conjunction with her busy work life, she has always maintained strong community sector links which includes her work with the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, JR McKenzie Trust, Marlborough Kaikoura Trail Trust, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, University of Canterbury Foundation, Good Shepherd NZ, Alzheimers Society and Victim Support.

Gavin (Ngāti Maru and Ngāti Porou) was appointed to the Airways Board in March 2022. He has wide experience in governance and senior management and is presently on the board of New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF).

He began his career as a Licenced Avionics Engineer with Air New Zealand and holds a New Zealand and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot Licence. He is a graduate of Lincoln University, United Kingdom (MBA) and INSEAD, France (Finance) and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.

Gavin has experience in past and present senior technical, commercial and governance roles in New Zealand, Hong Kong and North America – including work in the aviation, engineering, sustainability, environmental finance and social enterprise industries.

He has a passion for sustainability, a wide global network, and brings a diversity lens. He aims to help businesses succeed whilst caring for the environment and the community.

Gavin has a diverse background with Māori heritage and is a member of the Rainbow Community.

John was appointed to the Airways Board in January 2019. He is an experienced company director and entrepreneur with governance and executive experience across a wide range of company stages and industries.

His purpose statement is to “actively engage the world, learn, grow and share with others.”

John founded Technology and Innovations New Zealand (TAINZ) at age 17 to pursue his passion for evolving innovative ideas that solve meaningful problems into successful, scalable companies.

He is the co-founder of New Zealand technology start-ups Sonar6 (sold to United States company Cornerstone in 2012) and Homes.co.nz, (sold to New Zealand corporate Trade Me in 2021).

He is currently a director of Orbica Ltd, Kiwi Landing Pad Ltd (trading as Territory3), and Chair/Trustee of the Free For All Charitable Trust and of Technology and Innovations Ltd (TAINZ).

Since 2020, John has focused on applying his experience, connections, curiosity and applied skills specifically to the areas of strategy, sales, and cultural and digital transformation, to enhance the readiness of organisations for the future.

John has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Military History and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration. He has had a lifelong interest in aviation and is a flying member of the Wellington Aero Club.

Mark was appointed to the Airways Board in November 2019. He is Managing Director of his own leadership consultancy, Divergent & Co – where he works predominately supporting boards and chief executives to improve executive leadership performance and drive change by linking strategy to capability and culture.

Starting his career in clinical psychology in New Zealand, Mark joined a global leadership consulting firm in London in 2001 and worked with senior leaders in a range of multinational and scale businesses such as RBS, BP and Sainsbury’s; then became Organisational Development Manager for Barclays UK Retail Bank during the global financial crisis.

Since returning to New Zealand in 2010, he has consulted across a range of industries in both the public and private sector, with clients such as Trustpower, Fonterra, Chorus, NZ Post, Waka Kotahi, Mercury Energy and Fletcher Building.

Terry was appointed to the Airways Board in November 2022. He has over 20 years of experience in military and civilian airline aviation and was a qualified flying instructor, check and training captain and Civil Aviation Authority-appointed flight examiner.

Terry is the Managing Director of the software development company Cortexo and has held positions as the President of the New Zealand Software Association and Canterbury Software Inc. He is a director of The Travel Supermarket Ltd.

He is a member of the Electricity Authority’s Innovation and Participation Advisory Group and an Advisory Board Member of the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand.

Terry is a Member of the Institute of Directors and was previously an Associate Member of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and Leadership.

Danny (Ngāpuhi) was appointed to the Airways Board in July 2023. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2005. In addition to his legal expertise, Danny has significant leadership experience as a business owner in New Zealand, a director in the public and private sectors, and a senior manager in law and education.

He is currently Managing Director of Northland law practice MWIS Lawyers Limted and a member of the boards of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Maritime New Zealand and Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. Danny was a panel member on the Air Navigation System Review commissioned by the Ministry of Transport, which concluded in May 2023.