Board of Directors
Denise Church, Chair QSO, CFInstD
Denise was appointed as Chair of the Airways Board in January 2019, bringing a wide range of governance and management experience. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and has been Chair of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) since July 2015.
Read moreDenise is a board member of Predator Free Wellington Ltd, trustee of the South Youth Foundation, past president of the Rotary Club of Wellington, and a director and shareholder of Leadership Matters Limited.
Denise was Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment from 1996 to 2001. She has previously served on the Health IT Board, the Science Board, the Boards of Karori Sanctuary Trust, Ako Aotearoa, FRST, Landcare Research, and the Wellington Zoo Trust.
In 2002 Denise was appointed as a companion of the Queen’s Service Order.
Mark Pitt, Deputy Chair BSc, ATPL
Mark was appointed to the Airways Board in November 2015. He has 25 years’ experience as a pilot, initially as an international military pilot and later as a domestic airline pilot instructor.
Read moreMark has also served as a director of a number of Boards including Virgin Australia New Zealand and the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand Incorporated (BARNZ). He is the owner and director of distribution company Quinn International Ltd and manufacturing and distribution company G&M Pty Ltd in Australia, and runs a consultancy called Frontseat which specialises in leadership and marketing.
Throughout his career Mark has operated in highly competitive international markets, managed complex operational and commercial business functions, and led strong international brands with a focus on innovation and quality products and customer service.
Darin Cusack MinstD
Darin Cusack was appointed to the Airways Board in April 2018. He is a Member of the Institute of Directors.
Read moreDarin’s current governance roles include directorships of Dunedin International Airport Ltd, Auckland One Rail Ltd, ACL Ltd, Absolute Solutions Group Ltd and the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) of New Zealand.
Darin brings 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 & restructure of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office. The program delivered over US$350 million of infrastructure renewal, technical assistance and capacity building.
Darin continues to work across the region, supporting donor organisations in the development of investment and implementation programmes for the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank and Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.
Gavin Fernandez
Gavin was appointed to the Airways Board in March 2022. He has wide experience in governance and senior management and is presently on the boards of the Government’s Green Investment Bank (NZGIF) and MOTAT.
Read moreHe began his career as a Licenced Avionics Engineer with Air NZ, holds a NZ and FAA Private Pilot Licence and is a graduate of Lincoln University UK (MBA) and INSEAD France (Finance) and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Gavin has past and present senior technical, commercial and governance roles in NZ, Hong Kong and North America including aviation, engineering, sustainability, environmental finance and social enterprise industries. He aims to help businesses succeed whilst caring for the environment and the community. Gavin has a diverse background with Māori heritage (Ngāti Maru and Ngāti Porou) and is a member of the Rainbow Community.
Nicola Greer M Com (Hons)
Nicola was appointed to the Airways Board in June 2020. She has extensive experience in New Zealand, Australia and the UK in the banking and finance sectors, previously holding a range of roles within financial markets and asset and liability management at ANZ, Citibank and Goldman Sachs.
Nicola’s current governance roles include directorships at Fidelity Life Assurance, Precinct Properties, South Port NZ, New Zealand Railways Corporation, and she is a Member of the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal.
Nicola also has a significant background in the New Zealand commercial property market, successfully developing and owning commercial property across a variety of sectors.
John Holt
John was appointed to the Airways Board in January 2019. He is an experienced company director and entrepreneur, holding a number of governance roles over 20 years.
John is the founder of Technology and Innovations New Zealand (TAINZ) and co- founder of internet business start-ups Sonar6 (sold to US company Cornerstone in 2012) Homes.co.nz. Previously he has held governance and directorship roles with 90 Seconds TV, Cloud Cannon, Mobi2Go, Joy Business Academy and Putti Apps.
In 2011 John co-founded the not for profit organisation Kiwi Landing Pad with Sam Morgan. Landing Pad has evolved into a community of more than 5000 entrepreneurs and innovators commercialising Kiwi technology and exporting it globally.
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 and Canterbury Aero Club.
Mark Hutchinson BSc (Hons), MSc, PGDip Clps, MInstD
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 & Chief Executives to improve executive leadership performance and to drive change by linking strategy to capability and culture.
Read moreInitially starting his career in clinical psychology in NZ, 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 GFC. Since returning to NZ 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.
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Lisa Jacobs BCom, LLB, FCA, CMinstD
Lisa Jacobs was appointed to the Airways board in November 2018.
She brings a strong legal, financial and risk management focus to the role. Lisa is the Chief Executive Officer of national law firm Anthony Harper and has extensive experience in the professional firm environment and investment management sector, where she has held both senior executive and board roles.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland, is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.