What three personality traits have helped you reached such success in business?
Being team-focused, honest and transparent, enjoying a laugh.
What do you enjoy about governance positions?
Being able to put my experience to use in different business situations.
How do you feel in roles where you’re more of a follower, rather than a leader?
I’m very comfortable following someone whom I respect.
What was been your ultimate professional highlight?
Leading KPMG New Zealand for 10 years. Although I enjoyed undertaking a number of important insolvency assignments.
What career path might you have taken if not accounting?
I only ever wanted to be an accountant like my uncle, despite my father encouraging me to take a trade so that I would always have a job.
What was your speciality on the cricket pitch, and did you have any quirks to your game?
I was a batsmen and for a large part of my playing days I had the responsibility of captaining the various sides that I played in. I also had a reputation for offering unsolicited advice to the opposition batsmen.
What was the most useful thing you learnt at Victoria?
Basic economics and aspects of commercial law. I also improved my basketball shooting ability.
If you could offer one piece of advice to your student self, what would it be?
Be patient. If something is worth doing then do it properly.
What’s one enduring memory you have about your time at Victoria?
The pressure of exams, I still have nightmares because I haven’t done enough work for an “upcoming exam”.
How many World Cup Cricket games did you go to this year?
Six.
What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
Playing golf, particularly with my wife and son, genealogy and local history.
What’s something about you people may be surprised to know?
I’m actually quite shy.