Where Kiwi explorers connect and
make a difference

Toni was appointed as Chief Executive of Kea in 2020. With a background in digital business across the UK, US and New Zealand, Toni brings experience in both the private and public sector. Alongside an interest in data, technology and innovation, Toni has a true passion for people seeing them as her strongest ingredient for success. In her spare time, Toni enjoys yoga and spending time in the outdoors.

Ele Quigan is Kea's Global Communications & Community Director. Ele has 17 years experience across advertising and media in NZ and the UK. With a strategic head and creative heart Ele is passionate about bringing our Kea story to a global audience. A "bird nerd" and keen gardener since coming back home, Ele loves the amazing, great outdoors of New Zealand.

Saya Wahrlich is Kea’s Global Director for Government and Industry. Saya has 20 years experience in both the private and public sector, spanning senior digital, marketing and general management roles in largely B2B businesses. Most recently while at NZTE she developed and launched Digital Clinics, working with over 250 Kiwi exporting businesses through lockdown to help build digital capability and uncover talent and technology gaps.

Sara a graduate of the University of Waikato with broad experience working globally for wineries and wine companies including Constellation New Zealand, Man O’ War Vineyards and Seresin Estate in a variety of sales and marketing positions. For the last nine years based from the UK, with her Kiwi husband Tim, and London born but very Kiwi son Jack, they continue to discover the world and share their love of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Gary has an extensive 30-year career in the NZ music industry, working at record labels across a broad range of promotions, marketing, business networking & international relationships. In 2005, he established the music export initiative called Outward Sound, supporting NZ music & music businesses into international markets. Since 2016, he developed an international music & technology business conference called Mondo.NYC.

Phil is Global Chair of Kea. He was previously the Chief Executive of Rangatira, a middle-market investment company based in Wellington, New Zealand. Before joining Rangatira, Phil was based in New York City as a Partner at Growfire, a middle market advisory and investment firm, and Partner & Managing Director at PIPC (acquired by Cognizant in 2010).

Craig Donaldson has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial sector, having held a number of executive positions in major financial institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and RBS. Craig holds board positions across a range of sectors and provides business advice and mentorship through his involvement with the Icehouse and the University of Auckland.

Young Ly is the Chief Executive Officer of Serato, world leaders in audio technology. A position that has given him practical experience with international business and global partnerships. With 20 years of technology leadership, Young’s history includes running Air New Zealand’s Innovation and Ventures team and co-founding a games company.

Founder and CEO of Newfound Global, Peter is an expert in helping global technology companiesgrow in existing markets and expand into new ones. He is an active investor and advisor in multiple B2B tech businesses and lends his deep experience on talent acquisition and development to good effect. A dual UK and NZ citizen Peter has lived in London for mor ethan 30 years and works globally with Newfound and their clients.

Reuben is Head of Tourism & Regional Affairs at Air New Zealand. He has lived and worked in six countries in both the private and public sectors. This includes having served as New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines and as Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR. Reuben has also worked in international trade negotiations, and as a financial markets advocate in the City of London.

Mitchell Pham is a director of CodeHQ (formerly Augen) in New Zealand and Vietnam, and cofounder of the Kiwi Connection Tech Hub – a platform for NZ technology businesses to accelerate presence & engagement in South East Asia. Internationally, he is recognised in leadership as a World Class New Zealander by Kea, an Asia 21 Fellow and Global Council Member by the Asia Society, and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Claire is based in San Francisco as President, Emerging Businesses at luxury home furnishings retailer, RH. She has 25+ years of experience in the building products and furniture retailing sectors. She has lived in China, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand, and worked also in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Mexico and South East Asia. She has been a NZTE Beachheads and KEA Connect Adviser for many years.

Matthew Tukaki has more than two decades of experience in the public and private sector including as Chair of the National Maori Authority, Chair of Deakin University (Australia) CSaRO and Australia Representative to the United Nations Global Compact. In the private sector, he is the former Head of Drake International, one of the world's oldest and largest employment companies, Chair of the WorkWise Group and the Sustain Group of Companies. More recently Matthew led the review into the New Zealand Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki. His whakapapa includes Ngai Te Rangi on his Maori side and Irish ancestry (O’Flaherty) on his maternal side.

Sir Stephen co-founded Kea in 2001, and remains a prominent entrepreneur and venture capital investor contributing seed and venture capital into Kiwi start-up companies, particularly those focused on the global marketplace.

Dr. David J. Teece is a renowned organizational economist and an authority on matters of technological change, and innovation. He has over thirty years of experience as an active advisor to businesses and governments around the world. He co-founded Kea in 2001 to recognize that New Zealand’s borders are not defined by its geography.