Darin has an extensive background in governance, strategic, and advisory roles, having been an independent chair, director, and consultant across many organisations and sectors. Previously Darin was the Programme Director for the World Bank Group leading the Pacific Aviation Investment Program. He has also held Senior Executive and Chief Executive Officer roles during his high-level career. His current roles include Chair of Auckland One Rail Ltd and Deputy Chair of Airways Corporation Ltd, and the Civil Aviation Authority. He is also a Director of the Canterbury Cricket Association, and has strong relationships throughout the region. 

Wendy is Chief Executive of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and before this held Chief Executive roles at Aoraki Development and Aoraki Polytechnic. She has wide board experience including roles at Bidwill Trust Hospital as Deputy Chair, Chair of their Clinical Risk Committee and Board Member at Presbyterian Support. Wendy has a deep-seated understanding of the South Canterbury community and a strong awareness of their risks.   

Ross (Ngāti Porou/Ngāi Tahu) has contributed to support networks in the Canterbury region for over 30 years.  He is currently a Senior Advisor, Treaty Relationships at Christchurch City Council. Prior to this, he worked at Te Puni Kōkiri Ministry of Māori Development as a Senior Advisor and Team Leader. Ross has a background in education and was previously Deputy Principal at Hillmorton High School for ten years. Ross was selected to the Emergency Management Assistance Team with National Emergency Management Agency in 2021.  Ross has played, umpired and coached softball, tennis and rugby league, and has been a committee member and President at Halswell Rugby League Club. 

Heavily engaged in his community, the majority of Mark’s governance experience has been with rural sector groups. Currently, he is the inaugural Chairman for Living Landscapes/South Canterbury as well as a Trustee for South Canterbury Rural Support Trust and a former President for South Canterbury Federated Farmers. Mark recently stepped down as a Trustee for the Community Trust of South and Mid Canterbury. Mark and his wife, Maja, leased out their 490ha sheep and beef property that they actively farmed and raised their family on in the Fairlie basin.

Brett is a company director and consultant working with clients on procurement, tender evaluation, and resource consent engineering. Prior to this, he was Executive Divisional Manager, Central South Island and West Coast, at Fulton Hogan and Fulton Hogan’s Project Director, at SCIRT, Christchurch Earthquake Rebuild. Brett was a volunteer ambulance officer and member of Red Cross Emergency Relief Teams including serving on the Red Cross-National Board and Chair of the Canterbury West Coast Region.  

Cherie Leckner is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors with over 10 years’ governance experience in not-for-profit and volunteer organisations, including Coastguard New Zealand Southern Region and National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). She is the Head of Construction for the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) Alliance, leading major infrastructure recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle. With a background in Civil Engineering and leadership roles on large-scale projects like the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (Kaikoura Earthquakes), Cherie brings strengths in strategic planning, risk management, and community-focused decision-making.  

Andrew is a forestry professional, with close to 30 years of experience across a range of forest management disciplines. He is currently the General Manager at NZ Forestry and was previously the South Island Regional Manager. Andrew is a full member of the New Zealand Institute of Foresters and was a long-term member and, for a period, Deputy Chair of South Canterbury Rural Fire Committee. He was also NZFOA representative on Mid/South Canterbury Rural Fire District from 2012 to 2015. Andrew has been involved with Fire and Emergency at Land Management Forums. 

Habib brings over a decade of experience in government, community leadership, and volunteer initiatives, with a strong focus on equity, inclusion, and public service. He has held senior advisory roles in the public sector in strategic engagement and partnerships at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and multiple positions within the Department of Corrections. Habib was actively involved in community engagement during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Mosque attacks. Habib’s service has been recognised with a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM). His governance roles include President of the Canterbury Muslim Association, Council Member of FIANZ, and General Secretary of the Pakistani Association of Canterbury.