Board of Directors
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Martin Matthews
Chairperson
Martin is a professional director. He is currently a director of Kordia Group Limited and the Wellington Museums Trust, is the Chair of the Finance, Risk and Assurance Committee for Greater Wellington Regional Council, and an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Auckland Council.
Martin has previously held executive roles as Controller and Auditor-General, Secretary for Transport, and Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Martin is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a member of the Institute of Directors.
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Dr Brendan Tiwha Puketapu
Deputy Chairperson
Te Tiwha is a consultant with a background in governance and management roles with iwi, hapū and whānau entities, Māori land trusts, educational institutions and social organisations. Te Tiwha is currently the Chair of Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation.
Te Tiwha has worked with a variety of organisations in the public service and state sector. More recently, he has been appointed as Specialist Advisor, Governance Facilitator commissioner and Limited Statutory manager in both Māori and English medium schools.
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Catherine Harland
Chair of People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
Catherine's career in governance and consultancy covers a range of sectors including water, transport and telecommunication utilities, justice, education, environment, cultural, marketing and research.
Catherine has served as a director of Watercare Services, Independent Chair Aircraft Noise Community Consultative Group, Deputy Chair Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, Council MARK™ Independent Assessment Board member, on central government advisory groups, trusts and incorporated society boards.
Catherine was an elected local authority member for 15 years and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
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Stephen Willis
Chair of Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee
Stephen is an experienced executive level leader of highly complex and large multi-campus organisations in healthcare, education and research sectors within Australia and New Zealand.
His diverse industry exposure includes the military, nursing, health service management, property management, property and campus development, project and portfolio management and complex corporate support services.
Stephen is currently the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Otago. He is a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
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Dave Moskovitz
Board Member
Dave is a professional director and early-stage investor, and takes an active role in a number of start-ups, several of which focus on educational technology.
Dave provides consultancy services around innovation, entrepreneurship and technology for a variety of clients in the public and private sectors, and works with a number of community initiatives.
Dave serves as a Trustee of He Whenua Taurikura and Te Muka Rau, and on the boards of Starboard Maritime Intelligence and a number of early-stage companies. He is an Advisor to The Christchurch Call Advisory Network and is a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.
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Julian Smith
Board Member
Julian is an experienced professional director, currently serving on the boards of Watercare Services Limited, Northport Group Limited, and the Look Good Feel Better Trust. He chairs the Institute of Directors (IoD) Te Tai Tokerau Committee and acts as Group Secretary for the Northland Corporate Group.
With over 16 years of governance experience across the technology, utilities, and not-for-profit sectors, Julian brings specialist expertise in digital and business transformation, customer strategy, and corporate affairs. He is a Chartered Member of the IoD.
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Janie Elrick
Board Member
Janie is a strategist and career CFO with more than 20 years’ experience. She has served as CFO for many large corporates across a number of sectors including Downer Construction, Steel & Tube, Synlait, Zespri and NZ Dairy Group.
She is passionate about business and business integrity, a proven leader with a strong business ethic.
Janie’s field of expertise includes strategy, governance, finance, banking, procurement, culture and values. She is a firm believer in inclusion and diversity.
Janie is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors.
Senior Leadership
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Rob Harrison
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Rob Harrison is an experienced executive with a strong track record of leadership across the global weather and environmental services sector. Since joining MetService in 2018, Rob has held several senior roles, most recently serving as Chief of Customer and Commercial, where he led market strategy, engagement, and commercial performance across a diverse customer base spanning consumer, government, and business sectors.
Rob brings a blend of scientific expertise, commercial acumen, and transformational leadership. Trained as a Marine Scientist in the UK, he began his career delivering meteorological and oceanographic consultancy solutions before joining the UK Met Office as a climate scientist. He later transitioned into senior leadership roles, including Head of Renewables, Regional Head for Southeast Asia, and Lead Operating Officer for the Met Office Business Group, where he oversaw strategy, operations, and organisational transformation.
Rob is passionate about inclusive leadership, empowering teams, building enduring partnerships, and delivering value through innovation and excellence.
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Trevor Shailer
Pou Tūhono
Trevor Shailer (Ngāti Kauwhata, Raukawa, Ngāti Hauiti) joined MetService in April 2024 and is responsible for the ongoing development of strategic partnerships with whānau, hapū, and iwi throughout Aotearoa.
He most recently worked for Te Puni Kōkiri where he held the role of Director of the Project Management Office. Prior, he was CEO of Sport Manawatū, which reflects his passion for sport and built on his background as a boxer. He competed at the Barcelona Olympics and Commonwealth Games in Canada, later becoming the Deputy Chef de Mission for the Glasgow Commonwealth 2014 and Rio Olympics in 2016.
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Colin Brown
Chief Digital Officer
Colin joined MetService from Xero, where his last role was the EGM of Platform Technology. During his time at Xero, Colin ran a team of approximately 400 people, led Xero through its global crisis response for Covid 19, and helped mature and evolve the core technology stacks that support Xero’s products and internal systems.
Prior to Xero, Colin worked at Spark and Telecom where he built extensive experience in both IT and Network delivery and technology evolution over 17 years.
Colin is a proud Wellingtonian. He and his family enjoy life by the beach, travel and the outdoors.
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Norm Henry
Chief of Science & Innovation
Norm has been involved in meteorology for over 30 years, including 10 years’ experience as an operational forecaster with Environment Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and MetService.
From 1999 to 2007 he managed MetService’s weather modelling programme, before joining the MetService SLT in 2007. In his current role as GM Science Strategy, Norm is responsible for programmes that support MetService’s forecasting team, including observing, modelling, forecasting systems development, meteorological research, and New Zealand’s representation with WMO.
In his spare time, Norm enjoys time with family, running trails around Makara Peak and Mt Kaukau, and very occasionally fly fishing in the Tararuas when time and weather permit.
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Keith Hilligan
Chief Financial Officer
Keith joined MetService in May 2016 and is responsible for the financial strategy of the business. Keith was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer in July 2020 until January 2021.
Keith is a chartered accountant and has prior CFO experience with design led organisations in the private sector and was the first CFO of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, now part of MBIE.
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Belinda James
Executive General Manager Customer Engagement
Belinda joined MetService in 2022 as GM Customer Engagement, a role centred around connecting effectively with customers. Her focus has been on the strategic and cultural transformation required to better understand these customers and to create meaningful connections to them via accessible and understandable weather insights.
With over thirty years experience in brand management, marketing and communications. She began her career at The National Bank of New Zealand and has since held senior roles in both the advertising and marketing sectors – working for organisations such as Saatchi & Saatchi, New Zealand Post, Contact Energy, Greater Wellington Regional Council and VML Advertising. Belinda’s experience is in social marketing, behaviour change communications, and culture change.
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Simeon Berry
Executive General Manager Commercial
Simeon joined MetService in January 2023 and is responsible for the domestic and international commercial elements of the business.
He has worked in commercial government since his move to New Zealand in 2017. Prior to this he held senior roles in the consultancy and telecoms sectors. He has lived and worked in Europe, Middle East and South East Asia.
He holds an MBA from IESE Business School. He lives in Auckland and in his spare time he plays padel and loves to go tramping with his family.
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Suzi Paese
Executive General Manager People
Suzi was seconded to MetService from Earth Science New Zealand (GNS business unit) at the start of Septmber, where she was the Head of People and Safety. She is responsible for the MetService People and Risk Assurance Safety (RAS) teams. Suzi has held a number of people and safety leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, mainly based in Wellington. She brings that wide variety of experience and skills to promote empowerment and trust to build high performing teams and provide value to the organisation.
Although having travelled and lived elsewhere, Wellington is where Suzi was born and has brought up her own family here. Family life and her two granddaughters keep her busy, and she also enjoys walking, exploring the greater Wellington region.
