Meet the judges

Craig Piggott

CEO, Halter Limited

Craig grew up working on his family’s Waikato dairy farm. After completing his degree and spending a year working at Rocket Lab, Craig founded Halter – a company set on modernising the dairy industry and bringing the best of technology back to the farm.

David Downs

CEO, New Zealand Story

David is a business leader, public servant, consultant, board director, speaker, and CEO of New Zealand Story, an ambitious government-funded organisation marketing New Zealand to the world. At the beginning of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, David co-founded Spend on Small Businesses, a not-for-profit initiative that has, to date, sold close to $3 million in vouchers for over 2,500 small businesses.

Jamie Rihia

Executive Director, Whāriki Māori Business Network

Jamie is an experienced business advisor who’s worked with small and large Māori businesses across the motu. He currently splits his time as the GM Commercial Investments for Tauhara North No2 Trust, and Whāriki, which gives Māori small and medium size businesses a platform to come together and a greater voice in celebrating success and advocating business policy change.

Jeanette Ross-Smith

Regional Manager, Auckland and Northland, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Jeanette works passionately with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) members, organisations, academics and employers every day. It’s her aim to build and support a dynamic and vibrant professional community across Auckland and Northland.

Jess Kumar

Business Advisory Partner, The Warehouse Group

Jess is a Business Advisory Partner supporting the Supply Chain division at The Warehouse Group. Jess is the Chair of the Auckland Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) Emerging Leaders Group and also sits on the CAANZ Auckland Local Leadership Committee. Jess enjoys mentoring younger members and is currently involved in the University of Auckland Women's Mentoring Programme.

Mark Jenkins

Co-Founder and Director of Sales, The Gap

Mark Jenkins has had more than 20 years in public practice, with the majority of that time as sole director of Quay Accountants in Whakatāne. In 2014, he sold his firm and created The Gap with Viv Brownrigg. The Gap helps accounting firms throughout New Zealand, Australia and the UK use business development content to maximise income without having to reinvent the wheel.

Mary Haddock-Staniland

Global Senior Vice President of DEIB, EverCommerce – Timely's parent company

Mary is a well known, commercially astute thought leader with a passion for social change. In 2020 Mary was appointed to the first people and inclusion role at an executive level to exist in New Zealand. At EverCommerce she is tasked with strategically designing and overseeing culture and inclusion programmes with a focus on engagement and belonging.

Mel Morris

Founder and Director, Training and Beyond

When it comes to bookkeeping and financial governance, Melanie has skin in the game. She founded Bookkeeping and Beyond in 2006 along with founding The New Zealand Bookkeepers Association (ICNZB). Today she maintains day-to-day involvement with bookkeeping by running Training and Beyond, conversion and training specialists for Xero and bookkeeping solutions. She’s also held many governance roles including current Chair of Te Puna Wai O Waipapa Hagley College, current Treasurer and Trustee of The Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation, and prior Chair of the Lyttelton Primary School Board of Trustees.

Peter Vial

New Zealand Country Head, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Peter Vial is NZ Country Head of CA ANZ and leads its New Zealand regulation, conduct and advocacy functions. Prior to taking on this role in 2017 he was the organisation’s New Zealand tax leader for four years. Peter has also been an Associate Professor in Commercial Law at the University of Auckland, a director at PwC and New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to Germany.

Rick Jones

New Zealand Country Head, CPA Australia

Since 2017, Rick has led global accounting body CPA Australia’s operations in New Zealand. With over 20 years’ business development and leadership experience across financial services, recruitment and international education, Rick is passionate about developing and supporting members within the accounting and finance profession.

Sarah Petersen, FCA

Company Director

Sarah is a fellow of CA ANZ with finance executive and governance roles in technology, not-for-profit, education, local government, infrastructure and property development. She currently serves on the board of directors for CA ANZ and other local government, investment and education entities.

Vic Crone

Director, ASB Bank

As an executive and director, Vic is passionate about working with organisations across startups, corporate and government sectors to ensure they can navigate the opportunities and challenges coming their way. She's currently a Director of ASB Bank, and Contact Energy, and Chair of Statistics NZ Advisory Board, Variety The Children's Charity and Figure.NZ.