Leadership Circle

Future of Fibre Aotearoa’s Programme Team and Governance structure provide an industry-led foundation to support the work.

• Jacinta FitzGerald, FTNZ | Programme Director
• Kelly McClean, Commonkind | Programme Delivery Lead
• Olive Riley, Commonkind | Communications Specialist
• Maria Walker, Delivery Support | Biomaterials Specialist
• Coriolus | Economic Analysis
• NZIER | Opportunity Development

Composed of fibre, textile and apparel industry subject matter experts, the Future of Fibre Aotearoa Steering Committee provides insight and ensures sector alignment. Meeting on a quarterly basis, the Steering Committee reviews, guides, connects and contributes to the project research.

• Andy May, WoolYarns, Cashmere NZ | CEO
• Anna Crosbie, Wool Impact/Wool Alliance | Navigator
• Kara Biggs, Campaign for Wool NZ/Wool Alliance | GM
• Ben Scales, KiwiFibre | Founder
• Elizabeth Heeg, Forest Owners Association | CE
• Angela Kilford, Te Whiri Whītau
• Faith Kane, Massey University
• Florian Graichen, Bioeconomy Science Institute | GM Scion
• Fiona Bretherton, Untouched World | Development Manager
• Jonathan Mountfort, Autex Acoustics | Creative Director
• Nicky Solomon, Bioresource Processing Alliance | CE
• Raechel Laing, NZ Product Accelerator | Business Development Manager
• Richard Barge, NZ Hemp Industries Association | Chair
• Vanessa Thompson, GoWell Consulting | Director of Supply Chain and Textiles
• Guy Wills, Rubisco | CEO

Jane Montgomery (Chair)

Jane is a director of Ravensdown and of two family companies, and has also been a member of a number of not-for-profit boards, chair of an audit and risk committee, and a board observer (associate director) at AgResearch.

Emily Miller-Sharma (Vice-Chair) | GM Ruby

General Manager of Aotearoa fashion brand RUBY & designer for Liam, Emily walks the tightrope between creativity and business on a daily basis managing over seventy staff and running ten retail stores. A passionate advocate for the local industry & sustainable business practices, Emily co-founded Fashion & Textiles New Zealand in 2019 with Kate Sylvester, and she is currently Vice-Chair of the Fashion & Textiles New Zealand Board. Emily’s approach to design has always been an investigative one, from pushing for meaningful change in the clothing industry to exploring what can be achieved using the bias in patternmaking.

Lisa Portas | Nuffield Scholar, Director, Farmer

Lisa Portas has more than a decade of experience working across agriculture, rural businesses, and supply chains in New Zealand and internationally. She is a 2025 Nuffield Farming Scholar and her research focused on global agricultural value-chain models, exploring how greater transparency, trust, and closer alignment between producers and markets can improve long-term outcomes for farmers.

Finn Ross | Founder, Climate Action Company and co-founder, Ocean Balance.

Finn’s passion is championing climate action and protection of our wild places comes from expeditions in the remote corners of the South Pacific. Focused on ocean carbon removal research Finn has a strong interest in regenerative agriculture and economics.

Louise Beard | Director, Forward Insight

Louise Beard is the founder of Forward Insight & Strategy, a specialist market research and strategic planning consultancy working with leading organisations across New Zealand and global primary industries. With more than 30 years of experience, she partners with exporters, marketers, and innovators to uncover opportunity, understand global markets, and build demand-led pathways for value growth.

Tim Deane | Managing Director, Norsewear

In 2023, after over 30 years in the corporate world, I chose to follow my passion for entrepreneurship within the food and fibre sector, by buying Norsewear, an iconic Kiwi company that has been making quality woollen socks and apparel for outdoor people right here in New Zealand since 1963.

Future of Fibre Aotearoa is supported by AGMARDT through a collaborative partnership grant.

AGMARDT, the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust, supports research and development that creates value for New Zealand’s primary sector. Its Common Ground initiative supports collaborative pilots that address shared challenges and opportunities across New Zealand food and fibre.