Board of Directors

The Hon Ruth Richardson.,LL.B (CHAIR)

Ruth Richardson was New Zealand's Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993. In this role Ruth was the principal architect of New Zealand's second wave of financial reform.
Since leaving parliament in 1994, she has had an extensive international practice as a public policy consultant, advising widely on strategies designed to achieve the practice of good governance and the development of high quality policy frameworks.
As a professional Director, Ruth is Chair of Jade Software Corporation, a Director of Synlait Ltd, Chairman of Kula Fund, Chairman of IMP Diversified Income Fund Ltd, Chairman British Telecoms Health Advisory Board, Director of LECG Corporation, Director of Oyster Bay Marlborough Vineyards Ltd, Director of Centre of Independent Studies, and Director of Mont Pellerin Society.

Peter Bryant

Peter Bryant, is an ex-pat Kiwi and the founder TransTech USA a boutique corporate advisory firm, based in Denver Colorado, that specializes in the formulation and execution of corporate and innovation strategy. Peter has advised companies from the US, UK and Asia Pacific - ranging from emerging companies through to Global Fortune 500 companies, primarily in the resources, energy & technology sectors.

Prior to founding TransTech USA in 2004 Peter spent 24 years working within the global technology industry both as an entrepreneur and in general management for larger enterprises such as GE and Computer Associates, including 12 years in CEO, COO and President roles. He has built successful companies in the US, APAC and the UK.

Peter has held board positions since 1988, sitting on the boards of companies from subsidiaries of Fortune 100 companies to emerging VC funded companies as well as not for profit.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University in Wellington New Zealand and is an alumni of the Kellogg School of Management. Peter is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a CA of the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins is the Chairman of Business New Zealand and Lane Neave Lawyers. Stephen is also Vice Chairman of the Christchurch Heritage Trust and sits on the Christchurch City Mayoral Forum, the Board of Harcourts International, plus several other advisory boards and industry groups.

Michael Hawkins B.Com., B.Divinity (Hons)

Michael Hawkins has an extensive background in manufacturing, having for ten years directed and managed a group of companies involved mainly in the flexible packaging industry. More recently Michael has acted as an individual investor and facilitator of high tech start-up companies.

Mr Hawkins is Acting Managing Director of Syft for the immediate future

Howard Moore

Howard Moore is one of a handful of New Zealanders who have achieved success as a biotechnology entrepreneur.

He is also an experienced dairy industry executive with 25 years in the business. He entered the venture capital industry when he joined BioPacificVentures in March 2004 as executive director.

Prior to joining BioPacificVentures, Howard was executive vice president of Tercica Inc., a U.S.-based corporation he co-founded in Auckland before moving the business to San Francisco. In March 2004, Tercica listed on the NASDAQ, only the second New Zealand-founded company to achieve a listing on the world's leading technology stock market. Tercica's drug, Increlex (IGF-1) was approved on Aug 30, 2005 by the FDA for marketing. Howard has a Bachelor of Food Technology from Massey University.