Fonterra Shareholders' Fund

Independent Director appointed by unit holders

Mary Jane Daly was appointed to the FSF Board in November 2020.  She was appointed as Chair in November 2022.

Mary Jane is a professional director with a wide range of experience across a number of industries. Her executive background is in banking and finance in a variety of roles both in New Zealand and the UK.

Mary Jane is Chair of AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, and an Independent Director of Kiwibank Limited, and Kiwi Property Group Limited. Previous governance roles have included Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand, the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tu Ake, OnePath Life, Airways Corporation, Auckland Transport and the NZ Green Building Council. Her last corporate executive role was leading State Insurance. 

BCom, MBA

Independent Director appointed by unit holders

Carlie Eve was appointed to the FSF Board in November 2022.

Carlie has over 25 years’ experience in financial markets and the corporate sector. She has held executive roles across equity research, investment banking, investor relations, corporate strategy and funds management.

Carlie is currently a director of Kiwi Property Group Limited, Chair of the Diocesan School Heritage Foundation and was previously a Director of Hobsonville Land Company Limited. 

BSc, BCom

Independent Director appointed by unit holders

Alastair Hercus was appointed to the FSF Board in November 2022. 

After 29 years Alastair recently retired as a Partner at Buddle Findlay, a leading corporate law firm and is now a Consultant to the firm. This followed an earlier career as a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He has significant professional experience working with co‑operatives and primary sector businesses, and in corporate governance and economic regulation. He is an experienced director, particularly in the cooperative and mutual sector. He is a former Deputy Chair of the Medical Assurance Society and is currently Chair of Co‑operative Life Limited.

In the public sector he is a Commissioner at the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, a Director of Invercargill Airport Limited and Chair of the Risk & Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

BA (Hons), LLB

Appointed to the Board of the Manager by Fonterra

Andy was elected to the Fonterra Board in 2017, and has served on the FSF Board since February 2019.

Andy was a farm management consultant for 38 years and is a past President of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM). He is a Director of ANZCO, chairs the SFFF Plantain Project and Edgewater Hotel Lake Wanaka Boards and is a member of the International Farm Management Association (IFMA). Andy is a previous Director of Ngai Tahu Farming Limited and AgResearch, past chair of Deer Industry New Zealand, and served on the council of Lincoln University for 12 years.

Andy and his wife Tricia commenced farming in 1989 and live near Ashburton. His shareholding interests are in Canterbury. He has a strong interest in the governance of food processing and manufacturing, research and development, and strategic use of technology in the farming sector.

B.Agr.Sc

Appointed to the Board of the Manager by Fonterra

John Nicholls was elected to the Fonterra Board in 2018, and joined the FSF Board in November 2022. 

John is an experienced company director, and was the previous chair of MHV Water, New Zealand’s largest intergenerational irrigation co-operative.

As the owner of several mid-Canterbury dairy farms forming part of the Rylib Group, John is highly focused on investing in and mentoring the next generation of farmers in New Zealand and on safeguarding the sustainability of farming for the long term. He brings professionalism, cost consciousness and a strategic mindset to governance, ensuring that business operations align with core strategy and are consistently adding value.

John served on the Fonterra Co-operative Council from 2009 to 2011.

B.Agr, PG AgrSci