Board of Directors

Rhoda Phillippo

Rhoda Phillippo has an extensive background in the telecommunications and ICT industries in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Currently running her own consulting business, Raghnall Limited, she is managing the transition and operations of the downstream Shell business following its purchase by New Zealand Superannuation Fund and Infratil. She was formally CEO of Optimation New Zealand.

Rhoda has over 20-years of industry experience, including seven years leading key aspects of Telecom/Gen-i’s Trans-tasman ICT business. Rhoda holds an MSC in Telecommunications Engineering and Business Management.

David Clarke (Chairman)

David Clarke (BE (Hons), ME, BBS, and MBA) is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, a member of the Royal Society and member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

He recently joined Cranleigh Merchant Bankers in Auckland as a director. He has been inaugural chair for multiple leading high-technology companies (including Orion International – New Zealand’s leading software exporter), and has strong commercial and governance skills.

Lorraine Witten (Deputy Chair)

Lorraine Witten has 20-years’ experience in a range of senior management, finance and director roles.

Lorraine was general manager of Telecom Mobile for five years and then executive chairman and major shareholder of telecommunications company Callsouth, which was sold to Trustpower in 2007.

She is currently a director of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, chairman of Sapphire Currency Fund, and managing director of Simply Security Limited; a company she founded in 2007.

John Allen

John Allen has worked in technology-based positions for 25 years. His career includes senior roles with Panasonic before joining Kordia in its previous incarnation as BCL in 1994 where he was Auckland-based sales manager.

John later assisted in a restructuring that saw today’s Networks business moved to Auckland and the number of maintenance centres around New Zealand reduced from twelve to five. John left BCL to take up a management role in data communications.

His latest role was director of technology at MediaWorks, covering radio, television and corporate IT engineering and television operations. John has been a member of the Freeview Board since its inception and has served on a number of industry organisations including the Broadcast Sector Group that is working with the Government to achieve digital switch over.

Debbie Birch

Debbie Birch has 30 years’ experience in Global Financial Markets both offshore in Asia and Australia, as well as in New Zealand. She has held senior management positions in large global banks and run her own funds management business in Australia. 

Debbie is a member of the Institute of Directors and the New Zealand Absolute Return Association and is an NZX Futures & Options advisor for OM Financial Limited.

John Quirk

John Quirk is a partner in strategic investment and advisory company Howard & Company.

John acts as a senior management advisor and mentor to a number of companies at various stages of development, often via board representation. John has also been actively involved in considerable merger and acquisition activity. 

He is currently Chairman of SMX Limited and a Director of FrameCAD Group, Service Plus and the Optima Corporation. He is also an advisor to the Boards of Simpl Group, Clearpoint, Wherescape, Jericho and Code Blue. He was previously Chairman of Axon Systems Limited.

John has had an extensive career with a number of iconic international ICT companies. Prior to joining Howard & Company he was the Asia Pacific CEO of the UK owned IT and Management consulting company Mi Services Group. Previously he was CEO of the PC reseller and network company Southmark Computers where he led its successful merger into Fujitsu.

John is a member of the Institute of Directors, the NZ Venture Capital Association, ICE Angels and the NZ Software Association.