Kordia is wholly-owned by the Crown but is not part of the public service. We are a state-owned enterprise (SOE), a commercial entity. Our shareholders are the Minister of Finance and the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, on behalf of the Crown.
Increasing the value of shareholder investment shapes our business strategy. Business policies are designed to maximise the net present value (cash inflows over time, minus cash outflows) of future earnings, based on a long-term perspective of those earnings.
Although we are an SOE, we operate as a commercial entity with the purpose of making a profit.
The Kordia board have oversight of two committees: Audit, Risk & Environment and People, Wellbeing & Safety.
Neil Livingston is an executive and independent director with over 30 years’ experience in the technology industry internationally. He has held a number of Corporate Officer roles at leading organisations, including Ericsson, Vend, Foodcap, Endace, and Provenco Cadmus. Most recently he was the CEO at technology company Pingar.
Neil brings a strong strategic focus on operational and sales excellence to Kordia, as well as a deep understanding of current and future trends of the technology sector. He holds an International Management Diploma from the University of Arizona, and a Certificate in Company Direction from the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He also completed a Mini-MBA at the University of Auckland.
Catherine (BCom(Hons), CA) has over 15 years’ experience in the telecommunications, construction and engineering industries across New Zealand and Australia. She draws on her extensive experience in finance to drive clear insights around what makes the business more competitive and what delivers value to the shareholder in a rapidly changing market.
Her role includes accountability for Treasury, accounting, and tax, to pursue the company’s growth strategy and meet investors’ expectations. Catherine trained as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen.
Sophie is a chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors and has a BCom and Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from The University of Melbourne. Over her executive career, Sophie has worked with a diverse range of companies across New Zealand and Australia developing extensive M&A, innovation and growth strategy experience.
She held senior positions at Citibank NA, ANZ Investment Bank, Ernst & Young and New Zealand Post. Sophie is also Deputy Chair of CentrePort and an Independent Director of Livestock Improvement Corporation (NZX:LIC), Rangatira Investments, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation, and Payments NZ. Sophie is a member of Kordia's Audit, Risk & Environment and the People, Wellbeing and Safety Committees.
Ben is a globally recognised expert in cloud computing, enterprise technology and digital transformation.
Ben has consulted to many large technology vendors internationally and been called upon as a technology and business adviser to a variety of organisations. A recipient of the Sir Peter Blake leadership award, Ben currently sits on the boards of a number of organisations in New Zealand including chairing The Ākina Foundation and serving as a board member for Pegasus Health, UniMed, Paenga Kupenga, Cactus Outdoor, Corde Ltd and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. Ben is a member of Kordia’s Audit, Risk & Environment and the People, Wellbeing & Safety Committees.
Linda has over 20 years’ governance experience predominately in the finance and energy sectors across listed, council controlled, government owned, co-operative and private companies. Linda is currently Chair of Crown Irrigation Investments and Central Lakes Trust. She is a director of New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency, Alpine Energy, Horizon Energy Group, Invercargill City Holdings and SBS Bank. Linda is also a member of the Risk & Audit Committee and the Capital Markets Advisory Committee for The Treasury, the Audit & Risk Committee for the Office of the Auditor General and Audit New Zealand; and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee for Central Otago District Council. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand (INFINZ), a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand IoD, a Fellow of Governance New Zealand and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Linda is the Chair of Kordia’s Audit, Risk & Environment Committee.
Nicola Riordan is an experienced senior executive and independent director with over 20 years’ experience in the technology industry internationally. Nicola has a background in scaling high-growth businesses globally including Xero and Skype and is currently CMO at Fergus. Nicola holds a MA in Strategic Marketing Management, a PgDip in Public Relations and a BBS in Business Studies and IT. Nicola brings a strategic focus on innovation and growth to the Kordia board. She has a drive to deliver commercial results, a passion for data-driven decision making and a strong empathy for customers. Nicola is chair of Kordia's People, Wellbeing & Safety Committee and a member of Kordia's Audit, Risk & Environment committee.
Martin has held executive roles as Controller and Auditor-General, Secretary for Transport and CEO of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. He has a B.A (hons) in Economics, is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a member of the Institute of Directors. Martin is a director of MetService and Experience Wellington, the independent chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Finance, Risk and Assurance Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Auckland Council. Martin is a member of Kordia’s Audit, Risk and Environment Committee.
Kent is an executive and independent director with over 15 years' experience across the energy and agriculture sectors working with a wide range of multinational companies. He is currently a National Asset Manager at Fonterra. Kent brings strategic focus and expertise in asset and risk management to the Kordia Board. He is an authentic and strategic leader focused on developing high performing teams and boards. Kent is of Ngāi Tahu Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Kahungunu descent. He holds a Bachelor of Chemical and Process Engineering as well as a Master of Engineering Management from the University of Canterbury. Kent is a member of Kordia's People, Wellbeing and Safety Committee.