Dr Jim Mather

– Managing Director
BBus, MBA, PhD, CA, CFInstD

Governance Experience

Dr Jim Mather is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and has almost 20 years of governance experience.

Current Governance Positions:

  • Chair of Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited.
  • Chair of Radio New Zealand.
  • Director of Southbase Construction Limited.
  • Independent Director of Tonkin + Taylor.
  • Member of Te Puni Kōkiri Audit & Risk Management Committee.
  • National Council Member of the Institute of Directors.
  • Auckland Branch Committee Member of the Institute of Directors.
  • Member of the OCS New Zealand Advisory Group.
  • Member of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee.

Past Governance Positions:

  • Chair of InZone Education Foundation.
  • Chair of Lakes District Health Board.
  • Chair of Ako Mātātupu / Teach First NZ.
  • Director of Auckland Transport.
  • Member of the Oranga Tamariki External Advisory Group.
  • Member of MBIE Risk & Advisory Committee.
  • Director of NZ Health Partnerships.
  • Chair of Wānanga Sector Collective (Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga).
  • Inaugural Chair of the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network.
  • Deputy Chair of Freeview New Zealand.
  • Trustee of Enterprising Manukau (community-related).

Background

Dr Jim Mather is of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe and English descent.

He is passionate about utilising his leadership experience and commercial skills in a way that makes a meaningful contribution to the overall success of our communities and nation.

Leadership

As Chief Executive Officer of three organisations between 2002 to 2018, Dr Jim Mather led highly successful transformation and performance improvement strategies.

With business leadership experience spanning 25 years, he is a qualified accountant by profession and led two of the most high-profile Māori organisations over a 14-year period – Māori Television and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Trust from 2002 to 2005.

In addition, he has also held a variety of private sector roles including General Manager of a marine engineering business and Financial Controller for a local subsidiary of a Swiss multinational.

Aligned with his commercial background, he is also a former officer in the New Zealand Army and was awarded the Sword of Honour in recognition of his distinguished achievements in Officer training.

Education

Dr Jim Mather holds a PhD in Māori Economic Development (AUT), a Master of Business Administration from the Henley Business School in England and a Bachelor of Business Studies, as well as diplomas in business and management.

In 2008 he was awarded a scholarship to attend an advanced management program at Queens College, Cambridge University. He also attended the China Executive Leadership Academy at Pudong (CELAP), Shanghai in November 2008, as part of a delegation from AUT University.

In addition, he has also completed a Diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi.

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