Our Board
Miro is a Limited Partnership – governed by a General Partner named Hautupua GP Limited. The governing Board of Miro comprises specialist skills with expertise in law, indigenous business models, iwi and Māori governance, commerce and finance, horticultural management and export, technology innovation, Māori economic and community development, international marketing, and capital raising.
The elected members of our Board are:
Rukumoana Schaafhausen, Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust (Chair)
Rukumoana is a commercial and property lawyer, and a Director and executive member on Regional Facilities Auckland Ltd, Te A lawyer, a director and an influential member of her iwi, Rukumoana Schaafhausen is renowned as a hard-working, principled “bridge builder” and a diverse thinker. Inspired by her tupuna (ancestors), Ruku has strived to make a difference beyond herself, and do what is right for the people of Aotearoa. Ruku is influenced by her Ngāti Haua ancestor Wiremu Tamihana, a leader largely responsible for establishing the Maori King movement in the mid-1800s, and she endeavours to emulate his qualities of peace-making, unity, strong values and faith in her own leadership journey. Indeed, Ruku’s strengths lie in working across corporates, communities and iwi to make positive social change for all of Aotearoa, and in championing young Maori women to become future leaders. She is now the chairperson of Te Arataura, the executive arm of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, the tribal authority representing the people of Waikato-Tainui.
Dr Riri Ellis, Tauranga Moana Miro LP
Riri is General Manager, Tukairangi Investments. Trustee/ Director, Ngāi Tukairangi Trust in Mount Maunganui - one of the largest Māori producers of export kiwifruit in New Zealand. Delegate for the Federation of Māori Authorities, the Bay of Plenty Maori Economic Advisory Committee, now Toi Kai Rawa and Bay Connections Economic Leadership Group. She is also a trustee on several Maori land trusts within the Bay of Plenty and the Director of Maori Business Programmes, at the Wellington School of Business and Government, Wellington University of Victoria.
Steve Saunders, Rockit Holdings Ltd
Steve has 32 years’ experience in the horticultural sector, international ventures, applied technology, environmental research & development, innovation and science. He is the founder, owner and Managing Director of the Plus Group of companies, specialising in horticulture and orchard management, pollen production, and robotics development via Robotics Plus Ltd, He is the Director of Priority One, Lincoln Hub, Agrigate, Rockit Global Limited, Tuhono Whenua Horticulture Ltd, and the Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, of “WNT Ventures” tech incubator and Planttech Regional Research Institute.
John Charleton, Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust
John is the CEO of Ngāti Rārua Ᾱtiawa Iwi Trust. He is a Chartered accountant with 25 years’ experience including 10 years working in leading international financial institutions in the UK, the US and Australia. He has a broad knowledge base of financial and operational experience from a wide range of industries – with strengths in communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills, and commercial developments.
craig barrett, hineuru holdings limited
Craig is a Director of Hineuru Holdings Limited, the commercial investment entity for Ngati Hineuru Iwi located in the Hawkes Bay. Hineuru Holdings has interests in commercial property, horticulture, farming, forestry, fishing and a number of early stage direct investments. He holds a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato, majoring in Accounting and Finance, and is a Chartered Accountant. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors and has over 15 years direct governance experience for a number of organisations across a range of industries. He currently holds a number of governance positions for both Iwi and Non-Iwi organisations. Craig is also a Partner at Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Chartered Accountants Waikato. He works with commercial and Māori organisations providing strategic and commercial advice. He is passionate about innovation and value add to improve economic performance.
bob major
Bob spent his executive career in various roles within the New Zealand dairy industry, working for Fonterra Co-operative Group, the New Zealand Dairy Board and the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute. He held a number of global leadership roles for Fonterra including strategy, mergers and acquisitions, ingredients sales and marketing and innovation. He also held regional leadership roles in the Middle East, Hong Kong and China and was on the senior leadership team of both the New Zealand Dairy Board and Fonterra.
Bob is a director of Kiwirail Holdings and Westland Milk Products; Chair of Gibb Holdings Ltd; a director of BioVittoria Ltd and a member of the Investment Committee of Oriens Capital Private Equity Fund. He Chairs High Value Nutrition, one of the National Science Challenges, and the Avocado Primary Growth Partnership. He is past Chair of The Mud House Wine Group and has been a director of Sealord Group, Barker Fruit Processors Ltd, a number of New Zealand dairy industry-good organisations, and various Fonterra subsidiaries and joint ventures in Europe and Asia.
Lain Jager
Lain is best known for his role as Chief Executive Officer of Zespri from 2008-2017. He led and transformed the Zespri group from an exporter of New Zealand kiwifruit to a business that is now well positioned to develop kiwifruit related IP and to leverage that IP globally. He is a proven leader in strategy, business transformation, marketing and innovation management, international business, supply chain and human resources; especially in horticulture, agribusiness and food and beverage. Lain was nominated NZ Business Leader of the year in 2015, and awarded top Agribusiness Communicator in 2017. In 2018 he was appointed chairman of the government’s 15 person Primary Sector Council. Lain now holds a number roles providing strategic advice to CEOs.
Andrew Keaney
Born in Rotorua, Andrew has 32 years’ experience in the fresh produce industry, with extensive understanding of commercial sales and marketing, growing, supply chain, operations, logistics and relationship management. Passionate about building mutually beneficial partnerships and driving positive disruption, Andrew prides himself on his collaborative leadership approach and enjoys creating cohesive and engaged teams. Andrew has held a number of senior position across the fresh produce supply chain including General Manager Freshmax NZ, Head of Produce Strategy & Sales for Foodstuffs North Island and most recently as Managing Director of T&G Fresh. He is also an asparagus grower in his own right, and has a deep appreciation for the challenges growers face on a daily basis.
Our MANAGEMENT TEAM
LIZ TE AMO - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Prior to joining Miro, Liz was Executive Director at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), responsible for leading the national Crown-Māori economic development strategy and partnership. Throughout a 17-year career in the public sector with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and ten years in the private sector, she has dedicated her career to growing New Zealand businesses internationally, with a specific focus on growing Māori exporters, leadership and economic development. Liz has lived and worked in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the USA and Australia. Her roles at NZTE included developing the Māori business strategy, running major projects across China, Japan, Korea, and regional development. Liz has also worked on major events such as Shanghai World Expo, Rugby World Cup, and America’s Cup.
Liz whakapapa’s to Te Arawa - Waitaha, Tūhourangi, Tapuika, Ngāti Moko.
Ewan Potgieter – GM OPERATIONS
Ewan Potgieter hails from the Cape Town, South Africa. Ewan moved to New Zealand with his young whanau in 2020 to take up the role of Chief Technical Advisor with Miro, and was promoted to GM Operations in 2021. Ewan provides technical support to all Miro growers and oversees the operation of Miro managed blueberry orchards. Ewan holds a HonBSc in Biotechnology and brings a wealth of technical experience in commercial fruit production systems. Prior joining the Miro whanau, Ewan was the technical manager at BerryWorld in South Africa – widely seen as one of the best growers in the world of MBO varieties. Ewan is passionate about excellence in horticulture and building great teams. Outside of work he loves the great outdoors – hunting, fishing, mountain biking and spending time with his precious whanau (Naomi, Zoey and Jowen).