Our People

Wherever you’re farming, our experts have got you covered

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Director
Albert Brantley
Albert Brantley

Board Of Directors

Trained as an engineer and geologist, over the past 40 years Albert has led the construction and operation of large scale oil and gas, mining and utility assets throughout the world. Until August 2018 he was the Chief Executive of Ōtākaro Limited, the Crown Company responsible for the Anchor Project programme for central Christchurch and was the Chief Executive of Genesis Energy for 8 years before that. In New Zealand, he has held similar executive roles for OceanaGold Ltd and L&M Mining Ltd. A Canadian, Albert is married to a New Zealander and has been a resident of Canterbury for more than 30 years, although working overseas for much of that time. Most of Albert’s experience has involved significant senior level political, regulatory and environmental management, as well as multicultural community and stakeholder relations management. Albert has provided Board level governance for the past 25 years and is presently the Independent Chair of the HW Richardson Group, Independent Chair of FarmRight Ltd, the Chair of Leighs Construction, a Member of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Board and a Director of the LGNZ Independent Assessment Board.

Director
Sarah von Dadelszen
Sarah von Dadelszen

Board Of Directors

Sarah von Dadelszen, along with husband Sam, operates a 13,000 stock unit sheep and beef property and a 350-cow dairy farm near Takapau, in the central Hawke’s Bay. Sarah has been actively involved in governance roles across the rural sector for 20 years, including the NZ Beef Council, Fonterra Shareholders Council and as a trustee of the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT). Current roles include the FMG and Centraline Boards. Sarah has more recently gained a deeper understanding of the intricacies of global business, completing the INSEAD International Governance Programme, and global agri-business, following attendance at the Stanford University Business School with a New Zealand Primary Industry New Zealand Leadership Group, and a trip to Russia and Morocco to attend the International Fertiliser Association Conference and meet with key suppliers to build a further understanding of the fertiliser supply chain.

Director
Simon Robertson
Simon Robertson

Board Of Directors

Simon was appointed to the Synlait Board in November 2020 and elected as Chair in December 2022. Simon is a professional director with extensive commercial experience, including 10 years with Auckland International Airport (AIAL) during a period of significant investment and strategic growth. As CFO for AIAL, he led the finance, accounting, business technology and procurement functions along with investor relations and regulatory affairs. Simon has a proven track-record in strategy and capital-intensive infrastructure investment. He is Independent Chair of Synlait and Director of Alliance Group, and previously served on the boards of Independent Timber Merchants, Apata Group, Flick Energy and North Queensland Airports.

Director
Dacey Balle
Dacey Balle

Board Of Directors

Dacey Balle is Managing Director of Balle Bros Group, a vertically integrated fresh produce supplying retail and foodservice businesses across New Zealand and internationally. Balle Bros Group has growing operations covering 4,000ha across a number of regions including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Ruapehu, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury. Dacey is also part of a family owned 1,000ha dairy operation at Mercer in the North Waikato. A chartered accountant his governance roles also include Onions New Zealand and Potatoes New Zealand. Past governance experience also includes directorships with Manuka SA and Open Country Dairy Limited.

Chair
Duncan Coull
Duncan Coull

Board of Directors

Duncan, along with his wife Julie, farm a mix of dairy, kiwifruit and forestry operations in the northern King Country near Otorohanga. A staunch advocate for the co-operative model, Duncan was previously Chair of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council from 2015 to 2019. Duncan has travelled extensively into the global markets, both during his time at Fonterra and also at Ballance. Having a global view of customer and consumer trends and how they shape business in New Zealand. Duncan has a background as a rural finance manager and runs a farm consultancy business, providing operational and strategic support for clients nationwide. Duncan sits on various advisory boards, both in agriculture and construction, and currently chairs the Board at Otorohanga College.

Director
Danni Darke
Dani Darke

Board Of Directors

Dani Darke co-owns a 628-hectare sheep and beef farm in the King Country with husband Anthony. Dani is passionate about New Zealand's rural communities and wants to see them thrive into the future. She has strong networks throughout the agriculture industry, and brings expertise from across the sheep and beef supply chain. Dani holds a partnership role with Rural Coach. Dani holds a Bachelor in Agriculture from Massey University and is a former finance manager with ANZ. She has previously specialised in aviation credit with BP, and has been part of the executive leadership team with a meat processing organisation. Dani's governance experience includes Chair of the Mid Northern Beef + Lamb Council, OSPRI Associate Director, and Co-founder and Chair of the Agribusiness Growth Group.

Director
Cameron Henderson
Cameron Henderson

Board Of Directors

Cameron Henderson runs a 400 hectare dairy, dairy support and arable farming business near Oxford, North Canterbury, with wife Sarah. Cameron holds degrees in both Engineering and Finance from Auckland University as well as a certificate in Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management from Massey University. Cameron has built up considerable knowledge of the dairy industry, spending time with DairyNZ and Fonterra while building his family farming business over the last 12 years. Cameron brings to the Ballance board expertise in business management and global supply chains, together with extensive knowledge of environmental policy. Cameron holds voluntary roles as trustee of North Canterbury Farmers Charitable Trust, Waimakariri Landcare Trust and DairyNZ Dairy Environment Leaders. He is a previous President of North Canterbury Federated Farmers, associate Director at DairyNZ, and Steering Group Member for He Waka Eke Noa. A Nuffield and Kellogg scholar, Cameron was awarded the inaugural Synlait ‘Farming for a Healthier World’ Award in 2022.

Director
Director - Michele Kernahan
Michele Kernahan

Board Of Directors

Michele Kernahan has more than two decades of governance and leadership experience in the manufacturing, transport and infrastructure sectors. She is currently Chief Executive Officer for Ritchies Transport, one of New Zealand’s largest bus and passenger transport companies. Michele has spent much of her career at Fletcher Building Limited, where she held a range of roles over the course of 20 years, including Chief Executive of Building Products and Fletcher’s Construction division.  Her supply chain knowledge and broad commercial acumen are an asset on a Board dedicated to improving Ballance’s performance and shareholder returns. With an MBA from the University of Canterbury, Michele’s proud to be part of a team that is leading environmentally sustainable nutrient management, which is so important for New Zealand consumers and for farmers and growers to be able to thrive.