Our People

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and commercial acumen support our goals of being future ready – guided by knowledge and working to make a real difference to the future of farming and growing in New Zealand. 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.

Jared Collie has over ten years’ experience in governance as well as ten years’ experience in the rural and corporate banking sectors, including three years as a BNZ managing partner. He and his wife Prue operate a 1,400 hectare sheep, cattle and dairy farm in Central Southland with their three boys. Jared is also an independent advisor for Arrow Dairy Ltd, a director of Benmore Downs Ltd, chairman of Platinum Dairies Ltd, and a facilitator for the Takitimu Discussion Group. He is also Deputy Chair of Salvation Army’s Jeff Farm, which trains cadets in practical farming skills.

Clement is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He is currently Finance Director for Woolworths New Zealand, the country’s largest supermarket retailer and a subsidiary of ASX listed Woolworths Group. Prior to that he was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for NZX listed seafood company Sanford. Clement brings a wealth of experience gained in financial, commercial and operational positions across publicly listed and privately owned manufacturing, FMCG and forestry businesses. Clement has held a number of board positions previously, most notably as Chair of the Finance and Commercial Committee for the Selwyn Foundation, which operated seven retirement villages and employed 1200 people.