Our People

Jason drives our sales strategy and leads a nationwide team of Nutrient Specialists, along with key accounts, customer services, retail merchant relationships, sales capability and the Co-operatives’ science extension team that is focused on knowledge-sharing with farmers. 

Jason’s deep knowledge of agri-business and genuine passion for the primary sector is hugely valuable as Ballance focuses on the changing needs of New Zealand farmers and growers – providing tailored nutrients and advisory services, backed by the best science and technology.

Jason has extensive commercial experience from more than 15 years in senior executive and governance roles in the dairy sector, including six years leading Fonterra’s rural supplies division, General Manager Commercial in the Supplier and External Relations division and senior strategy positions.  He has an outstanding track record in rural leadership, sales strategy, growing competitive capability and delivering what rural customers want.

Matt has had significant experience in working within large manufacturing and distribution businesses to identify value drivers, lift performance and expand into adjacent growth opportunities.
 
He is a Chartered Accountant and has a BBS (Accounting and Finance) from Massey University as well as post graduate studies in leadership. Matt was previously Group GM of Finance at Fletcher Building for two years and more recently as a Divisional CFO with financial responsibility for a number of key manufacturing or distribution businesses in New Zealand and Australia including PlaceMakers, Fletcher Steel, Mico, Laminex NZ, Iplex NZ, Tradelink and Stramit. He also previously worked at Spark where he held a number of Group Head of Finance roles, including Financial Control, Head of Tax and Treasury Operations.

Of Te Ātiawa decent, Matt also volunteers his time as an advisor into the Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui Trust Board. 

Jackie is an internationally experienced human resources professional having lived and worked in Glasgow, London, Paris, Brussels, Tokyo, Auckland and Melbourne. 

Originally from Scotland, Jackie has chosen NZ as her home, and is now a proud kiwi becoming a citizen six years ago.

Jackie has a strong track record in Australasian centric businesses with Carter Holt Harvey, Frucor, Asahi Beverages and Toll Group, after a successful career in the UK with Sara Lee and Promat International.  

Jackie has led teams at both strategic and operational levels, with over 20 years’ experience spanning the full spectrum of HR functions. Her deep knowledge and passion for people and safety is aligned to Ballance and our shareholders core values of working hard for the love our land, our animals and our people.

David has over 20 years’ experience supporting businesses through technology and process management change projects. Leading initiatives for start-ups, public organisations and private companies including Icebreaker and Kathmandu Ltd.  

Becoming a member of Ballance’s Lead team was the logical next step in David’s career as the company values align perfectly with his own. David’s engaging leadership style and extensive IT and project management experience will ensure Ballance can navigate future digital innovations and challenges. 

Originally from the UK, David re-located to NZ in 2005 becoming a citizen in 2016. He has lived in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and now the lovely Bay of Plenty. 

Kelvin Wickham is a proven co-operative leader with over 34 years at Fonterra creating value for farmer shareholders. Kelvin’s extensive career at Fonterra culminated in him being based in Amsterdam leading all business activities across Africa, Middle East, Europe, North Asia, and the Americas, along with global oversight of the Active Living Functional Nutritional Unit and the NZMP brand. Prior to that he was responsible for the business unit NZMP, the biggest dairy ingredients selling and marketing entity in the world.

He has lived in Shanghai where he led Fonterra’s Greater China business across the full value chain from farms to brands. In an earlier Supplier and External Relations role he worked closely with farmer shareholders, with responsibility for Fonterra’s farmer facing teams as well as engaging with key New Zealand government and external stakeholders. As a member of Fonterra's management team reporting directly to the CEO, Kelvin has demonstrated his ability to be a forward-thinking and customer-focused leader. He has extensive experience in the international market, developing diverse teams with a commitment to delivering high-quality solutions.

Joanne oversees our external relations strategy, internal and external communications and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities. She has extensive experience in the primary sector and expertise operating in a co-operative environment. Jo was previously Chief Communications & Brand Officer at Southern Cross, where she led the Group Communications & Brand team, supporting all Southern Cross businesses and their subsidiaries

Prior to Southern Cross, Jo spent time at Frucor Beverages and Fonterra. At Fonterra she was responsible for global communications and brand strategy to build awareness and preference for New Zealand Milk Products (NZMP) .

In her role at Ballance, Jo’s responsibilities include reputation management, corporate communications, media relations, sustainability, government and stakeholder.