Our People

Ryan joined our team as CEO in 2020 bringing global leadership experience along with his trademark energy and commitment to developing people, culture, and high-performance outcomes. 

With 17 years in lead roles at Rio Tinto, in locations ranging from Invercargill to London and Zimbabwe and as Senior Vice President for global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Ryan has worked for multiple large organisations in different capacities.

As part of McKinsey’s Global Transformation team, Ryan was often seconded into client executive teams as a Chief Transformation Officer coach to lead and execute sustainable change. Earlier in his career, he was responsible for all Rio Tinto affairs in New Zealand and General Manager for Gove Operations in the Northern Territory. 

Ph.D Chemical Engineering
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering and Minerals Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK

As our Chief Financial Officer Pauline leads the financial management of accounts receivable, accounts payable, treasury, taxation, audit, insurance, and management accounting for all Kaingaroa Tipu business units. 

With 38 years of experience in the forestry sector and over 20 years with Kaingaroa Tipu, Pauline is a respected forestry veteran in her field. Pauline has wide-ranging experience and expertise in transport, harvesting, tree crops and shipping. She cares deeply about the people and community who work in forestry.

Prior to joining Kaingaroa Tipu, Pauline held many positions within Fletcher Challenge Forests joining them in 1985, when they were Tasman Forestry, as a contractor payment clerk, and finished in 2003 as a shipping accountant. She studied extramurally during this time and became a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand in 1993.

Pauline has an extensive understanding of our forestry operations and the history of Kaingaroa Tipu. She leads a committed finance team at our main office.

Chartered Accountant and member of the CA ANZ

Dean is our Chief Operations Officer and has worked in and around the Kaingaroa Tipu Forest Estate for over 35 years. Dean started his career as a forestry worker while still at school, and now leads the Genetics, Tree Crop, Harvesting and Marketing operations for Kaingaroa Tipu.

Dean has extensive experience in managing large-scale commercial forests, high-risk environments, the marketing and sale of logs and residues, harvesting and distribution, tree crop investment, tree improvement and nursery operations.

Developing people and relationships is central to how Dean builds safety awareness and forest productivity at Kaingaroa Tipu.

His previous work includes being a Director and shareholder of Timberlands Limited and Timberlands Pacific PTY Ltd, Australia. Dean is currently the Vice President of the NZ Forest Owners Executive, Chairman of Forest Genetics and is a Director of Forest Growers Research.

Ko whakapapa ia ki te Tai Tokerau. Tana Iwi ko Ngapuhi me Ngai Tawake te hapu. Tana ingoa whanau ko Whautere Witehira no Mataraua, Kaikohe.

BForSc [Hons], University of Canterbury
New Zealand Certificate in Forestry, Waiariki Polytechnic
General Management Programme, Harvard Business School
Diploma in Te Ara Reo Māori, Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa

Ian is the General Manager of OHS Partnering leading safety initiatives and compliance for Kaingaroa Tipu to manage risk and prevent injuries and harm inside our forest supply chain. He works closely with our people, frontline leaders, and forestry sector agencies.

Prior to joining the Senior Leadership Team at Kaingaroa Tipu, Ian was National Environment, Health and Safety Manager with Fletcher Construction. He has worked in several large-scale, high-risk industries, including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, and the primary sector.

Ian is deeply passionate about keeping our kaimahi safe and supporting frontline leadership.

HAZOP Leader, Grad Dip OHS – Massey University New Zealand
NZ Institute of Safety Management
Worley Parsons New Zealand CEO Award

Stuart joined the Kaingaroa Tipu team in 2017 and is responsible for legal affairs and company secretarial functions. 

Stuart provides strategic advice to support the success of commercial business initiatives. Stuart has a deep dedication to health and safety. He brings broad commercial, environmental and property law experience from earlier in his career. 

Stuart believes in using plain language and a user-centric approach.  He cherishes the diverse landscapes of the central north island. He can often be found mountain biking the trails of Whakarewarewa.

Bachelor of Laws, LLB Auckland University, New Zealand

As GM of People, Culture and Transformation, Keith leads the People & Culture function at Kaingaroa Tipu and the execution of the Transformation Framework, delivering projects impacting organisational change and growth.

Keith joined the business in September 2025 with extensive experience in Human Resources management in complex manufacturing and logistics environments.

With experience in the Pulp & Paper, Packaging, Engineering, Solid Wood Processing and Food Manufacturing industries, Keith brings a blend of strategic, commercial and operational insight and a drive towards culture and performance improvement through leadership and coaching.

Keith is passionate about developing and supporting leaders that people choose to follow, and fostering a positive, inclusive culture that supports engagement, collaboration and wellbeing, aligned with our values.

Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato.

Colin joined Kaingaroa Tipu in 2003 and is a recognised forest industry expert in the disciplines of sustainability and forest operational management.

As GM Sustainability, Colin is responsible for environment, iwi and community relations, fire and security, forest communication, enterprise risk, biosecurity, and operational land matters. 

Colin is committed to the seven core Restorative Development Goals for Kaingaroa Tipu and leads initiatives to support the reduction of carbon emissions across the supply value chain.

Colin represents the company and the forestry sector in numerous domestic and international forums, including NZ Forest Owners Association Committees, the Central North Island Wood Council and as a delegate to the Forest Stewardship Council.

Bachelor of Forestry Science
Masters in Environmental Sciences (Hons)
Canterbury University, New Zealand
 

As General Manager of Strategy & New Ventures, Ian's mandate is to ensure we deliver on our refreshed strategy, position ourselves to meet the technical limit of how good we can be and manage all new opportunities and ventures that come our way.  

Ian’s career began over 30 years ago as a Resource Forester for the NZ Forestry Corporation. Following a relocation to Rotorua, he built up valuable years of experience in various roles with the Forestry Corporation of NZ and Fletcher Challenge Forests.

With his rich knowledge of Central North Island forestry, Ian assumed the role of Technical Manager of TMC in 2004, and subsequently secured shareholding and a directorship on transition of TMC to Timberlands Limited, which included oversight of Technical and Resource Management of New Zealand and Australian assets.

As an enduring member of the Senior Leadership Team, Ian is deeply committed to creating a vision for Kaingaroa Tipu and the Kaingaroa Forest Estate that optimises and prepares the forest estate for the future.

Bachelor of Forestry Science, University of Canterbury
Diploma in Management from Waikato University

John leads the research, technology and innovation programme that underpins much of our company’s long-term strategy. His team focuses on integrating new technologies into forestry practice, sustainably increasing forest productivity, and ensuring Kaingaroa Forest can meet the needs of future customers. They provide critical data and insights to support decision-making and to build resilience against challenges such as pests, diseases, and climate change. 

Since joining Kaingaroa Tipu in 2018, John has developed a research strategy and roadmap to guide the company’s ambitious productivity goals, while expanding the scope of research activities across the business. Before joining the business, he worked for 20 years at Scion, the former New Zealand Forest Research Institute, and five years at the Centre for Timber Engineering in Scotland.

Forestry Engineering Degree, School of Engineering, University of Canterbury, NZ 
PhD in Forest Resources, Oregon State University, USA