Five New Trustees Appointed To Guide Queenstown’s Technology Sector Development Agency

Deep sector expertise and international talent within the line-up of trustee appointments, announced today by parent organisation Whakatipu Hangarau Trust, will strengthen Technology Queenstown’s strategic focus and extend its reach, says Chair Roger Sharp.

“Queenstown Lakes District is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing districts and needs to diversify its economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism. Technology Queenstown is the development agency tasked with building a robust technology ecosystem for the District.”

“We are delighted to have appointed Claudia Batten, Katrina Barry, David Downs, Prue Halstead and Dino Vendetti as trustees. Collectively they bring a remarkable balance of skills and international relationships that will be invaluable as we build out the sector over the decades to come.”

Katrina Barry is an experienced technology sector CEO and founder based in Australia. She is the Managing Director of Webjet Group, the leading online travel marketplace in Australia and New Zealand. Her former roles include CEO of payments company me&u, CEO of Trafalgar and Contiki Tours along with senior roles at the Virgin Group and McKinsey & Company.

Claudia Batten is a technology entrepreneur and company director who recently returned to New Zealand after 20 years in the United States. She is known for her contributions to New Zealand's technology ecosystem as an active advisor and mentor and has received multiple awards for her achievements. Claudia is the Chair of NZX-listed Serko Limited, Deputy Chair of ASX-listed Michael Hill International, and sits on the boards of Vista Group and Air New Zealand.

Prue Halstead is an investor and strong advocate for regional New Zealand. She is the Executive O[icer of Invest South with a mandate to invest in high growth tech businesses in the region, an Executive Committee member of Angel Association New Zealand and a founding board member of both Mainland Angel Investors and COIN South.

David Downs is an experienced New Zealand senior public servant, director and technology sector expert. He is the incumbent CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious organisation marketing New Zealand to the world, holds several board director roles, has founded tech companies, and worked for Microsoft internationally. David has a focus on technology for public good.

Dino Vendetti is a seasoned venture capitalist, entrepreneur and Edmund Hillary Fellow who splits his time between the United States and Portugal. He is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Seven Peaks Ventures LLC, and the Co-Founder, Investor and Board Member of CrowdStreet. Dino previously held key positions at Bay Partners, Vulcan Ventures, and Formative Ventures.

“We are thrilled to welcome such a prestigious group of trustees. We are confident that their collective expertise, global perspective and reach, and their belief in our strategy will be instrumental in guiding TQ’s mission.”

Having started in the role last month, it is great to have the momentum continue with today’s announcement, says Technology Queenstown’s inaugural Chief Executive O[icer Sarah Russell.

“Each trustee brings a wealth of technology and investment experience, deep insights, and a shared commitment to fostering technological advancements that benefit communities worldwide,”

“The breadth of backgrounds, including non-profit, public and private sectors, will ensure a well rounded and comprehensive approach to our initiatives”

“I am thrilled to have this collective wisdom and capability to draw on and to provide the level of strategic direction and guidance we know from international experiences is required to successfully attract global technology platforms and support local technology companies to scale globally.”

Whakatipu Hangarau Trust will have up to eight trustees in total, including the Chair, with further announcements expected as the group becomes operational.

Notes:

About Technology Queenstown

Technology Queenstown was founded in 2024 with a mission to build $1 billion in annual technology sector GDP in Queenstown Lakes District over the next 20 years. It aims to create new high-value employment opportunities and to enhance economic prosperity in the district through moving technology from less than 2% to more than 15% of GDP.

Technology Queenstown is a privately funded not-for-profit agency. It is backed by leading New Zealand and global enterprises that are passionate about creating economic growth in regional New Zealand and diversifying the Queenstown economy through the technology sector.

Whakatipu Hangarau Trust is the parent organisation and is a not-for-profit trust gifted its name by South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu.

About the Technology Queenstown Chair and CEO

Roger Sharp is a technology sector Chair and advisor with 30+ years’ experience in the sector. He currently chairs two ASX-200 technology companies, Web Travel Group and Iress, and regional tech investment bank North Ridge Partners. He was previously Chair of Lotto New Zealand and the Stu[ Advisory Board, Deputy Chair of Tourism New Zealand, and Global Head of Technology for ABN AMRO Bank.

Sarah Russell brings a wealth of experience and strategic leadership to TQ. After an international career in banking, in 2017 she co-founded Sydney-based AI software company Elula with its products now used by some of Australia's largest banks to deliver better customer experiences. Sarah holds a Master of Commerce degree in Economics from the University of Canterbury.

Technology Queenstown Corporate Partners

TQ has been launched with funding from Accenture, SBS Bank, Genesis Energy, One NZ, the University of Otago, Queenstown Resort College, Russell McVeagh, NZTE, QLDC and North Ridge Partners. Several new corporate partners are expected to join in 2025.

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