Debra started her career within the IT industry, working for Government, Banking and Producer Boards.  In addition to managing information systems and large corporate change projects, she led the   development  of the  first telephone banking system in New Zealand, and has been involved in several corporate strategic planning roles.  She has an MBA (with distinction) from Henley Management College in the UK and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. She has used her broad based general management experience to affect a number of team and company turnarounds within various small to medium sized companies.  Several of these were in the manufacturing sector – a lead smelter, two packaging plants, and a battery factory. 

Debra worked for Lion Nathan for 18 months as HR Director, then spent 3 1/2 years as Director of New Business Development.  She was responsible for incubating Lion Nathan’s start-ups and represented Lion’s shareholding at board level. Using a hands-on approach, Debra coached and guided the new businesses to elevated levels of performance.  Debra enjoys coaching and strategic planning sessions, and is a creative workshop facilitator.

Debra and her husband moved to Northland in November 2003.  They continue to manage their Auckland interests and provide a wide range of consultancy and coaching services to customers in Auckland and Northland, although nowadway, Debra steels as much time as possible to also pursue her career as a potter!

David Bright has recently taken up the role of Secretary for the Kerikeri and Districts Business Association.  He is known locally as the “embroidery guy”, having established DD Gold Ltd in 2004, a growing business in promotional products, team-wear, screen printing and embroidery.

David has an MBA from Henley Management College in the UK and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Microbiology and Zoology.  He also has a number of postgraduate qualifications in training and development, communication and operations management.  He started his career in local government with management of Environmental services and other areas of enforcement.  He led the development of divisional strategic plans within council, and was heavily involved with the resource management act and other council related and strategy related initiatives.

After completing a Henley MBA (UK), he moved into central government to lead a large organisational change project within the Department for Courts.  He started his own consultancy in change management and process improvement in the late 1990s, but then took up the challenge of the telecommunications industry, and spent 4 years working with one of the most demanding change management environments in New Zealand (Telecom systems) as one of 5 of EDS’s Telecom contract systems managers.

David has a strong personal interest in fishing, property management, and anything to do with branded clothing!  He and his wife Debra have been involved in a wide range of projects and activities in their 25 years together.