Institute of Directors in New Zealand
1. Business / Trading Name
Institute of Directors in New Zealand Limited / Institute of Directors in New Zealand (IoD)
2. Company number
4670639
3. NZBN
9429030045484
4. Entity type
NZ Limited Company
5. Business classification
The IoD bills itself as “the professional body for directors”.
6. Industry category
Non-profit organisations
7. Year founded
1989
8. Addresses
National office street address:
Floor 6, Grant Thornton House
215 Lambton Quay
Wellington Central 6011
Postal address:
Institute of Directors in New Zealand (Inc)
PO Box 25253
Wellington 6140
9. Website URL
https://www.iod.org.nz/
10. LinkedIn URL
https://www.linkedin.com/school/institute-of-directors-nz/
11. Company Hub NZ URL
https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429030045484
12. NZ Companies Office URL
https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/co/4670639
13. Social Media URLs
https://www.facebook.com/IoDNZ
14. Ultimate Holding Company
The Institute of Directors in New Zealand (Inc.) – a member-based entity.
15. Key Shareholders
This incorporated society is funded by member subscriptions and does not have traditional “owners” or equity shareholders (as a non-profit).
16. Leadership (with selected roles)
Board Chair: Ross Buckley (professional director, also on ASB Bank board)
Deputy Chair: Chris Day (Institute of Directors New Zealand, Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Board member; Datacom Group Limited, Director and Chair of Audit Committee; NZ Green Investment Finance Ltd, Interim Chief Executive)
CEO: Kirsten Patterson (Global Network of Directors Institutes, Chair)
Member: Aliesha Staples (Click Foundation, Chair; New Zealand Football Foundation, Chair; Creative Coworking Ltd, Director TVNZ, Director; CEO of Staples Productions Limited/ Staples VR Australia and UK)
Chartered Fellow: David Glover (Toi Economic Development Agency, Chair)
Member: Monique Forbes (MF Consulting, Director)
Member: Tui Te Hau (Te Matarau a Māui, Māori economic agency for the greater Welllington region, Chief Executive)
Chartered Fellow: Karen Price (BGT Structures Limited, Chair)
President: Jackie Lloyd (former PwC executive, professional director in public and private sector)
Vice-President: Trish Oakley (Chancellor of the University of Otago)
National Council Member: Dr Jim Mather (Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited, Chair)
National Council Member: Jonathan Mason (NZUS Council, Chair)
National Council Member: Craig Hattle (Carefirst Medical Group, Chair)
National Council Member: Sam Fellows Manager: (Tauranga City Council, Manager: City Partnerships)
National Council Member: Simon Lockwood (Crombie Lockwood Insurance Brokers, Regional Branch Director)
National Council Member: Anne Urlwin (Precinct Properties New Zealand, Chair)
National Council Member: Suse Reynolds (Angel Association NZ, Executive Director)
National Council Member: Lloyd Mander (Centre for Good Work, Advisory Board Chair)
17. Staff
Brendon Bentley (Chief Finance and Technology Officer)
Dr Michael Fraser (General Manager, Learning and Branch Engagement)
Sarah Deans (General Manager, People and Culture)
Sophi Rose (General Manager Brand, Strategy and Engagement)
Guy Beatson (General Manager, Governance Leadership Centre)
18. Staff with current or previous government roles:
Ross Buckley, Jackie Lloyd, Trish Oakley, Dr Jim Mather, Jonathan Mason, Sam Fellows, Chris Day, Anne Urlwin, Suse Reynolds, Lloyd Mander, Kirsten Patterson, Aliesha Staples, Brendon Bentley, Sophi Rose, Guy Beatson, David Glover, Karen Price, Monique Forbes, Tui Te Hau
19. Notable Past Employees
The IoD awards Distinguished Fellow (DistFInstD) status to eminent directors. The honorees include former Prime Minister Rt Hon Jim Bolger (appointed Dist. Fellow in 2010), former Deputy PM Hon David Caygill(2022), and business leaders like Dame Alison Paterson (2006) and Sir Stephen Tindall (2021). Former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy was made an IoD Distinguished Fellow in 2021. (Another former PM, Dame Jenny Shipley, was an active IoD member during her directorship career, though she is not listed as a Distinguished Fellow. She and fellow Mainzeal Directors were found liable in the High Court for reckless trading in 2019).
20. Clients
Approximately 10,000 members nationwide as of mid-2020s, up from about 8,700 in 2018. Members range from directors of large listed companies and state-owned enterprises to small business, public sector, and not-for-profit directors. IoD membership is tiered (Associate, Member, Chartered Member, Fellow, etc.) reflecting governance experience and completion of IoD’s director development programmes.
21. Industries/sectors represented
The IoD effectively lobbies on behalf of the collective interests of its membership (which often coincide with the corporate sector’s interests). There is an inherent bias: IoD will prioritise issues that senior directors at big companies care about, as they comprise IoD’s influential core.
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements
Over time, the IoD has aligned its strategy with evolving governance issues. In the 2010s it introduced the Chartered Member and Chartered Fellow accreditation pathway, effectively creating a credentialing system for directors to demonstrate competence (and for IoD to legitimize itself as a standard-setter). The emphasis on training and accreditation coincided with public pressure for better corporate oversight following high-profile failures (finance company collapses, etc.), which tarnished some directors’ reputations. By offering education and charters, IoD tried to “raise the bar for director professionalism in New Zealand” .
At the same time, IoD began to engage more in policy advocacy, ramping up its presence in Wellington. It hired staff with government relations expertise and started producing submissions on law changes affecting governance. The appointment of Kirsten Patterson as CEO in 2017 was telling – Patterson had a background in regulatory affairs and advocacy (including liaising with government for the Rugby Union) and was known for promoting diversity and inclusion in boardrooms . Under her leadership, IoD set “new strategic priorities” that included being a louder voice in policy debates impacting directors .
The IoD’s evolution from a collegial club of peers into a savvy advocate and service provider means it now straddles a line: it must publicly uphold integrity and good governance, while privately advocating for directors’ collective interests – a dual role that sets the stage for potential conflicts
The IoD’s influence on policy is exercised through a mix of formal submissions, direct lobbying of officials, membership on government advisory groups, and the indirect clout that comes from its network of influential members.
Over the last decade, the IoD has submitted on a litany of topics: insolvency law reform, health and safety regulations, climate change disclosure requirements, Crown entity governance, and more.
23. Affiliations
Historically tied to the Institute of Directors (UK) until 1989. The IoD (NZ) is a founding member of the Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI), a coalition of national director associations sharing expertise in corporate governance. It is also affiliated with the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), aligning with global best practices. The IoD hosts the New Zealand chapter of “Chapter Zero” (a climate governance initiative for directors). Domestic partnerships include relationships with other business and professional bodies; for example, IoD helped launch the Future Directors programme alongside the NZ Shareholders’ Association and Sir Stephen Tindall to place young talent on boards. The IoD is frequently consulted by government ministries on governance and company law matters.
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations
The Institute is financially supported by major corporate sponsors. ASB Bank is the IoD’s “National Partner”, and “National Sponsors” include Big Four consultancy KPMG, law firm Dentons, software company Diligent, state-owned enterprise Kordia, global insurance broker Marsh, and global risk management consultancy HSE Global. These sponsors underwrite IoD events (such as its annual Leadership Conference and awards) and receive brand exposure, indicating IoD’s close ties with significant corporate players in finance, consulting, and industry.
25. Events (held or organised by this organisation)
The IoD has a stated mission of “supporting directors to positively transform the future”. It provides training courses, conferences, publications, and services such as board evaluations and director recruitment. Its flagship “Company Directors’ Course” and other programmes are intended to set standards (“Four Pillars of Governance” handbook is an IoD guide) and improve governance practice in New Zealand companies and organisations.
Regular networking / coffee catch-ups and presentations are scheduled throughout the country including in the regional centres.
An IoD Annual Leadership Conference is held.
26. Political Donations
Political Donations: None disclosed. The IoD is officially non-partisan and does not appear in electoral donation registers as a donor to any political party. Individual IoD members, acting privately, may donate or be involved in politics (for example, some members are ex-politicians or sit on government boards), but such activity is not on behalf of IoD. The IoD’s influence is exercised through advocacy and relationships rather than direct funding of political campaigns.
27. Controversies
28. Other information of note
IoD’s primary income comes from membership fees and services. In 2023, the Institute’s total revenue was about NZ$18.1 million, with roughly NZ$4.7m (26%) from membership subscriptions and over NZ$10.6m (59%) from governance training courses and events. Additional revenue comes from services to boards (such as placement and evaluations) and sponsorship/advertising. The IoD also earns fees from government agencies and state sector clients who use IoD training or resources. (For example, the NZ Treasury paid the IoD ~$28,600 in the 2021/22 year for services or memberships.) Surpluses are reinvested; as a non-profit, IoD’s aim is to break even while building some reserves.
Conducts an annual Director Sentiment Survey to voice members’ collective concerns.
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