TRUSTEES

The Trust is managed by six trustees, five of whom are elected by Tasman network consumers, and one who is appointed by the three largest electricity consumers.

The elected trustees serve six-year terms with the right to be re-elected or re-appointed. An election is held every three years for two or three trustees by rotation.

The current trustees are:

Adamson, Patrick
Davis, Gwenny (Chair)
Edgar, Judene
Kearney, Ian
Kreft, Terry
Smith, Nick

Gwenny Davis (Chairperson)

Gwenny spent her early working life with the Maruia Society working to protect NZ’s native forests from logging and has been recognised for this work both here and overseas. Following the birth of her sons, she co-founded Conferences and Events Ltd and later continued her work with Core Education Ltd, organising large-scale conferences and ICT training events across New Zealand. Now retired and, having lived at her home in Wakapuaka for more than 60 years, Gwenny continues to plant and tend trees on her 11-acre property. Gwenny enjoys biking and tramping and her french- and spanish-speaking grandchildren help to foster her love of languages.

Patrick Adamson

Nelson born and educated, Patrick lives in Richmond and has been married to Rosalie (Gibbs) for 42 years and they have three adult children, Nick, Tom and Katie. He has been an accountant for 38 years, including former owner of Craig Anderson Chartered Accountants, and is the long-time treasurer of Club Waimea and a member of the Board of Directors of Greenacres Golf Club. I love the Nelson Tasman and Golden Bay district and enjoy walking, biking, golf, socialising with friends, reading and watching sport.

Judene Edgar

Judene is a Principal Governance Advisor with the Institute of Directors’ and previously ran her own consultancy for over 20 years, specialising in governance, policy, fundraising, research and communications. Judene was Deputy Mayor of Nelson City Council for three years and a Tasman District Councillor for nine years, as well as a director of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and Nelson Airport Limited. She was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to governance, local government and the community. She is Chairperson of Nelson Historic Theatre Trust, Deputy Chair of Rātā Foundation, a member of the Energy Trusts of New Zealand Executive Committee and a Council member of the New Zealand Society of Actuaries.

Ian Kearney

Ian Kearney ONZM is an experienced company Director and Trustee with over 30 years governance experience. He has been the Chair of a number of local organisations including the Cawthron Institute, Nelson Airport Limited and Network Tasman Limited. He has been a trustee for a number of charitable organisations associated with youth development, assistance to small business and the arts. Currently he is a trustee of the Nelson School of Music Endowment Trust and Sport Fishing for Youth Charitable Trust. Ian was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2014 for services to business and the community.

Terry Kreft

Terry has been a Trustee of Network Tasman since 1999. Prior to his retirement he was charged with managing a large food processing operation in the Nelson area. He also was instrumental in planning, developing and commissioning a state-of-the-art new facility which today is still seen as an industry leader in its field. He has also held a number of commercial Board appointments. These days his interests are biking, walking and travel plus enjoying some of the many wonderful facilities this region has to offer. Terry is the major users representative on the Trust.

Hon Dr Nick Smith

First-term Mayor of Nelson, Hon Dr Nick Smith, is well known in the Nelson-Tasman region after more than three decades as an MP, firstly in the former Tasman electorate and then as the MP for Nelson. During his Parliamentary career, Dr Smith was a Minister of 13 different portfolios. Dr Smith has a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and a PhD in Civil Engineering. Following Dr Smith’s retirement from Parliament in 2021, he was Smith Crane’s project manager for the construction of New Zealand’s largest wind farm at Turitea. He was elected Mayor of Nelson in the October 2022 local elections. Dr Smith is a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand. He is also a trustee on several boards including the Cawthron Institute.