Our Board
Our board members represent most elements of NZ business and industry, offering their various expert insights and influence to facilitate positive change in the transport sector.
Our board members represent most elements of NZ business and industry, offering their various expert insights and influence to facilitate positive change in the transport sector.
Mark has also been an Executive Member of the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development (now the Sustainable Business Council), and President of NZ Motor Industry Association Inc. Mark is presently an Independent Director of Auckland Transport, Evnex, Mobli, the Battery Industry Group and Partmaster Limited, and is Chair of the government-appointed Clean Car Sector Leadership Group.
Duncan has more than two decades of experience in the technology investment and environmental sectors. He has founded, grown and sold award-winning businesses and assisted the delivery of >$1bn of public and private infrastructure. Duncan is recognised as one of New Zealand’s experts in clean technologies and green economic growth. He is co-founder and director of ESG software firm CS-VUE, and former CEO of green economic growth business group, Pure Advantage.
STILL is an organisation established by Hideaki with the goal of changing New Zealand for the better. Further, Hideaki is Chairman of the Fukutake Foundation which operates Art-site Naoshima and holds world-renowned Setouchi International Art festivals.
Dean began his automotive career with a twelve-year tenure at Ford Motor Company in New Zealand, followed by a thirteen-year tenure as the General Manager of Volkswagen New Zealand. Under his leadership, the Volkswagen New Zealand brand presence grew tenfold in vehicle sales and won several awards for excellence in vehicle sales, technology and design. He also developed a strong network of new dealerships and service centres nationwide.
Prior to his role as MD, Ewan was based in Zurich, Switzerland for 15 years where he held global marketing and sales management roles for several businesses. He has been heavily involved in industrial drives and power conversions using new technologies in the sustainable transportation and renewable power generation sectors.
Ewan believes innovation and technology have a significant role to play in helping the world to reduce the correlation between economic growth and energy use – through energy efficient technologies, emission free transportation and renewable-based power generation.
Tim assisted Meridian in the development of a turn-key charging solution to support business fleet transition and public charging. These solutions have been recognised for the value they offer to the market and potential to solve existing barriers to EV adoption in NZ by being awarded co-funding from EECA’s Low Emission Transport Fund.
For residential customers Tim’s team has delivered electric vehicle specific pricing plans; trialled multiple smart chargers in homes; created safe charging guidelines and managed partnerships with EV ride-share initiatives.
Kirsten Corson is Co-Founder and Director of Zilch, which delivers EV Mobility as a Service, Carbn Asset Management, a green fleet consulting business, and Sustainable Fleet Finance, a green asset finance company. Across all three entities Kirsten is focused on supporting businesses to accelerate the transition to optimised electric mobility without increasing costs, and delivering smart technology to create change. Kirsten has a depth of knowledge and experience with fleets, EVs, charging infrastructure and change management.
Kirsten joined the Drive Electric board in 2021 and holds other board positions at Totara Hospice.
Dennis has 45 years’ experience in leasing, commercial asset financing and banking, with the last 15 years at FleetPartners. He was Managing Director of FleetPartners NZ for 8 years, followed by 3 years as Managing Director in Australia, before taking on his current role as Director of the Pan Tasman Fleet.
Dennis is responsible for new business sales and Corporate and SME Relationship Management for FleetPartners NZ, overseeing key Corporate customer relationships that span NZ and Australia.
Dennis has held several senior executive roles including Managing Director of Hertz Fleetlease NZ, General Manager of Capital Equipment Finance NZ, Regional Manager at Countrywide Bank and General Manager of NZI Bank. He is extremely well informed and positioned to contribute meaningful insights on electric fleet implementation, finance and the wider transport industry.