We are sad to say goodbye to two special Trustees of the International Centre for Entrepreneurship Foundation the entity which owns The Icehouse - Alan Jackson and Geoff Whitcher are both retiring. See them here where we presented them with a much loved Ice Breaker Award to commend their hard work, commitment and support as owners over many years.
We wish them all the best.
When one door closes another opens and we are happy to welcome three new trustees! Welcome to Craig Carr, Simon Bennett and Franceska Banga!
Simon Bennett
Simon is an experienced business owner, director and manager. His career began in FMCG sales then moved out of the corporate sector to set up a food production business in the early 1990s, this was scaled and sold in 2007. In a consulting capacity he have been engaged by large listed NZ companies in property, retail and distribution.
In 2010 Simon joined Madison Recruitment on their Advisory board and in 2011 became a shareholder and was appointed CEO. From humble beginnings in 1998, Madison is now 15 years old and a wholly owned subsidiary of AWF Group, the only listed recruitment company on the NZX. Simon remains CEO of Madison. The entrepreneurial spirit and close knit team is the driving force behind Madison’s brand. Doing the hard yards and earning trust is important - all while having a bit of fun along the way.
Simon is passionate about people, dissatisfied with the status quo and driven by success.
Craig Carr
Craig is now the Managing Director of the Carr Group with annual reviews of $250 -300 NZD per annum and is supported by his father, brothers and sister and 400 staff across, NZ, Australia, India, Middle East and the USA of which the business now consists of:
- Farm Machinery
- Automotive
- Grain and Seeds
- Livestock
- Wool
- Auctions
- Farm Supplies and Advisory
- Agricultural Contracting
- Insurance
Craig is passionate about farming and agri business and excited about what New Zealand can offer the globe with the need to double food production by 2050 or sooner. Craig currently spends a considerable amount of hands on time outside and inside of New Zealand each year building relationships with new and existing customers in the emerging and mature markets of the world.
Franceska Banga
Franceska Banga is the chief executive of the $300 million New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, a government-owned ‘fund of funds’ established in 2002 to stimulate and secure investment capital for innovative technology companies with high growth potential. Franceska has led NZVIF since its inception, overseeing partnerships with nine venture capital funds, 15 angel investment networks, and direct and indirect investments into over 160 companies.
Franceska has served on a number of boards and taskforces. Currently, she is a director of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, Fred Hollows Foundation and an observer on the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Board as part of the Institute of Director Directors’ Future Directors initiative. With an honours degree in economics and finance, she previously worked for the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, the New Zealand Treasury, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Last year she was awarded the NZ Venture Capital Association’s industry leadership award and was awarded the Fuji Xerox Leadership award at the 2014 AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards in October.