With over 40 years of experience in the primary sector, Chris Leach is a well-known figure in the industry. He leads the strategic development and team culture at QCONZ. As a shareholder and board member of QCONZ, Chris brings a wealth of expertise in adult learning, training development, and extension to the table. Throughout his career, he has managed numerous development and extension programs, both locally and internationally. Chris’s passion for New Zealand’s primary sector is evident in his commitment to exceeding customer expectations and providing ethical, sustainable, and quality solutions.

Josh has worked for the business since 1999 and has extensive experience, both in New Zealand and internationally, in developing audit programmes from farm to factory. As an auditor, consultant and a farmer, Josh has vast experience in pastoral grazing systems. Josh is an experienced trainer and has worked throughout New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Philippines, Argentina, Myanmar and Tanzania on various projects.

Karen is our Chief Financial Officer with over 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. Karen has been with QCONZ since 1999 and is responsible for our accounting and administration team. Prior to joining QCONZ, Karen worked as a Regional Accountant for MAF Quality Management.

Ryan has been with QCONZ since 2005 and leads our Audit delivery division. Ryan has a wealth of knowledge and experience in audit and troubleshooting developed in New Zealand and abroad. His background includes dairy manufacturing, dry stock and dairy farming. Ryan has delivered training courses for the primary sector throughout New Zealand and for international aid projects overseas.

Craig has worked for the business since 2003 and has extensive experience in milk quality and Quality Management Systems. Prior to joining QCONZ, Craig worked for a dairy manufacturer and dairy farming in the Bay of Plenty and on the Westcoast of New Zealand.

Justin has worked in Information Technology for many years and specialises in software architecture and design. Justin is responsible for our business IT systems and the development of QCONZ software for internal and external clients.

Alex oversees the maintenance of QCONZ’s internal quality system as well as the implementation of capability solutions for the team’s development. Alex joined QCONZ in 2019 with a strong background in customer service and service delivery management and has a keen focus on continuous improvement and process development.

Ange joined the business in 2014. She is responsible for our eLearning development team and manages the QCONZ brand and promotional requirements. Ange has worked for a number of highly regarded companies in New Zealand and has a wealth of experience in Customer Service and CRM systems, eLearning development, and product and brand marketing.

Roby joined QCONZ in 2012 as a software developer. Roby has extensive knowledge and experience in software development, database design, database management (SQL), API (development, testing and integration), network administration and IT support.

Ben has been at QCONZ since 2020 and is our Operational Sector Manager, with oversight across our Horticulture and Poultry programmes. Ben brings extensive experience across audit delivery, programme implementation, and operational leadership. With a strong background in agriculture and biosecurity, Ben brings practical, hands-on knowledge to his work, ensuring high-quality outcomes and strong client relationships. Ben is passionate about building capable teams, maintaining compliance, and supporting continuous improvement across the industry.

Bonnie started at QCONZ in 2020. Based in the South Island, Bonnie has helped develop and lead the delivery of QCONZ’s red meat programmes since we stepped into this space in 2023. Growing up on sheep and dairy farms, Bonnie has strong practical farming knowledge, complemented by experience from working within the industry in her roles before QCONZ. Bonnie is passionate about the primary sector and showcasing what New Zealand farming can offer internationally, and enjoys building capability and supporting both auditors and clients to achieve this.

Bradley joined QCONZ in 2018 and brings over a decade of experience across the apiculture and agriculture industries. He plays a critical role in overseeing regional audit teams, supporting consistent audit delivery, and maintaining high technical standards across QCONZ’s dairy programmes. Bradley is passionate about connecting industry standards with practical, on‑farm application, with a strong focus on education and delivering real value to the sector.