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Our Management Team

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Chris LeachCEO - ND Ag, Cert ED

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.

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Josh WheelerChief Operating Officer - B Ag, Dip Applied Science, Dip Business

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.

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Karen ThomsonChief Financial Officer - CPA

Karen is a chartered accountant with over 30 years’ 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.

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Murray PedleyGM New Business - MBA University of Waikato

Murray has over 30 years of experience in the Dairy Industry, predominantly in milk quality, business management, quality systems audit, training systems development and delivery. With QCONZ Murray has developed training systems and delivered courses on Milking Machine Servicing as well as working with international agencies and companies in places such as Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

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Craig AllenGM Programmes - B Ag

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.

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Ryan HallGM Audit Delivery

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.

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Justin MossGM Information Technology - Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist

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.

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Angela SimonMarketing and eLearning Manager - BBS (Management)

Ange is responsible for Virtual Coach 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 brings over 10 years’ experience in customer relationship management, and product and brand marketing.

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Alex MansonQuality & Capability Manager

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.