About us
Malcolm Rands - Executive Chair has been active in the sustainability scene for over 33 years. He co-founded New Zealand’s first permaculture eco-village in 1986, and is a foundation member of the New Zealand Sustainable Business Network. Malcolm is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, conservation and philanthropy. In 1993, Malcolm started an ethics-based business, ecostore with the long-term goals of funding Fairground Foundation. The ecostore range now exceeds 100 products. It is available in all New Zealand supermarkets and health stores, and in over 1,800 supermarkets in Australia, USA and Asia.
Melanie Rands - Trustee is a multi media visual artist and poet. She co founded ecostore with Malcolm in 1993, specialising in Branding and communications and is interested in the ways in which business and art can help each other. She is a Fairground Foundation Board member, Deputy Chair of the Board of Greenpeace NZ, a Director of Little Bird Organics and a member of the inaugural Pacific Advisory Group at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. She is most at home in the garden, the forest or the ocean, not necessarily in that order.
Aaron Drew - Trustee is a seasoned economist and investment professional. He provides investment governance training and support to commercial and not-for-profit organisations in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands through fi360 Pacific, is an Associate of the NZIER, and a member of various Investment Committees, including for Foundation North. Aaron has held senior roles at the Reserve Bank and New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and has worked offshore for the OECD and IMF. Aaron is a firm believer in the global investor movement towards investing with clear social and environmental goals. He is excited to be part of the innovative solutions that the Fairground Foundation is developing to help meet local challenges in Aotearoa.
Sheridan Jamieson - Trustee is a financial consultant and board trustee based in Palmerston North. Through his consultancy, Nurture, he provides virtual CFO and strategic advisory services to impactful businesses across New Zealand. Sheridan also serves on the boards of FARA NZ and StudySpy, and is Head of Operations at One Percent Collective. He brings a blend of financial governance experience and hands-on operational knowledge to Fairground Foundation, with a particular interest in sustainable business models and social enterprise. Outside of work, Sheridan is a competitive distance runner and running coach.
Temuera Hall - Team Bumpspace Tena koutou e ngā mana e ngā reo. Temuera is of Ngati Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa descent and has been involved in asset management and investment advice since 1994 and remains active in governance, financial services and investment consulting. Throughout his career Tem has developed a wealth of experience and knowledge in building businesses, finance, corporate compliance, instilling values and culture, developing relationships and driving strategy. Temuera has either lead or played a key role in numerous investment collaborations and partnerships. Other positions include; CEO Tuwharetoa Settlement Trust, Executive Director - Iwi Investor, Chairman – Opepe Farm Trust, Director – CNI Iwi Holdings Limited, Director Te Kakano Whakatipu Partnership. Previous directorships include 6 years with NZ Post and 7 years on Scion (NZ Forest Research).
Antonina Elliott - Team Bumpspace is passionate about approaching life with a holistic lens. She is curious about how we live, eat and interact with each other and how these have an impact on our wellbeing. Having completed her conjoint degree of Design at Elam School of Fine Arts and Philosophy, also at the University of Auckland, she worked as a graphic designer for various publishing companies. This includes the National Business Review, where she has been the Art Director, and assisted in writing arts reviews, for almost 9 years. When not volunteering for Fairground, assisting in marketing research and blog posts, she is busy running around after her 19month old daughter, making homemade medicinal salves and body butters while learning the ropes of herbal medicine.
Neil Cole – Co-Founder of Bucket is a digital and customer experience professional with over 20 years experience. Neil was a founder member of Red Energy and Powershop and played a critical role in establishing the operational functions across both energy retailers. He has also worked at the Department of Conservation and maintains critical relationships with senior members to support a pest free NZ. Neil believes in championing the needs of customer and communities, believing there is always a better way. He believes we all need stronger connections to our incredible land in the future. Neil lives with his partner and 2 boys and has a passion for tourism, conservation, mountain biking, great coffee and DIY renovations.
