Board of Directors

Mark passionately believes that the Hutt Valley is an amazing place to grow a thriving business and raise a family. He co-founded Red Hot Business Coaching here in the valley 10 years ago and has had the privilege of helping many individual owners remove the barriers to growth in their businesses over that time. Mark’s career has included a number of senior management roles with nation-wide responsibilities.
Mark and his wife Megan have two children, and he has been on the board of Wa Ora Montessori School for the past 7 years. He is known for making things happen.

Dave has had a successful career as a business investor, spotting businesses in need of professional management and robust operating systems. He has bought and sold businesses in the tourism sector, retail sector and the service industry and has extensive experience operating multiple franchise outlets.

With considerable experience as a ‘hands off’ operator, Dave focuses more on the importance of strong business systems and quality training. This experience has helped him identify opportunities to develop the maximum return from his operations and extract the best price for his businesses.

As the Principal of the Wellington office of LINK Business Broking, Dave and his team of brokers are at the forefront of helping the baby boomers exit their businesses and extract their capital from their enterprises.

Since 2000 Sarah has worked as a recruitment consultant, specialising in the manufacturing and trades sectors. Six years ago, she took the brave step of establishing her own business, helping mid-sized, New Zealand-owned businesses to attract, employ and retain the people they need to succeed.

Rather than following the traditional recruitment model, Sarah works closely with business owners to provide recruitment services at every level of their organisations. This has given her a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards that come with business ownership – and highlighted her clients’ needs for practical, meaningful support.

It was Sarah’s commitment to service excellence and her interest in helping others that led to her involvement with Youth Inspire and the Hutt Valley Education to Employment Coordination Service. She’s now a passionate advocate for young people in the Hutt Valley area and thrives on using her professional skills to support them in their search for employment.

Having grown up in the Hutt Valley, Sarah’s determined to help the area to thrive. She’s proud to be associated with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce – an organisation that supports local businesses with practical and meaningful support.

Mike Hines brings a wealth of hands-on business experience to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce board since his appointment in May 2022. Having lived, worked, and employed in the Hutt Valley since 2015 and with over two decades as a business owner across diverse sectors including IT, telco, professional services, and retail, Mike offers a unique perspective on business growth and operational excellence backed by an MBA, B.Com and membership of the Institute of Directors..

Now a Business Broker with LINK Business, he leverages his comprehensive understanding of the business lifecycle to assist clients in valuing, buying, and selling businesses, especially within the technology and professional services sectors. Mike is deeply committed to the community, also serving on the board of Yellow Brick Road and otherwise can be found exploring the outdoors with his young family.

A Chartered Accountant (CAANZ) with a Public Practice Certificate, Michael has been actively involved in the accounting environment for over 15 years.

In addition to his role at accounting and advisory business Kendons, Michael is also a Trustee of the Laura Fergusson Trust Wellington and Christine Taylor Foundation for Mental Health. Outside of his governance and professional roles, Michael keeps himself busy heavily involved with his young family and in the barbershop community in both a chorus and quartet.

Carl Longstaff is the Managing Director of Metal Art Ltd, a company specialising in designing and manufacturing street and park furniture using recycled materials. Under his leadership, Metal Art Ltd was a finalist in the 2016 NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards, reflecting his commitment to sustainability.

Carl has served on the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Board since July 2024, following the amalgamation of the Seaview Business Association, where he was a long-standing Board member and treasurer.

His extensive experience in business management and dedication to environmental initiatives position him well to contribute effectively to the Chamber’s objectives.​

A proud born-and-raised Hutt girl, Steph Fry (nee Stratmore) is the General Manager of her family’s business Stratmore Construction Solutions (formerly Fraser Brown & Stratmore), based in Naenae. Stratmore has been a cornerstone of the Hutt Valley business community for over 70 years, developing and manufacturing industry-leading products for the construction sector.

Steph’s spent a decade living outside the Hutt Valley and returns with a fresh perspective and renewed energy for her hometown.

With more than 20 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and business owner, Steph has worked across multiple industries. Steph is a passionate and values-driven leader, committed to fostering strong team culture, sparking meaningful behaviour change, and inspiring others to embrace growth and strive for authentic success.

Known for her vivacious, fun, and energised presence, Steph will bring creativity, strategic thinking and a collaborative spirit to the Chamber and her wider Hutt Valley business community.

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Adam Berman is the current General Manager of The Angus, one of Lower Hutt’s most iconic hotels. He is leading its transformation into a Carnmore property — a rebrand designed not just to modernise the hotel, but to help revitalise the entire Hutt Central District. Adam sees the property as a local anchor, and under his leadership, it will become a vibrant hub for events, business, and community connection.

With over 20 years of experience in hospitality and business leadership, Adam also holds a Master’s degree in Hotel Management and a Law degree. He is a former lecturer where he taught hundreds of hospitality students and is known for his sharp business evaluation skills and ability to turn around underperforming operations.

Adam is passionate about growing local enterprise, championing tourism, and bringing people together, whether through partnerships, community events, or long-term strategic planning. With a mix of professional insight and genuine love for the Hutt, Adam brings fresh energy and practical expertise to the table and is committed to helping the Chamber play a central role in the region’s future success.

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Jo Miller came to New Zealand in July 2019 to join Hutt City Council as Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive.

Jo works with the Mayor and Council, staff, Iwi, partners and the community to ensure Lower Hutt is the very best it can be for all its people.

She has been the President at Taituarā – Local Government Professionals New Zealand since October 2023.

With an LLB Hons from the University of Southampton, Jo’s local government career spans 30 years at a local, regional and national level.

Prior to living in Aotearoa, Jo held one of the most high-profile government jobs in the UK, with an outstanding record of motivating people, creating solutions and brokering agreements in major housing, economic regeneration and capital investment schemes.

As Chief Executive of Doncaster Council, Jo was recognised for exceptional organisational turnaround, city growth and a return to optimism, putting the city in the top 10 for UK growth. Jo was elected President of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives in 2017, consequently named as the third most influential person in local government by UK Local Government Press.

Before joining Gibson Sheat Malcolm spent 21 years in a well-established Wellington general practice where he progressed from the after-school office boy to a partner.

Malcolm was admitted to the bar in 2005 and since then has enjoyed the variety of a broad general practice. He finds satisfaction in helping people at all stages of their lives – whether it be helping them with advice on commercial contracts or devising a succession plan so that they can retire from a long-held family business.

Malcolm is a member of the New Zealand Law Society property law section. He is also president of the Wellington Pipers’ Club Inc. and a member of St. Margaret’s church, in Silverstream.