MEET THE
TEAM

Rhys brings a wealth of experience across the I.T., FMCG, business advisory, and finance sectors, with a diverse background in sales, technical, operational, and management roles. Having worked in everything from small local businesses through to large global corporates Rhys found his preference to be where customers were treated as people (not numbers) and where company profits stayed within New Zealand. Originally from Taranaki (New Plymouth) Rhys most recently lived in Auckland with his wife and two daughters (9 & 6) where he held a Managing Partner role in a property finance company. He and his wife made the move to Hawkes Bay to give their girls a ‘kiwi upbringing’ and to allow them to get back to nature.

E: rhys@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260
M: 022 580 1709

Chris is a Chartered Accountant and has over 20 years experience in financial services. His career started at KPMG in auditing and has included a role in treasury with the European bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, a secondment in Luxenbourg and a CFO role for a prominent NZ based Credit Union. However, the highlight has to be working as a advisor at the Bank of Cook Islands in Rarotonga for three years before returning to Hawkes Bay for his role as CFO at Midlands.

Chris grew up in Hawkes Bay and has a strong connection to the region. He has three daughters and a very busy family life filled with lots of activities. Running, football, netball, gymnastics to name a few, but Chris’s real passion is sailing. You will often find Chris out on the water training, coaching or cruising, often now with his daughters who seem to have also caught the sailing bug after living abroad!

E: chris@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

Amber’s career has always been about upholding the highest industry standards. During her nine years at ANZ Bank, she developed a robust background in financial management, financial reporting, and performance monitoring.

Amber has extensive international experience, having previously worked in the Middle East and the UK. She excels at creating an inclusive and collaborative environment, drawing from diverse cultural insights. Her hands-on approach focuses on mitigating risks, improving processes, and ensuring integrity in all her work. Amber’s goal is to meet all regulatory requirements and support the organisations long-term success by fostering a culture of compliance and ethical behaviour.

E: amber@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260
DDI: 06 974 6651

Christie’s path to Midlands Funds Management and the Finance Industry has been somewhat unconventional. Christie’s formative career was spent in corporate Sales & Marketing roles, in FMCG (food businesses), financial services, wine and retail industries in New Zealand and the UK. Christie then started up her own food business, which she ran for 10 years and eventually sold to Little Island Creamery.

During her business ownership, Christie took on the role of managing the business accounting and finances, which sparked an ongoing interest and passion in finance and investing and led to her to being bestowed with the title of ‘Self Taught CFO’ (Chief Financial Officer). Christie believes that if she can learn and navigate the world of finance and investing then anyone can. This is why she’s on a mission to improve the financial future of everyday New Zealanders by making the financial world less confusing and more accessible and engaging.

E: christie@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

Kelly has a background in customer service and marketing, with a strong focus on supporting clients and ensuring a smooth customer journey. She especially values the chance to meet investors and hear about their experiences and goals. If you call Midlands, chances are it’s Kelly who will answer your call, ready to assist with a friendly voice and a solutions-focused approach.

Kelly’s weekends are typically packed with chasing after her toddler and tackling home renovation projects.

E: kelly@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

With more than 30 years experience in the finance industry Christine has built a career that has centred on fostering strong client relationships.  After her and her family moved to Hawkes Bay in 2007 she rejoined BNZ and spent the next 18 years in roles that saw her predominantly support businesses of all sizes and industries.  Her passion lies in cultivating relationships built on trust and understanding and ensuring clients feel confident in making their financial decisions.

Outside of work Christine enjoys the occasional round of golf, despite what the scorecard says.

E: Christine@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

Andrew has over 25 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry. He has a background in residential and business lending having held relationship and management roles with ASB and Westpac.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.

E: andrew@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260
M: 027 202 8148

Mark has 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry with a strong background in banking, specifically mortgages and asset finance, having held senior positions with Westpac & BNZ and internationally with the Provident Financial Group. More recently he has managed his own fund and has been involved with the local community, promoting financial literacy.

Mark has a postgraduate diploma in Management & Business.

E: mark@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260
M: 027 354 7223

Ania brings a wealth of experience in financial services administration, gained both in New Zealand and overseas. In her current role, she assists with the loan proposals and oversees the day-to-day administration of loan accounts.

With a strong attention to detail and a commitment to financial accuracy, Ania plays a key role in supporting the lending process from start to finish, and maintaining the integrity of the loan portfolio.

Outside of work, Ania enjoys walking and you can often find her up Te Mata Peak.

E: ania@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

Jenna is our Accountant who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from Massey University and the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5). As a provisional member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Jenna is currently working through the Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting and is on her way to becoming a Chartered Accountant.

In her role, Jenna supports financial operations through cash flow management, preparing daily and monthly reports, and assisting our CFO. Jenna started at Midlands as a Loans Analyst with the addition of a few small accounting responsibilities, because of her past and present role with Midlands, Jenna has a deep understanding of how the business operates and the systems we use.

Outside of work, Jenna is a proud rural girl married to a Dairy Farmer. When she’s not crunching numbers, you’ll find her on the farm or at the beach with her family, whether they’re turkey hunting, catching Kōura, building survival huts, fishing, or just enjoying the sun, there is always an adventure to be had outdoors.

E: jenna@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

Blair brings over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a strong background in credit management and operational leadership. Throughout his career, he has led significant transformation initiatives, including the successful overhaul of a New Zealand non-bank financial institution’s technology and operating model.

Blair holds a Master’s degree in Change Management, and he is passionate about delivering innovative systems and processes that enhance both efficiency and the customer experience. At Midlands, his current focus is on improving the service offering for our Investor clients and delivering meaningful improvements over the coming months.

Outside the office, you’ll find Blair on the sidelines at a local rugby game, where he works with the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union team to develop and grow community coaches across the region.

E: Blair@midlands.net.nz

Emma brings a broad and varied background to her role, having worked across sectors including mining, financial services, and manufacturing. Her experience includes time in the Australian gold mining industry, at Deutsche Bank in London, and running her own local furniture manufacturing business.

She thrives on detail, analysis, and improving processes, with a strong focus on integrity and regulatory outcomes. Emma is passionate about contributing to a culture of compliance and continuous improvement that supports long-term success.

Outside of work, Emma leads an active lifestyle with her three children, horses, and dog on a rural Hawkes Bay lifestyle block.

E: Emma@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260

With a strong blend of customer focus, strategic thinking and hands‑on delivery Bridget is known for simplifying complex challenges into practical, user‑centred solutions.

Bridget has led multi‑stream programmes across SaaS platforms, mobile and online banking, and digital products. To Midland’s she brings a strong ability to connect business objectives, technology capability, and real‑world user needs. She is valued for her collaborative approach, pragmatic mindset and effective change leadership.

During her senior product roles in Australia, she co‑founded a mobile competition app and retail agency which was acquired by the Dentsu global network.

In the weekends she enjoys yoga / pilates, supporting her 2 daughters and husband, plus ongoing home renovations.

E: Bridget@midlands.net.nz
T:  06 870 3260

Michelle is a Lending Analyst in the Midlands lending team, known for her sound judgement, strong organisation, and people‑first approach. With over ten years’ experience in legal and court environments, she brings accuracy, fairness, and clarity to complex lending work.

Her background in managing court caseloads, developing regional schedules, and working with diverse stakeholders has sharpened her ability to assess information quickly, ask the right questions, and keep processes moving.

Michelle is valued for her direct communication style and commitment to doing things properly.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends and values staying active and connected to her local community.

E: Michelle@midlands.net.nz
T: 06 870 3260