The Independent Business Foundation (IBF) represents the combined interest of the New Zealand small to medium enterprise economy numbering in excess of 350,000 business units covering a broad spectrum of skill and industry sectors. It provides a national voice on behalf of the majority of business sectors which, while numerically strong, lack on their own the collective voice to influence economic policy direction. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees consists of recognisable business and professional persons who are familiar with small to medium business needs and the factors influencing their operational environment.

While taking counsel with other top tier private and public sector organisations in New Zealand and kindred federations overseas, the Independent Business Foundation is not aligned or related to any other existing body of interest, choosing to work solely in support of and as required by its affiliates and constituency. The Foundation does not espouse or subscribe to any political doctrine or economic school of thought, preferring to be guided by its Trustees’ collective opinion, which finds expression in submissions and representations involving, where necessary, outside professional assistance.

The Independent Business Foundation maintains open and honest channels of communication with the legislature through its designated ministerial appointees and their counterparts in opposition. The Foundation’s negotiating stance is consultative, advisory and non-adversarial. Arguments for change are presented and delivered factually and objectively. Ready access to statistical data enables The Foundation to be forthcoming with information and to be involved in the consultative/advisory process which tends to precede the deliberative and implementative steps of policy formation.

The Independent Business Foundation is recognised as a New Zealand voluntary organisation with national coverage representing most sectors of the business community, able to provide reliable information on business trends, attitudes and expectations. The involvement of professional personnel in preference to voluntary human resources in the administration and service delivery ensures greater efficiency in information gathering and sharing.

The Independent Business Foundation maintains a consultative relationship with the Minister for Small Business through the Ministry of Economic Development, which extends to other portfolios and departments, which affect business conduct in New Zealand.



As a non-profit charitable organisation, IBF maintains a number of charitable educational objectives. These are:

• Management education suitable and sufficient to meet the customer and supplier demands of a retail/service business in the 21st Century.
• Re-training the experienced small/medium sector business manager at an advanced and tertiary level.
• Scholarships to enable promising young business owners/managers to undergo tertiary management training in NZ and overseas.
• Devices and methods to enhance the standing and image of small business as a career choice.
• Incentives to tertiary educational institutes to provide courses and modules tailored to the demands of small business management.
• Research into small business practices and success/failures to provide suitable case study material in the teaching of applicable management subjects.
• Identifying and recognising entrepreneurial and innovative talent and accomplishment.
• Encouraging and supporting ingenuity and originality with competent and accountable assistance.
• Facilitating research and development with referrals to sources of research grants.
• Changing the mind-set and culture of small business in favour of self-reliance and self-improvement.

G I (Grant) Hally, B.Com, CA, ACIS (Chair)
Chartered Accountant
Partner, Prince & Partners
Past Chairman, Independent Accountants International
Chairman, NZCA

M (Mariska) Mannes, MMgt, PGDipBA, BIC (Executive Trustee)
Director, Deliquo Communication Limited
Associate Director BNI
Board member, Association Resource Centre
Committee Member Planet FM 104.6
Secretary/Coordinator, Ethnic Voice New Zealand Inc
Lecturer, Auckland Institute of Studies, St Helens

J (John) Rigby
Executive Officer Auckland
Association Executive
New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (MEA)

R U (Ralph) Penning, ACIS, FNZIM, Reg. NZTA
Corporate Administrator
Association Executive
Senior Advisory Trustee
NZIM Accredited Management Mentor
Small company Director.

T (Terry) Hoskins MBA, Henley England
Chief Executive, Enterprise North Shore
Trustee of North Shore Community and Social Services
Fellow New Zealand Institute of Management
IABC Accredited Business Consultant
IOD Accredited Director (provisional)

G M (Gaelle) Deighton, BBS, MBA
Chief Executive - Enterprising Manukau
Member, New Zealand Institute of Management
Chair, New Zealand Division: Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand
Board Member, Economic Development Association of NZ
Board Member, Australasian Institute of Enterprise Facilitators

R (Ruth) M Hamilton
Director WritersInc Ltd
Committee Member Auckland Executive Club
Former president of TCANZ, Children’s Literature Association of New Zealand, and The Auckland Boys Choir
Lecturer AUT University

B (Barrie) Cooper
Executive Director NZ Security Association Inc


Past Board Members

J B (Jack) Christie, MBE, FNZIM (Chairman)
Director of Companies
Chairman, Ullrich Aluminium Co Ltd
Past President, Auckland Employers' Association
Past Chairman, NZ Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Federation Inc. and Electrical and Electronic Industry Training Board
Member of Council, Open Polytechnic

P C (Peter) Sewell, B.Com, FCA, ABINZ (Vice Chair)
Principal, Peter Sewell & Associates
Chairman, Incognito Artists (International);
Former Chief Manager, Commercial, The National Bank of NZ Ltd;
Past Chairman, Auckland Branch, NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants

Prof. D N (Delwyn) Clark, BSc, BMS (Hons) DPhil
Associate Dean Research and Professor of Strategic Management, University of Waikato Management School
International President, Academy of Management
Representative, School Oceania Global
Member, Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Steering Committee
Member, Australasian Business Research Directors' Network

Lloyd Davies, JP, Dip Mgt, FNZIM
Dispute Resolution Practitioner, MediationPlus Ltd., Tauranga
National Board Member, NZ Institute of Management
Foundation Trustee, NZ Safety Council
Councillor, NZ Trustees Association
Advisory Board Member, NZ Association Resource Centre Trust
Past Vice-President, Chamber of Commerce Tauranga Region Board

H J (Heather) Douglas, BA (Rhodes)
Founder and Director, Home Business New Zealand Limited
Previous career in communications across a variety of media including state television news service of South African Broadcasting Corporation
Owner of web, media and communications consultancy
Writer, Director and Producer of documentary training and promotional videos

E J (Eddie) Eeles
Director of Companies
Registered Electrical Inspector
Member, Electrical Workers Registration Board
Past President, Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand Inc
Founding Director, Electrical Training Company
Trustee, Victoria Park Sports and Cultural Trust

I (Bob) Fenwick, ONZM, FIOD, FNZIM
Managing Director and President, Planhorse Systems Ltd
Past President, Export Institute of NZ
Board Member, Auckland Showgrounds
Former Executive Chairman, Marsh and McLennan Australia and New Zealand
Winner, New Millennium Award for Product Quality and Technology (Europe)
Forum Member, Employers and Manufacturers Assocation Northern

Dr C B (Coral) Ingley, Dip Bus (Mktg), BA, M.Com, PhD
Strategic Management Consultant
Former Chair, Marketing Forum, NZIM
Director, Alto-Strategia Limited
Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology
Chair, Institute of Accredited Business Consultants (NZ) Inc



The Independent Business Foundation seeks to promote SME development in New Zealand by identifying deficiencies and contributing to management capability building. Where gaps exist in availability and access, the Foundation initiates projects to address these particular issues. Once in place, the Foundation actively seeks a partner/supplier willing and able to facilitate the project/service on an ongoing/as required basis. An example of this is the business angel scheme instituted by the Independent Business Foundation for informed capital access – this has since been passed over to EDANZ (Economic Development Agencies of New Zealand) and continues to assist New Zealand SMEs to this day.

With access to comparable overseas examples, frequently supported by site visits, the Independent Business Foundation has taken an interest in SME specific facilities and programmes that are lacking in New Zealand. A number of these initiatives are now well established, involving related NGO and government participation. Initiatives include:

• Private capital raising in the under $0.5 million market.
• Business Improvement Roadshow to regional centres throughout New Zealand.
• 14th Small Enterprise Conference in support of SEAANZ.
• Accreditation of SME advisors and facilitators.
• Establishment of business incubators.
• Facilitation of student exchanges and internships.
• Introduction of export guarantees.
• Creation of small business index.
• Promoting longitudinal research.
• Assistance in the appointment of a Minister of Small Business.
• Stakeholding in project capability building.

The Independent Business Foundation maintains strong links with both academia and business sectors in New Zealand. Co-operation with the tertiary education sector includes:

• University of Auckland Business School, SPARK and The Ice House
• Massey University Albany and E-Centre
• Auckland University of Technology
• The University of Waikato Business School
• UNITEC Institute of Technology
• The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

In addition to these national relationships, the Foundation also maintains international links to a number of organisations including:

• International Council for Small Business
• World Council for Small and Medium Enterprises
• European Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprise Associations
• National Independent Business Federation (USA)
• Bundesverband Mittelstandische Wirtschaft (Germany)
• The Forum of Private Business (UK)
• Council of Small Business of Australia
• Japan Small Business Research Institute
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business
• European Small Business Alliance