Dame Jo Brosnahan, DNZM

Chair

Dame Jo Brosnahan is an experienced Chair and Director who is also Chair of Maritime New Zealand. She was previously Chair or director of a variety of entities, including Northpower Fibre, Landcare Research and Housing NZ.

She develops and facilitates leadership and governance programmes, including for the Institute of Directors. Founder and founding Chair of Leadership New Zealand, she is now Chair of the Leadership NZ Ambassadors. She was also founding Chair of the Taitokerau Education Trust in Northland, supporting digital learning in low decile schools.

Beginning her career with railways and in the port industry, Dame Jo was also CEO of the Northland and Auckland Regional Councils. She has experience in infrastructure, housing and urban development, environmental management and the port and maritime sectors. Dame Jo is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, of which she was national President. As a Harkness Fellow and Aspen Scholar, she researched leadership in the US. In June 2023, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday and Coronation Honours for services to governance and business.

Dame Jo was appointed to the Harrison Grierson Board in February 2019 and was appointed Chair in June 2019.