Rob Hewett

Chairperson

An experienced Company Director, Rob is involved in a variety of companies and business interests in New Zealand and Australia, including his farm in the Manuka Gorge. As well as being Chairman of Clutha Development, Rob Chairs the Board of Directors for Silver Fern Farms, being elected in 2013 after serving on the Board since 2008. Rob is also a Director on the Board of Directors for Farmlands Cooperative Society Incorporated as of October 2015, and served on the Farm IQ Board prior. 

Gaye Cowie

Deputy Chairperson

Gaye and her husband Nigel are sheep & beef farmers in Tuapeka West. Gaye is also a Director Principal of Shand Thomson Ltd, a chartered accountancy practice based in Balclutha servicing the rural community. Gaye has a passion for supporting the Clutha District.

Linda Wilson

Executive Member

Linda is a Physiotherapist who graduated from University of Otago and has worked in NZ and Britain. While working in Britain she worked for BUPA Wellness and developed a strong interest in Workplace Wellness for both the Corporates and the Industrial Athlete. On returning to NZ she studied a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health while establishing her business Rehabilitation Associates with a practice in the Les Mills Gymnasium in Dunedin. Moving to live with her husband and family on a farm in South Otago has diversified these skills and has recently developed a clinic in Balclutha working with RATA South Ltd.

Jared McPhee

Executive Member

Jared is the managing Director at Balclutha Motors which operates the Nissan, Caltex, Pie face and Tyreland franchises here in Balclutha. Jared also has a variety of other business interests, giving him a great understanding of doing business in Clutha and the needs of local businesses and the importance of having people live and shop local to grow the area we live in. He is active in the community with being President of the Clutha Rugby Club amongst other interests.

Steve Hill

Executive Member

Steve Hill, Chief Executive of the Clutha District Council since June 2014, has a degree in Management Studies from Waikato University, a Masters in Public Management from Victoria University and has completed a senior executive development course at Harvard University. Steve has had extensive local government experience at Western Bay of Plenty District Council, a Business Excellence Gold organisation, as well as service in the Royal New Zealand Navy. Steve and his wife Lana have committed to the Clutha District, and Steve is passionate about the growth and investment opportunities Clutha District offers.   

Lloyd McCall

Executive Member

Lloyd has a B.Com.AG.(VFM) and works as a specialist farm accountant Agrifocus in Gore, having previously worked in Rural Banking for 10 years before spending 10 years in the dairy industry. Lloyd has two adult children and four grandchildren, and is currently in an equity partnership with his son and daughter-in-law on a 700 cow dairy farm at West Otago. Lloyd is passionate about rugby and is involved in the water care group Pathways to the Pomahaka and the West Otago Swimming Pool Fundraising Committee. 

Stephen Korteweg

Executive Member

Stephen is a Dairy Farmer here in the district, alongside the next generation. He is immediate past Otago Provincial President for Federated Farmers, seeing Stephen advocating on behalf of farmers, an important part of our economy here in Clutha. Stephen is on the Fonterra Networkers group and is a volunteer for the Cross Recreation Centre. He was also TB free chairman for a 3 year term.  

Richard Sharpin

Executive Member

Dick is a Livestock Agent and is currently the Dairy Manager for Rural Livestock Ltd. Dick and his wife Jude also run a dairy grazing farm at Tuapeka West. Dick has a long history in the dairy industry starting as a lower order sharemilker and progressing through to farm ownership. Other business experiences include owning a country hotel and the development of a farmers buying group. Participating in the Kellogg Rural Leadership program a few years ago was a very challenging but most rewarding time, and added to Dick’s extensive rural business and leadership experience.

Hamish Anderson

Executive Member

Hamish is a Dairy Farmer, our water quality project manager and has been a Clutha District Councillor for 15 years, 9 of these as Deputy Mayor. Hamish has vast governance experience, including: Livestock Improvement South Island board, followed by LIC National Council Chair, Chair of Lower Clutha drainage and flood protection liaison group with ORC, RMA accredited hearings panellist and RMA accredited hearings panel chair, Chair, Telford Dairy Farm advisory committee, Otago Land Transport committee, Clutha Health First trustee and the District Development Board as a board member and then Chair. 

Aileen Clarke

Born and raised in Owaka, Aileen has over twenty years’ experience of starting small to medium business, and management roles. Ex RNZAF, has traveled extensively and worked in Europe and Australia for 10 years before settling in Christchurch for 15 years. Moved back to Owaka 6 years ago, with her husband and girls, starting the Catlins Café. Chair of the Owaka Going Forward group and Treasurer of Catlins Promotions she has a strong community focus and is in the final stages of completing her Bachelor of Business Management.

Simon Davies

Simon Davies, with his wife Joanna, farm a 6000su sheep and beef breeding and finishing farm at Toko Mouth. They have farmed in the Clutha region for five years and have been a member of Clutha Development Inc. since it began.

Simon has completed a B Tech at Massey and spent 12 years seafood processing, both in New Zealand and around the world. After a career in the seafood industry he returned to Taranaki to run his family’s sheep, and dairy support farm.

With a passion for the region, excellent communication skills and broad multi-industry experience, Simon is committed to the development of the Clutha district.