Our Board

Our Board of Directors

Tony Howey, Chairman

Tony was born and raised in South Canterbury, and following his studies in Agricultural Commerce, gained international experience with several study awards.

He farmed grain/seed and vegetables between 1986 and 2019, and now concentrates on organic blackcurrants with the ViBERi brand.

Tony’s current and past directorships/committees include Horticulture NZ, NZGAP, Opuha Water, Ravensdown, Southern Packers, Seedlands, Farmers Mill, SC Chamber of Commerce, Aoraki Multicultural Council, OOP Zone Committee, Timaru Bahá’i Community, and Te Aitarakihi Multicultural Centre.

He was motivated to put his hand up to serve on Venture Timaru’s Board of Directors by a desire to make our region an even better place to live and work, where a strong sense of community continues to build.


Raeleen de Joux, Deputy Chairperson

Raeleen was born in Gore and brought up in a small Southland rural community. She is from a nursing, public health and health education background and currently employed as a tutor in the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health at Ara Institute of Canterbury. Raeleen is a sitting member of South Canterbury District Health Board.

She has lived in the Aoraki region for 46 years. In partnership with her husband Chris, she is a Director of Charoux Partnership , a local building company. She loves Timaru and South Canterbury and believes it is the best place in the world to bring up a family.

Raeleen has a strong commitment to community development and enjoys her involvement in several community groups, organisations and sporting bodies. She is the Chairperson of Te Aitarakihi Trust Inc and actively involved in the ongoing development of Te Aitarakihi Multicultural Centre.


Erin McNaught

Erin is the joint owner of Industrial Controls South Canterbury and has been actively involved in developing this business from its start in 1996 to present day with a team of over 100.

She has a background in business administration and human resources, with particular interest in the people that make our businesses and communities successful.  Erin completed her Bachelor of Applied Management specialising in Human Resource & Strategic Management in 2021.  She works alongside her partner of 30 plus years, David Stickings, and together they have two children, who are both also doing tertiary studies.

Erin was born in Timaru and is passionate about our region and all that it has to offer.


Allan  Booth

Allan has called Timaru his home for over 35 years and is actively involved in various community organisations and groups within the District.

Allan is a managing director of two of his own businesses, which manufacture and distribute wooden products in South Canterbury and also export to various parts of the world. Allan is also a current District Councillor.


Dr Anthony Brien

Having lived in the Timaru District for the past 35 years, and with no plans for leaving, Tony has a vested interested in ensuring the District grows sustainably in economic, social, and environmental terms for future generations. He believes we must grow, by business diversification, the economic base of Timaru that will increase the population to ensure a vibrant future, and that attracting new businesses attracts new skills, new families and new opportunities which helps sustain existing businesses.

Tony brings to the Venture Timaru Board extensive connections within the New Zealand tourism industry, an understanding of the workings of a Council Controlled Organisation from being a past District Councillor, and an understanding of the District’s agriculture base. As a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors he brings sound governance experience to the Board.

Tony lives in Timaru with his wife, Sandra, and two of their three adult children also live locally. He holds a senior academic position at Lincoln University, lecturing and researching in the areas of Business Management and Tourism.


Stacey Scott

Stacey’s career spans various areas of business such as governance, leadership, general management, stakeholder relations, and project management. Her business ambitions and community involvement have always been linked. Having a business that works across both private, public and the not-for-profit sectors supports Stacey’s values of giving back to her community.

Stacey looks forward to her role at Venture Timaru, to be part of strengthening networks across the region and to understand issues or concerns for those that live within it.  She cares for people, prosperity, and regional growth, and will provide strong and genuine leadership.

Born and raised in Timaru, Stacey is married to Dave and they have four children, who attend Roncalli College & Sacred Heart Primary School in Timaru. Stacey and her family farm a mixed cropping farm in Lyalldale, St Andrews.


Paula  MacPherson

Paula was born and raised in Southland. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce in Dunedin in 2010, she moved to Timaru for a contract role as the Finance Office Manager at Aoraki Polytechnic and has since called Timaru home.

Paula progressed on to Hilton Haulage, where she completed her Chartered Accountancy qualification in 2015, following which she gained overseas experience in Scotland, before heading back to Timaru in 2018 to settle down and start her family.

She currently works at Todd Mudie Group as the Financial Accountant.

Paula is committed to giving back to South Canterbury and helping grow Timaru for future generations, and is excited to be part of the Venture Timaru board as their Associate Director.