Chris Clarke brings over 30 years of leadership experience, including 20 years as a CEO, across public policy, health care, humanitarian development, and philanthropy. Currently, he serves as CEO of the Wilberforce Foundation and chairs two boards: The Emergency Alliance, and Arrow Leadership Global. His past roles include CEO of World Vision New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, with additional experience at the World Health Organisation and NHS. A law and commerce graduate from Canterbury University, Chris has been the Praxis Visiting Scholar at Green Templeton College, Oxford University, since 2009.
Steven Moe is a partner at Parry Field Lawyers with a focus on governance and legal structures for purpose driven groups including Churches and Charities. He has 24 years of experience as a lawyer and is on several boards including Christian Savings. He is also the Chair of Community Finance, which has raised more than $163 million for social housing. He is a member of the Charities Services sector group, the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, the XRB Advisory Panel and is a facilitator on governance for the Institute of Directors and hosts their podcast ‘Board Matters’ on governance. He also is the host of Seeds - a podcast with 395+ long-form conversations on governance, leadership and entrepreneurship. He is coordinating the Christian Lawyers Conference in September in Auckland for about 150 lawyers.
Kirsten Patterson (known as KP) is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Member of the IoD. She is a qualified lawyer and a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, Chair of the Global Network of Directors Institutes (GNDI), and a member of the New Zealand External Reporting Advisory Panel (XRAP). She serves on the boards of the mental health charity Voices of Hope and the Brian Picot Ethical Leadership Advisory Board (Chair) at Victoria University in Wellington. She is a past Chair, and now Ambassador, for Wellington Women’s Homeless Trust. A strong advocate of diversity, KP is a member of Global Women New Zealand and was one of the founding members of Global Women’s ‘Champions for Change’, a group of senior executives and directors who commit to diversity in the workplace. KP was the founder and is Executive Sponsor for Chapter Zero New Zealand – the New Zealand Chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative - hosted by the IoD NZ to mobilise, connect, educate and equip directors and boards to make climate-smart governance decisions.
Richard is the founder and director of Thriving Churches HQ, an organisation empowering churches and church leaders to make a greater Kingdom difference. He has always had a heart for the growth and wellbeing of churches, their leaders, and their people. An ordained minister, qualified counsellor, and experienced communicator, Richard has been involved in people work for over 25 years. He founded the counselling and wellbeing organisation, Mind Health, and holds a BA, Bachelor of Divinity, Bachelor of Theology (First Class Hons), Masters in Counselling (Distinction) and is a Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. His research has explored key saboteurs undermining church leaders and strategic factors that enhance pastoral effectiveness and wellbeing. Richard has developed three significant transformation courses for the church and leaders and is a regular voice on Radio Rhema. He is passionate about seeing churches fulfil their purpose in God. Richard is an excellent communicator with the knack of being able to communicate complex issues in a way that is practical and easy to understand. He is the author of 'Centred: Knowing who you are in an off-balanced world' and a children's book, 'There’s a Happy Moon in My Side'. Richard is married to Jennifer, and they have three adult children.
Strahan is one of New Zealand’s most experienced and recognised Public Relations leaders. With more than 25 years-experience he has led and delivered internationally awarded communications campaigns as well as orchestrating some the highest profile issues and crisis management responses for a range of clients around the world. Strahan was a Board Director and CEO of the Clemenger Group, New Zealand’s largest and most awarded marketing services company, up until March 2024 and is now an independent board director and consultant. He is currently senior counsel at WALLIS&CO and takes on a limited number of clients. Raised on a farm in Raglan, he lives at Red Beach with his wife Racheal, their three children and Poppy, their wee Maltese-Shitsu. He is a Fellow (nominated by peers) and an Accredited Member of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and a Certified Member of the Institute of Directors (IOD).
Dan assumed the role of CEO in 2021, leveraging his extensive experience as in-house counsel and lending manager. His passion for propelling the growth of the church and Christian enterprise informs his every move. With a solid background in commercial law from Tauranga and a stint at the esteemed Z Energy head office in Wellington, Dan brings a wealth of expertise to our team. His commitment to our vision shines through his collaborations with churches and charities dedicated to making a positive impact throughout Aotearoa. Beyond his professional pursuits, Dan remains an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, embodying our core values both within and beyond the boardroom.