Our Board

Sarah Dalziell-Clout is a born and bred Wairarapa local. She grew up rurally in Tinui, out of Masterton, before spending time in other parts of New Zealand and overseas. Sarah is now back within the rural fold in Kahutara, Featherston. An experienced lawyer, Sarah has worked in a range of industries including banking, telecommunications, IT, sport and logistics, both nationally and globally. She is also has experience in management, leadership and strategy from her time as Chair of Eventing Wairarapa and as the High Performance Director for Equestrian Sports New Zealand. Sarah is a director and lawyer in her own practice, Your Legal Counsel, which sees her supporting small-medium sized businesses around the country. She sees her directorship role at WBS as an opportunity to reconnect with, and give back to, the local Wairarapa community.

Blair has been a resident of the Wairarapa region for over 31 years and joined the WBS Board in January 2020. Blair is a registered valuer who spent 13 years as a senior rural banker servicing the Wairarapa and Tararua regions. Using his skills and experience from both these professions, Blair moved to rural real estate 18 years ago. He established his own highly successful real estate company in 2014, NZR Real Estate Limited. Blair has also been Co-Chairman and a Trustee of the Wairarapa Sports Education Trust and Chair of the Lakeview School Board of Trustees.

Nick has been a resident of the Wairarapa region for over 20 years and joined the WBS Board in 2017. Nick previously worked for DB Breweries in various management, commercial and marketing roles for 17 years before deciding to run his own businesses, including ownership of the Tui Brewery HQ, the Monteith’s Brewery Experience and The White Swan Hotel in Greytown. Nick is affiliated with Greytown Country Village Heaven, Rathkeale Foundation, My Trucking and the New Zealand National Aviation Centre. He has also served numerous terms on the boards of Castlepoint Station, Destination Wairarapa and Wings Over Wairarapa.

Brett joined the Board in 2023. He has been a director and shareholder of local accountancy practice Lawson Avery Limited since 2016, where he supports his clients with a wide range of accounting, tax and advisory services. Brett’s client base is made up of a large number of agriculture and viticultural customers, as well as property investors and small to medium businesses. Before his time with Lawson Avery, Brett held roles in the telecommunications, energy and investment banking sectors and worked at top four accounting practices in both Wellington and London. Brett has a keen interest in business growth and using technology to improve systems and efficiencies within businesses. He has completed the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme, holds a number of trusteeships and is a director for Wings over Wairarapa.

Sarah has made a home in Martinborough since 2022 and was appointed to the Board of WBS in September 2024. A lawyer by training, Sarah’s passion is international trade, beginning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and leading to roles with Meat and Wool NZ and Fonterra, both in New Zealand and Europe. In 2015, Sarah established her own consulting business with a focus on the primary sector. Sarah is currently on the boards of Landcorp Farming Limited (Pāmu), New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Kiwifruit New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board. She is also a member of the New Zealand Army Leadership Board, Board Chair of Inter-weave Limited and a trustee of the Who Did You Help Today Trust.

Felicity became a Board member in January 2025. She is an experienced independent director specialising in human resources, organisational change and executive leadership. Felicity’s current directorships include: Deputy Chair GNS Science Limited, Chair of ANZ National Staff Superannuation Ltd, Chair and Trustee of Endometriosis New Zealand. Felicity is also a member of DESC (NZ Defence Employer Support Council). Prior roles include: Global Women, EEO Trust (now Diversity Works), Board Advisor to Dignity NZ, member of the State Services Commission Audit and Risk Committee. Felicity has significant executive experience as the ANZ Human Resources Executive for New Zealand and Pacific Islands. She has led major change, and merger and acquisition projects, both in NZ and globally. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Felicity is a Chartered Member of NZ Institute of Directors (CMInstD), an Associate of the Bankers Institute of New Zealand (ABINZ) and member of Global Women. She is a strong advocate for women in leadership.

Felicity once lived and worked in Masterton, and several of her family are based here. She also has a holiday home at Castlepoint.

Simon joined the Board in August 2025. He is a successful senior executive with over 25 years international experience. He brings to the Board a common-sense approach and significant commercial transformation and governance experience. Simon has a strong history in asset management and overseeing large debt and managed fund portfolios. Through this experience, he has an acute awareness of the risks and required oversight and management of these activities.

Simon was born and raised in a South Canterbury farming family and has bought up his own family in the greater Wellington region. His is currently consulting to the Electricity Retailers Association, providing strategic advice on their approach to the challenges facing the New Zealand electricity industry. He also serves as the Independent Chair of the Waitaki District Council Performance, Audit and Risk Committee and is therefore acutely aware of the infrastructure, regulatory, financial, social, and environmental challenges currently faced by regional New Zealand.