About the WIDE Trust
The Wood Industry Development and Education (WIDE) Trust is a charitable trust established in 2018 with the mission to support development and education in the forestry and wood industry sectors through the provision of grants and scholarships to New Zealand students and institutions.
Our focus is on supporting initiatives that align with the objectives of the Trust, and we welcome applications from a variety of applicants including students, academic institutions, business entities and industry associations.
The WIDE Trust is committed to making a positive impact in the forestry and wood industry sectors, and we believe that by investing in the education and development of the next generation of leaders, we can drive positive change in these industries.
If you are interested in applying for funding, please visit our application page to submit your application through our convenient online process.
Our People
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Trustee
John's career spans 30 years in senior finance, management and board positions at Fletcher Challenge Limited from which he retired in 2002 . He has considerable international experience in management, corporate governance best practice and as a director and audit committee member of private and publicly listed companies.
He is also a Trustee of The Fletcher Building Employee Educational Fund.
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Trustee
Ian is the CEO of Ontario Teachers Pension Plan NZ Forest Investments Limited (OTPP NZ) where he has responsibilities for forestry and agricultural investment in New Zealand. He has previously held senior executive roles across the primary sector in New Zealand, including Joint Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of Fletcher Challenge Forests, Managing Director of Wrightson Limited, General Manager of Zespri Global Supply, and CEO of Te Arawa Group Holdings.
Ian spent over four years living in Santiago, Chile as CEO managing the Fletcher Challenge forestry and pulp and paper investments in Chile and Brazil. He is a past Director of OTPP NZ, the NZ Government Tertiary Education Commission, and Infracore. In addition to his role as a Trustee of the NZ Wood Industry Development and Education Trust (WIDE Trust, Iane is currently a Director of AustOn Corporation Pty Limited (Chair), Port Marlborough NZ and Te Arawa Group Holdings (Chair).
Ian has a Bachelor of Forestry Science from Canterbury University, and has attended executive programs at Stanford and Wharton University.
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Trustee
Chris is an independent Trustee of the WIDE Trust.
Previously, Chris was Principal of Rotorua Boys’ High School, Rotorua New Zealand, appointed in 1991 following a six-year term as Deputy Principal of Wesley College in Pukekohe, New Zealand. He retired from Rotorua Boys' High School in July 2024
In 2005 Chris was awarded a Woolf Fisher Fellowship as an acknowledgement for his contribution towards encouraging excellence in educational leadership and ‘in-school’ practice in New Zealand. Chris is also a life member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby Union.
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Sociology from Canterbury University, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching from the Secondary Division of the Christchurch College of Education and an Honours Degree in Criminology from Victoria University.
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Trustee
Keith has a research background centred on wood chemistry. He worked with Forest Research Institute (now SCION) for 25years in various research areas (fibre board products, wood to energy, environmental) and in management roles. He was Chief Scientist between 1998 and 2003.
He was then appointed CEO of the first partnership consortium, WQI limited which delivered science and commercial outcomes for the forestry and wood processing sectors in NZ and Australia. WQI Limited finished operations in 2016 and provided Keith with extensive industry experience and knowledge of RS&T providers in Australasia.
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Trustee
Simon is Forestland Acquisitions Manager at Ingka Investments (IKEA), where he is responsible for forestland acquisition and strategic investment across New Zealand. His role spans forestland acquisition and downstream market development, with a focus on strengthening New Zealand's role within the global wood supply chain.
Throughout his career, Simon has worked across forestry operations, wood processing, investment and business development, complemented by active involvement across various industry groups. This experience provides a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand's forestry and wood processing sectors.
As a Trustee of the WIDE Trust, Simon brings an investment perspective alongside practical industry experience, supporting the Trust's mission to promote and advance New Zealand's forestry and wood industries through education, research, development and innovation.
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Fund Manager
In addition to her role as Manager of the Wood Industry Development and Education Trust, Sue also manages the Fletcher Building Employee Welfare Fund, Tenon Clearwood Employee Welfare Fund and Tenon Clearwood Employee Education Trust. She was also manager of the Fletcher Building Employee Educational Fund for 18 years.
In her earlier career Sue spent 12 years with Fletcher Challenge Ltd as Learning and Development Manager for the Building Products Sector and has also held a similar role with Fletcher Building in more recent years. Sue also has experience working in both private and corporate businesses in the areas of strategy development, business process improvement and the design of comprehensive learning strategies and initiatives. She has had experience running her own businesses and working with people in business so she can relate to the very real challenges people in business face and the need for on-going development of people. She has also undertaken training as a professional leadership coach.