Meet the team.
The Gisborne Chamber of Commerce is governed by a voluntary Executive Committee who are elected yearly.
Our current committee members are Tessa Allan, President (Owner WorkAble and ProTraffic ), Amanda Cook (Rothbury Insurance Brokers), Matt Hodges, Tim Tietjen and Jeremy Muir (Director/Editor The Gisborne Herald)
The Gisborne Chamber would love to hear from anyone who is interested in joining the Executive Committee. You need to be a financial member of the Chamber, and available to attend bi-monthly meetings to discuss the Chamber's activities and help shape our advocacy on behalf of the local business community. If this sounds like you, please get in touch by emailing chamber@gisborne.org.nz
Tessa Allan
PRESIDENT
Tessa Allan was born in Gisborne and moved back in 2016 with her three children and husband Kurt. Owner of WorkAble and ProTraffic alongside Kurt, she is passionate about local businesses and seeing them succeed. Tessa joined the Chamber in 2021 and was recently nominated as President. She is also a board member of Central School.
Being a part of the Chamber since 2021, Tessa has seen how challenging operating a business can be in these uncertain times. She looks forward to being a voice for local businesses and supporting them going forward.
Tessa has considerable experience in the health sector, completing her Bachelor of Nursing in 2001 and most recently a Post-graduate Diploma in Occupational health and safety. Working within Occupational Health has given her insight into the current health issues our workers in Tairawhiti are facing. Helping businesses improve health outcomes is Tessa’s passion and something she wants to advocate for as a voice for local businesses.
Amanda Cook
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Amanda Cook has been in the insurance industry since 2009 working for IAG in several roles before making the move to the broking world as a commercial broker for Aon in 2014. Amanda then moved to Rothbury Insurance Brokers helping establish their presence in Gisborne when the office opened in May of 2021. Amanda has been enjoying focusing on growing her footprint in Gisborne while supporting her clients with their insurance needs, she really enjoys watching local businesses thrive and is excited to be able to contribute to local business in a meaningful way by joining the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce.
Jeremy Muir
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Jeremy Muir is editor and a director of The Gisborne Herald and The Wairoa Star. He is a sixth-generation New Zealand newspaperman, fifth generation in Gisborne where an ancestor bought a 50 percent stake in the then Poverty Bay Herald in 1884.
Jeremy joined the chamber executive about 15 years ago, initially to build his knowledge of the Tairawhiti business community and to see what he could do on the chamber and at The Herald to support economic growth in the region.
He most enjoys being involved in successful advocacy - a highlight was helping to convince the council to support a standalone economic development agency for Tairawhiti.
Matt Hodges
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Matt Hodges is a local Gizzy boy who worked in Europe and North America in technology, banking and financial services for over a decade before moving home in 2011. With the mindset that he wanted to choose where to live and build a business around that, rather than letting his work choose his home, Matt drew on his overseas experience to establish a leading digital asset and mortgage brokerage based in Gisborne. He is committed to the East Coast region and believes that there is significant scope to build on our strengths and capabilities. Matt will challenge the status quo and propose practical solutions to the Chamber that support the full spectrum of the local business community – from forestry, farming and horticulture to fintech, manufacturing and innovation.
Tim Tietjen
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Tim is a fifth generation horticultralist on the Poverty Bay flats where he grows Kiwifruit, Avocados and Citrus across multiple orchards. Tim worked as a Geologist in the Australian mining industry for over a decade before returning to the orchard in New Zealand with his young family in 2018.
Tim represents kiwifruit growers as the NZKGI Grower Representative for Gisborne and also Gisborne growers as the Vice President of the Tairawhiti Growers Association. Tim believes that the Tairawhiti region has a vast amount of untaped potential waiting to be unlocked and that effective advocacy will help to drive positive change for people in the region.
