Our governance boards

Our operations are governed by two boards of highly experienced individuals from the building and construction and wider industries.

On this page:

Registered Master Builders Association Board

The RMBA Board is responsible for governing our association.

Nigel Smith (Chairperson)

Nigel Smith has an extensive background in residential construction in New Zealand and has over 33 years of experience in the construction industry - from design and carpentry to estimating and project management. A Director and Franchisor for Milestone Homes, Nigel has owned a number of franchises as well as owning and running his own building company along with his wife Anna. 

Nigel has served on the local Executive of the Ashburton Registered Master Builders Association and has had a number of successful entries in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition, including winning national awards.

An experienced Director with a New Zealand Certificate in Architectural Design, Nigel is also a Director/Trustee of Construction Health and Safety New Zealand.

Kieren Mallon (President)

Kieren Mallon was appointed to the Board in 2017 and president in 2024. Kieren is currently  Managing Director of Meridian Construction and Meridian Joinery which have been operating since 1989 and 1998 respectively. He is a current Director of Fodera Panelling Systems, LoftHQ and Vitruvion.  Kieren is also a Board Director of The Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) and Marist Alternative Education Ltd.

Kieren brings over 30 years experience in the building construction industry and a proven track record in terms of Governance of organisatons. He has also been a long-standing Auckland RMBA Executive member then President from 2004-2017. Kieren brings skills in entrepreneurial strategy, business transition, policy development and reviews, compliance with policy and regulations, risk management and governance, financial acumen, and advocacy.  He has sat on a wide-range of construction industry advisory groups: Auckland Council, BRANZ, Site Safe, and the ACC Corporation (compliance and health and safety the focus) and Business Mentors New Zealand.

Kieren is a chartered member of the NZIOD.
 

Tony Pexton (Vice President)

Tony joined the RMBA Board in 2022 and is the director of TP Builders, a company of qualified builders who have been dedicated to producing high quality homes for their clients for well over 30 years. He is a past House of the Year entrant and category and supreme winner, entering homes in the competition from 1995 through to 2018. He is also a National House of the Year judge. 
 
Tony has been part of the Auckland executive since 2015 and was the Branch President for 3 years. He has been involved in the WOF process which he believes is a very important aspect of our membership system to ensure that we have a high standard of membership, and to ensure that our existing members are continuing to uphold the values and high standards of a Registered Master Builder.

Phil Brosnan 

Phil Brosnan joined the RMBA Board in 2023. Phil extensive career in construction has spanned over 30 years and he has also dedicated himself to empowering a diverse range of organisations in the business and not-for-profit sectors.

His construction career began in 1985, as an apprentice carpenter at Naylor Love where he advanced his career over 23 years before founding Brosnan in 2010 and Bettabuilt in 2014. He is a current director of the Brosnan and Bettabuilt group of companies, which have grown immensely, with national coverage and professional teams renowned for their expertise, efficiency, and integrity in construction.

Professionalism, commitment, and enthusiasm are three attributes credited to Phil's success, and these qualities shine in every aspect of his multifaceted role. Phil's passion lies in fostering excellence within the construction industry, with an overriding commitment to client success and the cultivation of long-term relationships that ensure the best possible outcomes.

Phil is also the deputy chair of the Building and Construction Trade Fund board. 
 

Gordon Buswell

Gordon Buswell has been an RMBA Director since 2014.

Gordon has more than 25 years’ experience in the building and construction industry. Gordon was a Deputy and Chairman of the Building Industry Federation as well as Construction Strategy Group, and a past Independent Director of IMPG.  

He is a chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors.

Prior to holding directorships Gordon was CEO of Independent Timber Merchants (ITM) for over 13 years and spent 12 years with Carter Harvey in senior financial, domestic and international marketing and strategy roles.

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.

Johnny Calley

Johnny Calley joined the RMBA Board in 2017 and was the RMBA President from 2022 - 2024. Johnny founded his company Calley Homes in the Bay of Plenty with wife Michelle in 2008.  Johnny is also a director of two other companies and founder/co-founder of a number of building and development companies. As well as extensive local industry knowledge and experience, he has worked in the UK for a number of years giving him an international perspective.

Johnny was the President of the Tauranga Registered Master Builders Association from 2015 to 2017 and prior to that was an Executive Member of the Tauranga branch. Johnny has significant professional experience and leadership accomplishments in business and business growth.  

Nick Clayton

Nick Clayton has been an RMBA Director since 2023. 

Originally from a trade background, Nick has significant experience in managing a variety of different construction projects and delivery models. He is also a director at Naylor Love. 

Liz de Kort

Liz de Kort was appointed to the Board in 2022. Liz has over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry as a client-side project manager. Liz originally worked in Horticulture attending Lincoln University and gaining a Diploma in Horticulture Management. After starting her family Liz took her career in a different direction beginning work as a project manager for a property developer. She’s worked for a broad range of organisations including the Foodstuffs supermarket cooperative, the Ministry of Education, the NZ Defence Force and most recently as a Project Director for Rubix Ltd.

Her construction experience includes big box retail, residential new builds, renovations and maintenance, leaky building remediation, and redevelopments in live environments. Construction projects in the education sector have been her main area of focus over the last 7 years.

Liz has been a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors since 2014. She holds a number of board positions on school, and sport and recreation boards.
 

Master Build Services Limited Board

Master Build Services Limited (MBS) provides the Master Build Guarantee and is governed by a separate Board.

Darrell Trigg (Chairperson)

A member of the Master Builders Association for over 20 years, Darrell was the Chairman of the Auckland Registered Master Builders from 2000 to 2013 and in 2022 became the Chairman of the Master Build Services (MBS) Board. Previously he was a Director of Construction Information Ltd, and is a current member of the RBMA Commercial Working Group. 

Darrell is a very active Chief Fire Officer at the Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade where he has served for over 29 years and is an Associate Member (by Examination) of the NZ Fire Brigade Institute, member of the NZ Institute of Building and the NZ Institute of Directors. 

Darrell is a trade qualified Carpenter and Licensed Building Practitioner; he  has extensive involvement in all aspects of construction business and brings skills in developing future strategic direction and planning, with a clear understanding of grass roots issues facing the industry. 

Darrell  brings skills in entrepreneurial strategy, business transition, policy development and reviews, compliance with policy and regulations, risk management and governance, financial acumen, and advocacy 

Richard Carver

Richard was appointed to the MBS Board in April 2018. Currently Richard is the Managing Director and Co-Owner of Jennian Homes and Milestone Homes nationwide group home builders. He is a Chartered Member of the  NZ Institute of Directors and also a Director of Construction Marketing Services Ltd (CMS) and ProductSpec Ltd.
 
Formerly Richard was a RMBA Board Director for 10 years, from 2005 to 2015. He was also the Chairman of Right House Ltd, Chief Executive of Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products and Chair of the Building Industry Federation. He was also CEO of Richmond Ltd and CE of Carters Building Supplies, a Division of Carter Holt Harvey, he was also Service and Finance Director of Masterfoods Australia.
 
Richard brings a wealth of commercial experience to the MBS Board, with a strong background in the building industry, finance, accounting and manufacturing. Richard also qualified as a Chartered Accountant, but is no longer a current member. 
 

Tania Smith

Tania was appointed to the Master Build Services Board in 2022. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Weta Workshop Limited. Tania has experience as a Finance and Corporate Services Executive and was also the Chief Financial Officer for Registered Master Builders from 2014 to 2018. She has a wide range of experience and skills including risk management and the development of organisation risk frameworks; the development and implementation of organisation policies; developing, driving, and achieving strategic goals and objectives supported by robust business planning and budgeting processes.
 
Tania has an audit background at KPMG before moving into senior finance and Chief Financial Officer roles in New Zealand and London in a range of entities across the private, not for profit and public sectors including Summerset and BCITO.  
 
She is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury, majoring in accounting. 

 

Phil Brosnan 

Phil Brosnan joined the MBS Board in April 2024. Phil extensive career in construction has spanned over 30 years and he has also dedicated himself to empowering a diverse range of organisations in the business and not-for-profit sectors.

His construction career began in 1985, as an apprentice carpenter at Naylor Love where he advanced his career over 23 years before founding Brosnan in 2010 and Bettabuilt in 2014. He is a current director of the Brosnan and Bettabuilt group of companies, which have grown immensely, with national coverage and professional teams renowned for their expertise, efficiency, and integrity in construction.

Professionalism, commitment, and enthusiasm are three attributes credited to Phil's success, and these qualities shine in every aspect of his multifaceted role. Phil's passion lies in fostering excellence within the construction industry, with an overriding commitment to client success and the cultivation of long-term relationships that ensure the best possible outcomes.

Phil is also the deputy chair of the Building and Construction Trade Fund board.