Our People

The Registered Master Builders Association is governed by a Board of highly experienced individuals from the building construction and wider industries. Our strong regional branch network of 23 branches includes six offices, and these are supported by the national support office based in Wellington.

Board of Directors

Nigel Smith (Chairman)

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.

Johnny Calley (National President)

Johnny Calley joined the RMBA Board in 2017 and elected president in 2022. 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.  

Kieren Mallon (Vice President)

Kieren Mallon was appointed to the Board in 2017. 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.

Kerry Archer

Kerry Archer was appointed to the Board in 2014.

Kerry’s has over 24 years’ experience in the construction industry and is Managing Director of Archer Construction and of Rapid Rooms Limited. Kerry’s company has been a member of Master Builders for over 33 years and served on the Southland Branch Executive in positions culminating in the role as President from 2012-2014. Kerry is also a Trustee for the Borland Lodge Adventure Trust. 

Kerry has extensive involvement in all aspects of construction business and brings skills in developing future strategic direction and planning. 

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.

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 Senior Project Manager 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.

Tony Pexton

 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 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.

Darrell Trigg 

Darrell became a Director of Master Builders in 2014 and he was President 2018-2020. Darrell has been involved in the building industry self-employed for over 26 years is Managing Director of Trigg Construction Limited. 

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. 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

Senior Leadership Team

David Kelly

David Kelly is the Chair of the Construction Industry Council, as well as being Chief Executive of the Registered Master Builders Association since 2014.   

Prior to taking up his current role, David was a Deputy Chief Executive for the Department of Building and Housing and subsequently Director of the Canterbury Recovery Programme for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.  In those roles, David was extensively involved in the Government’s response to the Canterbury earthquakes from day one, including establishing the technical investigation into major building collapses, which provided key technical information to the Royal Commission.  He also led the Building Act changes that were part of a package of reforms in the construction sector.  

Going back further, David held several senior roles in local government including that of Chief Executive of South Waikato District Council. David has a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Canterbury.

Chris Chainey

Chief Operating Officer

Ngaire Vanderhoof

Manager Marketing & Communications

Caroline Doube

Chief Financial Officer

Sarah Walker

Head of Advocacy and Strategy

Regional Service Managers

Peter Philipsen National Service Manager 0274 846 207
North Island:
Grant Hayes Regional Service Manager 0272 859 516 Area: Auckland (parts of West Auckland (north of Massey),  North Harbour, Northland		Faalepo Taei Regional Service Manager 027 480 4055 Area: Central, East and Southern Auckland
Karoha George Regional Service Manager 027 496 1050 Area: Gisborne, Taupo, Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatane, Hawkes Bay		Peter Philipsen National Service Manager 0274 846 207               Area: Waikato, Taranaki, Coromandel, Patea North .
Skipper Moewai Kotuhi Regional Service Manager 0274 574 146 Area: Whanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington, Kapiti
South Island:
Daniel O'Keeffe Regional Service Manager 027 472 2226 Area: Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast		Ian Butler Regional Service Manager 027 395 5749 Area: Ashburton, South Canterbury, Canterbury\
Leon Williams Regional Service Manager 027 395 5762 Area: Otago, Central Otago, Gore, Southland

 

Regional Branches

View contact details for our Branches and Regional Branch Office here.

National Support Office People

Accounts Team
Marketing Team
Events Team
Media Enquiries

Complaints

If you feel you have not been able to reach a satisfactory outcome, Registered Master Builders have engaged FairWay Resolution Limited, an independent, crown-owned company providing specialist conflict management and dispute resolution services to manage any serious concerns you may have with your Registered Master Builder. To contact FairWay please call 0800 77 44 02 or email build-disputes@fairwayresolution.com