If you would like to communicate with the board – please use the newly created address at:  avoboard@nzavocado.co.nz

We also encourage you to inform us if there are other channels which would enhance communications such as email and Facebook.

Alistair Young

NZAGA Chair, NZAGA Executive, South & NZAIL Director

Email alistair.young@nzavocado.co.nz | Mobile 0274929486 |

Anna St george

NZAGA Vice-chair, NZAGA Executive North & NZAIL Director

Email anna@jordanstgeorge.co.nz | Mobile 021 654 926 |

Andrew Darling

NZAGA Executive South & NZAIL Director

Email andrew@darlinggroup.co.nz | Mobile 021 497 666 |

Carol Palmer

NZAGA Executive South & NZAIL Director

Email caroljpalmer24@gmail.com | Mobile 021 992 006 |

Blair Morris

NZAGA Executive North & NZAIL Director

Email Blair@spl.nz | Mobile 027 525 2560 |

Jim Tarawa

AVEC Representative & NZAIL Director

Jim joined the NZ Avocado Board in 2018 as an AVEC Representative. Jim works as the Avocado & Subtropical Program Manager at Freshmax NZ Ltd and has a wealth of longstanding knowledge across the horticulture sector. He has specifically been involved with avocados in the post-harvest and export sectors for over 22 years.

Email | jtarawa@freshmax.co.nz Mobile 027 274 7076 |

Ben Lay

AVEC Representative and NZAIL Director

Ben has exported both fresh and processed New Zealand produce for more than fifteen years and have been involved with a wide range of categories over this time.

Since 2022 he has worked for the NZ Avocado Collective as Global Sales Manager, managing our export trade into Asian and Rest of World markets although his experience in marketing avocados goes back more than ten years.

Being a part of the NZ avocado sector remains as one of the most satisfying experiences of his career and really motivates him to make a positive contribution to our industry.

The focus of his experience in the produce industry has been in the Asian markets, which will be the main engine for future growth and development of our industry. Ben has previously lived in Japan and have a deep interest in not only this market but those in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Having the opportunity to serve as an exporter representative on the NZAIL board and being a part of our industry’s strategic planning and implementation is a privilege and one which Ben is thoroughly looking forward to.

Email | Ben@nzavocadocollective.nzMobile 021 477 108|