About us

Business Central is a membership association providing a wide range of services for members and clients. Our members range from major corporations to sole traders, and we represent over 3,600 organisations from Tairāwhiti Gisborne to Nelson.

We offer:

AdviceLine (0800 800 362), a member-exclusive service, where employers can get advice on employment issues free of charge during a 10-minute conversation with one of our expert consultants from 8am-8pm Mon-Thu and 8am-6pm Fri
Human resources, employment relations, and legal consulting services for all stages of the employment life cycle
Health and safety experts available to work with your organisation in any capacity
Training courses and conferences at locations from Gisborne to Nelson on topics as far ranging as personal development to business compliance
International trade and export support
Business development opportunities and networking events, sponsorships, and member-to-member marketing
Advocacy and representation working alongside Business New Zealand and the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce to bring your voice to government

Business Central is the home of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. We are a proud member of the Business New Zealand Network as well the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce.

If you have any questions, one of our relationship managers is happy to help.

Amanda Wood

Acting Chief Executive

Amanda Wood is currently Acting Chief Executive of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Business Central, where she also serves as Member Services Manager, leading learning and development, events, international trade, and a number of thought leadership initiatives.
Amanda has over a decade of executive leadership experience and 25 years in business planning, project management, and team development. She has managed complex projects and led teams through change.
She brings leadership experience from a range of organisations, including ANZ, Outward Bound, and the Motor Trade Association. Amanda believes her greatest successes come from collaborating with diverse groups—organisations, government agencies, and communities—to achieve shared goals.
She currently sits on the Industry Stakeholder Group for Hanga-Aro-Rau and is a member of the Women in Automotive Consortium.
Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University and has completed advanced training in negotiation and leadership, as well as The Leadership Mindset Programme through the Auckland School of Business.
Kristy Martin

Corporate Affairs & Advocacy Manager

Kristy Martin is our Corporate Affairs and Advocacy Manager, leading our work in policy, government relations, media engagement and strategic communications.
Kristy brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors, including senior communications roles at ANZ, Sky TV and major infrastructure projects in the UK. She has also served as Press Secretary to Government Ministers, and the Leader of the Opposition.
Her background spans government, corporate communications and media relations, both in New Zealand and the UK. This broad experience gives Kristy a deep understanding of how government, business and media intersect.
Kristy is passionate about helping businesses have a voice in the issues that matter. She brings sharp insight, strong networks and a practical approach to her work with our members and stakeholders.
Kacie Lewton

Executive Assistant

Kacie Lewton serves as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive, and is essential to ensuring the smooth and efficient running of our organisation.
With over a decade of experience in the legal sector, Kacie brings a calm and diplomatic style to her fast-paced work. Through her experience in senior administrative support roles, she has a deep understanding of what’s needed to keep a busy organisation operating at its best.
Kacie’s professional approach and strong relationship-building skills make her a steady and effective presence, and she is committed to delivering high-quality support across all areas of the business.
Amanda Liddle

Regional Manager, Hawke’s Bay

Amanda Liddle is our ExportNZ Executive Officer for Hawke’s Bay, working closely with exporters in the central region to support their international growth and advocate for their interests.
Amanda has led ExportNZ in the region since 2012, bringing deep knowledge of trade, business development and the unique challenges faced by exporting firms. She previously worked in economic development at the Hawke’s Bay REDA, helping businesses grow and connect with new opportunities through various government funding arms including NZTE and Callaghan Innovation, along with running a specialised Export unit.
Earlier in her career, Amanda held senior finance roles in London for several years, including at global firms Merrill Lynch and WPP. This commercial background gives her a strong understanding of business from the inside out.
Amanda thrives in helping Hawke’s Bay companies succeed on the world stage. Her practical, business-focused approach and strong regional networks make her a trusted partner to exporters across the region.

Our Board

Greg Pollock

Chair of Business Central

Greg Pollock has 30 years’ experience in business and leadership roles. He currently runs Agite Consulting in Wellington, a consulting business which specialises in transport, infrastructure and public policy practice and advises clients on how to deliver critical urban development and infrastructure projects.

Greg has had several CEO and C-suite roles in large organisations over the last 12 years, including in professional services and public transport operations. He lives in Wellington and is keen to see a revival in the economic fortunes of the lower North Island and believes the business community has a critical role in leading that revival.

Siah Hwee Ang

President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce

Siah Hwee Ang is Professor of International Business and Strategy and Professorial Chair in Business in Asia at Victoria University of Wellington. He is also the Director of New Zealand’s Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence. He has been a strong supporter of our Export NZ initiatives.

Before joining Victoria University of Wellington, Siah was Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Auckland Business School and continues to be a Visiting Professor to a few Asian universities.

Chad Johnston

Chad Johnston is Managing Director of AV Media, which partners with premium venues across New Zealand to offer seamless execution of conferences and events. Chad was previously the Area General Manager of Rydges Wellington Hotel, having worked with the Rydges brand for over 17 years.

In addition to his current role with Business Central, Chad is also on the board of the Te Awe Wellington Māori Business Network, a non-profit organisation established in 1996 and a key partner of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Wellington Pasifika Business Network, together known as the Power of Three.

Nic Smith

Professor Nic Smith is Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington. He joined VUW in January 2023 after holding professorial appointments as the Provost at Queensland University of Technology, Dean of Engineering at the University of Auckland, Head of Biomedical Engineering at King's College London, and Professor of Computational Physiology at the University of Oxford.

In addition to these academic leadership roles, Nic has been a director for Auckland Uni Services Limited and Chaired the Business Development and Commercialisation Board for Queensland University of Technology. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of directors and a fellow of the New Zealand Royal Society and Engineering New Zealand.

Jenna Raeburn

Jenna Raeburn is GM Corporate Affairs at Wellington Airport. Jenna joined the Wellington Airport team in 2019 and is primarily responsible for regulatory and legal compliance, government and community relations, communications and sustainability.

Her background is in politics with a foundation in law and economics. She also has extensive government relations experience across a range of sectors including transport, technology, e-commerce and infrastructure.

Jonathan (Jonno) Tulitt

Jonno Tulitt is Managing Director of Snorkel New Zealand, which was up until recently manufacturing elevated work platforms, but has transitioned to solely distributing and supporting Snorkel products within New Zealand. Jonno currently serves on the Snorkel Board and is a Board Member of the Elevated Work Platform Association (EWPA) of New Zealand.

Jonno started his career in the Royal New Zealand Airforce as a teenager, training and qualifying as an Armament Technician. Following the RNZAF, Jonno moved into the rail sector, first in London as an Operations and Depot Manager, then returning to New Zealand to manage rail operations in Auckland and Wellington. Jonno is excited to share his knowledge of operations and business strategy with the Business Central Board and further complement the great work that is already being undertaken.

*The provenance of a 160 year operating history is sometimes reflected in our governance structures. A unique feature of Business Central is that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce has a special place with our constitution. This means that our governing Council reserves a permanent role for the President of the Chamber of Commerce