Speakers

In my 11^th year as General Manager of CMA CGM Group Agencies (NZ) Ltd. With the key multi trade coverage of New Zealand’s Import and Export trades.

Prior to this was led the Hapag Lloyd (NZ) Ltd organisation for 5 ½ years after the transition of Hapag Lloyd acquisition of CP Ships being the recognisable brands of ANZDL and Contship Containerlines prior to this.

Held senior roles in these organisations across Sales, Commercial and Trade positions.

Gained three years’ experience in Ipswich UK with Contship Container Lines firstly in a Southbound pricing role on the Round the World OSCL service before moving into a Assistant Trade Manager role with them following and acquisition of Pro Line’s Europe-South America service.

With Liner shipping experience spanning 35 years.

Blair oversees port operations, customer services and new business opportunities.He joined the company in July 2020 after 20 years at Zespri International, the world’s largest kiwifruit marketer. Blair held a variety of senior roles at Zespri, including Global Commercial Manager and Chief Global Supply Officer.

Blair is a former chartered accountant.

He serves as a Director on Quality Marshalling and Timaru Container Terminal Limited’s Boards.

Dominic was appointed as Representative of PhilaPort for Australia and New Zealand on July 1st 2024.

Based in Sydney, Australia, Dominic is responsible for promoting The Port of Philadelphia as a key container port connecting Oceania with the USA since the early 1950s. Whilst a mature trade, Dominic is tasked with seeking out all further opportunities to enhance Philadelphia’s status as the key commercial port for Australia/New Zealand.

Dominic had 32 years of shipping experience with Hamburg Sud/Maersk, primarily in trade, allocation and area management as well as new service developments. In that time, he lived and worked in the UK, South America (Chile 1991), Miami (1994-2005) before moving to Sydney as Regional Product Manager in 2005 and where the OC1/’Trident’ service between Oceania and Philadelphia occupied a key position. After the acquisition by Maersk he remained in trade management, taking on the Reefer Vertical position for the Asia-Pacific region.   In 2021 he left Maersk and began working part-time as an advisor for the strategic advisory firm (MPC International) specialising in the global supply chain sector, additionally coordinating as Secretary the Australian Coffee Traders’ Association (ACTA – Australia’s leading industry association covering coffee roasters and traders as well as associated services) and finally developing his own company offering classic car transport services.

Dominic assists local companies in finding solutions to their trade needs when shipping to/from the dynamic East Coast markets and the Port of Philadelphia as its strategic gateway.

Billy Clemens is the Head of Policy & Advocacy at Transporting New Zealand, a national road freight association. 
Billy is responsible for Transporting New Zealand’s government relations and sector advocacy, with a particular focus on freight efficiency, workforce development and multi-modal transport. 
Recent projects include the 2025 Road Freight Survey & Workforce Report, responding to port price increases and lagging productivity, and developing a suite of proposed changes to Land Transport Rules alongside other industry groups and stakeholders.
Previously a senior advisor at Police National Headquarters and solicitor in Simpson Grierson’s public law team, Billy has a broad range of experience in public and private sector advocacy.

Matthew Brown is the Commercial Director of Compliant Business Processing and Compliant Customs NZ & AU, where he has led commercial strategy and growth since 2018. With a strong background in operations, client relations, and business transformation, Matthew plays a pivotal role in driving commercial success across both organizations.

 

Throughout his tenure, Matthew has been instrumental in expanding market reach, optimising performance, and delivering tailored offshored & outsourced solutions to clients in the logistics and customs sectors. His strategic mindset and hands-on leadership style have helped forge long-term partnerships and position the business as a trusted leader in compliance-focused service delivery - both in the BPO space & customs services.

 

With a career defined by innovation, accountability, and results, Matthew thrives in complex, evolving environments. He is passionate about aligning business goals with customer outcomes, championing both efficiency and integrity in service delivery.

 

Matthew’s leadership extends beyond the commercial realm—he values team development, transparent communication, and continuous improvement. He remains focused on future-ready strategies that deliver measurable impact across New Zealand, Australia and beyond.

Logan is a seasoned commercial leader with over a decade of delivering world-class technology to logistics companies worldwide. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Sales at BravoTran, the leading end-to-end accounting automation solution tailor-built specifically for freight forwarders.

Working with hundreds of forwarders across 55+ countries, he and his team helps optimize best-class AP and operational processes -- resulting in significant time/labor savings, cash flow cycle enhancements, and ultimately higher profitability per shipment.

We look forward to learning more about his perspective on the critical role technology is playing to take logistics to the next level.

Jared Nicholson is the manager of New Zealand Customs Intelligence. Customs Intelligence provides intelligence advice and services to make our country safer and more secure by managing the risks associated with the international movement of goods and people.

Prior to this, Jared’s career has been predominately operationally focused, having undertaken duties as a front-line Customs Officer, a Drug Investigator and leadership roles at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand’s major international arrival hub.

Continued experience as the Manager of the Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre has seen Jared become highly experienced in the requirements of international operations, risk, intelligence and targeting disciplines, culminating in his being selected for his current role.

Jared was born in New Zealand, raised in Canada and attended the University of Providence, Great Falls, Montana, USA. Jared returned to his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand in 2002, joining the New Zealand Customs Service in 2003.

A career Customs Officer, Bruce has over 40 years experience spanning across investigations, intelligence, maritime, cargo and airport operations, which provides for an extensive experience base in Customs’ processes and in the investigation of serious border related criminal offending.

Currently Bruce is Manager for Customs Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre with this role pivotal in managing risk, while balancing facilitation of legitimate trade and travel.

Bruce has presented to this forum previously and remains a strong proponent on the need for developing trusted partnerships and increasing information sharing between government agencies and industry to combat the increasing presence of transnational and serious organised crime and the challenges these pose to border systems and the very real risk for industry operations

Billie is the Chief Executive of the NZ Airports Association, the industry association for New Zealand’s airports and related businesses. Its members operate 49 airports around the country and support a safe, sustainable and resilient aviation network for Aotearoa.

A former diplomat, Billie worked for Labour and National Ministers in foreign affairs and trade positions in the Beehive from 2008-2014. She served as New Zealand’s Consul-General to New South Wales and Queensland from 2015-2019 before returning to Wellington to lead government relations for Tourism New Zealand. She has also held the role of Chief Advisor at the Ministry for the Environment.

Paul Smith is a Partner at EY, leading the firm's Global Trade practice in New Zealand and co-leading the EY’s Global Trade practice across Oceania.

With over 30 years of experience, Paul is a prominent adviser in New Zealand, specializing in Customs, Excise, and International VAT. His background experience includes Australia, Europe and Asia Pacific

Before joining EY in 1998, Paul held roles at HM Customs & Excise and served as an internal adviser for Richard Branson at Virgin Management Limited in London.

Currently, Paul advises some of New Zealand’s largest exporters on their responses to US tariffs.

Carolyn Tremain has over 30 years' experience leading large, complex service delivery organisations, and substantial change management programmes. 
She is currently the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).  The Ministry’s purpose is to ‘Grow New Zealand for all’, with its role to create better outcomes for all New Zealanders, particularly by supporting business growth.  
In addition to her MBIE responsibilities, Carolyn is a ‘Guardian’ of the Aotearoa Circle Board; and a member of the Climate Change Chief Executives’ Board; the Border Executive Board; and the Victoria University of Wellington Business School Advisory Board. 
Prior to joining MBIE, Carolyn held the roles of Chief Executive and Comptroller at the NZ Customs Service; and Deputy Commissioner Service Delivery and Deputy Commissioner People, Capabilities, and Governance at Inland Revenue – where she was responsible for frontline service delivery functions and the integration of new government programmes. 
Earlier in her career, Carolyn worked for Air New Zealand where she was head of the Human Resources and Organisational Change for the Air New Zealand Group. 
Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University, Wellington.