Rob Marshall  - President

Rob Marshall is a Director of Cheal Consultants Ltd. Cheal Consultants is an engineering, survey and planning consultancy with offices in Taupo, Taumarunui, Ohakune and Feilding. Cheal was established in Taupo over 70 years ago and has helped to shape the District through its involvement in many private and community driven projects. Rob is a resource management planner, and with 13 years living and working in Taupo has extensive experience across the central north island.

He joined Cheal Consultants in 2001 and has been a Director since 2003. Rob is passionate about Taupo and is committed to assisting the Chamber of Commerce, with its vision to “…contribute to environmentally sustainable, economic and social growth for Taupo District”.

Murray Beadle  - Vice President

Murray Beadle, Senior Partner BNZpartners Taupo. I have lived and worked in Taupo since 1993, I am married to Maree and have two children Katie & Jonathon. 

Through my role within the BNZ I deal with a range of industry and business across the Central Plateau. 

Chris Dolman - Past President

Born and bred in Taupo, I have seen many changes over the past 52 years; from pumice roads, one set of traffic lights to the new ETA Progress! My children Chelsea and William were raised in Taupo enjoying quality education, sports and performing arts opportunities. Currently working at Waiariki Institute of Technology’s Taupo Campus as Regional Development Manager, I have the opportunity to ensure continued tertiary education provision at a local level.

Before this, I was Managing Director of Suncourt Shoes and Dolmans Footwear in retail for 10 years. Currently, Taupo Chamber of Commerce President (3 yrs), Taupo Youth Arts Trust Chair (3 yrs), Rotary Club member, Her Business Network member and awarded Most Outstanding Business Leader Award 2009, nationally. Past committee member of the Taupo Ski Club and Centrestage Taupo. 

Clinton Farley 

Awarded as a finalist for the International HCIMA New Zealand Hotel Manager of the year award in 2005, Clinton Farley is a well-rounded industry professional with experience in some of New Zealand’s largest hotels to luxury 5 * lodges and resorts. Having spent 7-years in Queenstown, Clinton relocated to Taupo in October 2009 to Manage Hilton Lake Taupo, Hilton’s 2nd New Zealand property and the regions only 5 Star hotel.

Clinton successfully lead his team in 2010 to achieve a finalist result at the Australasian HM Hotel awards as NZ regional hotel of the year and most recently awarded Best new hotel Australasia at the world travel awards.

Clinton brings to the region a wealth of tourism and hospitality experience and has held a number of senior management positions within the industry from Executive, Director of Sales and Marketing roles to Operations. Having founded and directed two successful companies in retail and marketing, Clinton is entrepreneurial and business minded as well as dynamic, energetic and a proactive self-starter.

Clinton enjoys networking, building strong mutually beneficial business relationships and supporting local community events, groups and associations with the ultimate goal of increasing Tourism to the region and placing Taupo on the map as one of New Zealand’s top tourist destinations. 

Paul Stewart 

I am a long term resident having moved to Taupo 37 years ago, after attending Auckland University.

I have owned and operated Mana Jade Creations Ltd for 34 years and been involved in many business activities including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, export / import and retailing.

Currently involved in the manufacture and distribution of New Zealand Made Souvenir Jewellery, including Greenstone, Paua Shell, Basalt and Black Onyx, targeting tourist markets, gift/gallery outlets and fine jewellery stores. We have recently undertaken a major investment in high tech equipment to enable our company to compete with the huge volume of imports and to expand on current export markets in the USA and Australia.

I see the Chamber of Commerce as a vital resource to assist with business development and using the global networks to expand export opportunities and am happy to assist others tap in to the available Chamber resources.

Business philosophy – Proud to be New Zealand Made  

Mark Aldridge

Mark Aldridge relocated to Taupo 17 years ago and joined Taupo Rigging & Safety Services. In 2006 he purchased the company, which services the forestry industry nationally with hauler wire ropes and rigging plus related logistical forestry products. Also known as Taupo’s safety shop.

Well known locally for his years of volunteer work with Tri Sport Taupo Mark has also been involved with Triathlon NZ and enjoys multisport events. Mark is involved with Business Mentors NZ and is Chairman of LEENZ (Lifting Equipment Engineers NZ).

“I am proud to represent the industrial sector with the Taupo Chamber of Commerce & Industry and feel passionate about ‘bridging the gap’ between the CBD and industrial sectors of our business community. I see Taupo Chamber of Commerce & Industry playing an essential role in the growth and development of our wonderfully unique community and look forward to the challenge of making other businesses aware of the support and resources the chamber has to offer”.

Penny Lyons 

After I completed a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Marketing and Tourism, it didn't take me long to get into the advertising arena, firstly with Telecom Yellow Pages, then a great move into Radio with Radioworks at the time as an account manager, I excelled and loved this challenge while dealing with clients expectations and providing solutions for their businesses. I had 5 years off to have my 2 children now 8 and 10, then returned into Radio as General Manager of Radioworks. 

In the last 7 years I have not only turned Radioworks Taupo into what it is today, an extremely powerful local medium , but also became a Regional Manager covering the Gisborne, Rotorua, and Coromandel areas, this helped me to share with businesses in Taupo, other ideas and solutions from other successful market sectors and businesses.

After years of working with Shop Taupo and now Town Centre Taupo we have provided many successful promotional ideas to help Taupo CBD to be as vibrant as it can in today's times. I was honoured to be nominated last year onto the board and feel my contribution is counted, and valuable. With Mediaworks undertaking outside the square community promotions like the Zero Risk King of the Ring Boxing and Taupos Biggest Loser raising over $165,000 for the local community, I think is enough of a testimonial that our heart is in the right place for our great town Great Lake Taupo.  

Nicky Hanshaw 

I moved to Taupo in 1999 after emigrating directly here from the UK with my husband and two children. I qualified as an accountant in the UK where I worked in a variety of areas initially training in insolvency and recovery through to audit work. I am now the owner of Simply Numbers who are Chartered Accountants and Accounting Software Consultants based in Richmond Heights.

 Simply Numbers was formed in June 2004 and we specialize in training and support for accounting software and are accredited consultants for MYOB, QuickBooks and Ostendo. Naturally we also provide full accountancy services for the small to medium size business throughout the central plateau region.

My children are now teenagers and I have enjoyed watching them grow up in the Taupo region enjoying everything it has to offer. Taupo is such a beautiful area and one we are proud to call home, our dog particularly enjoys swimming in the lake!

I feel that the Chamber of Commerce has a vital part to play in maintaining the strong community of Taupo and to continue to assist its growth and reputation.

Jeremy Bright 

Director and principal photographer of new commercial photography studio, grabb – FOR IMAGE EXCELLENCE, Jeremy knows the importance of working together in business, rather than being an “island”.

Working as a professional photographer for over 20 years, Jeremy brings a broad base of business experience. He has had “previous life” experience in agri-business both as a business owner and as a contracted manager. He is involved in education, in particular at The Waiariki Institute in the past few years and more recently all Taupo Colleges. He is also involved with community photography groups on a voluntary basis.

Jeremy moved to Taupo from the UK in 2003. As business owner he sees the Chamber playing an important role in continuing to support sustainable growth and development. In a wider context, with the world going through huge change and upheavals, it is important that businesses know there is support to help them weather the changes, and the Chamber is such a resource.