The Executive Board
The following elected business leaders make up the Executive Board for the Central Park Henderson Business association. Their commitment to the economic development of our West and effective governance of the association has been of great value to the business community.
Michael Powell – Chair
Tim Livingstone – Treasurer
In the 2016 New Years’ Honours, Tim was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the community. Retiring as a director at UHY Haines Norton in 2017, Tim was a Partner at UHY for over 30 years, including 10 years as Managing Partner of the practice. He continues to be involved at UHY on a consultancy basis.
“UHY has been a huge part of my life for the past 33 years,” says Tim. “The highlights have always been servicing such a varied and interesting client base, who have continued to challenge and stimulate me throughout my career. “It is with great pride that I have been part of the successes that many clients have achieved during these years.”
Tim has been a Trustee of the Waitakere City Stadium Trust (The Trust Arena) since 2004, and Chairman since 2016, and was Deputy Chair of Sport Waitakere among many other West Auckland entities. He is passionate about supporting the culture, heritage and community of West Auckland,
The West Auckland Business Club, the West’s premier business event and networking entity has been going for 30 years. As one of the driving forces, Tim with fellow CPHB board member Lawrence Ponniah, were instrumental in bringing the Club under the umbrella of this Association.
Scot Pearce – Secretary
Kelvin Armstrong
Kelvin opened Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs (KAAR) in 1994 in Avondale, and in 2011, branched out into Henderson. In 2012 he launched a specialist Mitsubishi franchise, also in Henderson.
Being an A grade mechanic, and having attended several industry and supporting business courses, Kelvin now primarily fills the role as CEO for the organisation which currently employs 16 staff.
KAAR has achieved several accolades, Westpac ‘Best Small Business’ of the year category, a Distinction Award for Service Quality, and Motor Trade Awards.
Kelvin has lived in West Auckland most of his life, now with wife Karen, they have three children aged 10, 17 and 20. Hobbies include walking, fishing and swimming.
“I have served on several boards, including Rosebank business Association (5 years), Auto Super Shoppes NZ (3 years), now with CPHB. I enjoy ‘giving back’ my time to both Business and the Community in our Wonderful West!”
Jamie Pickford
Jamie is the Senior Partner for BNZs Business and Commercial Banking team for West Auckland, and heads up a ten-strong team of Partners based in Henderson.
Jamie is also a career banker spanning over 20 years. He’s been at BNZ since 2011, and previously was with the old National Bank. Jamie originally started out as a part-timer whilst studying at Uni and never left the industry, having moved up through various roles before specialising in Business and Commercial banking since 2007. Originally from Dunedin, Jamie is a local, having lived in Te Atatu, and more recently Hobsonville since settling in Auckland in 2014.
The Henderson branch has been at its current location for 70 years. ‘We now have what we believe is the largest locally-based business banking team in West Auckland,’ he says. ‘The Business and Branch teams work collaboratively together to ensure customers are well supported and receive a seamless experience.’
Jamie nicely sums up the ethos of the BNZ business team when he says, ‘We’re local, we’re on the ground, we’re in the community, and we’re here to connect with you.’
Away from work Jamie enjoys family time, has an interest in American muscle cars, is an avid listener of heavy-metal, and unfortunately….a long-suffering Warriors supporter.
CPHBA is fortunate to have a senior business banker fulfilling the Board role and being a local, further adds benefit to the position.
Larissa Keil
Larissa is the Centre Manager at WestCity Waitakere for Colliers International NZ; Managers of the largest shopping centre portfolio in NZ.
With a diverse range of industry experience from commercial property investment and management, FMCG, manufacturing, professional services, import/export and distribution, Larissa has 25 years in financial management, asset management, operations & general management and multinational experience.
Having strategized for property investment portfolios, business recovery and growth, business and commercial property sales and acquisitions, property development and leasing and being a Certified Change Manager Larissa adds tremendous value to the CPHBA Executive.
“I love the heart and community in West Auckland and see this area as having a huge amount of potential and opportunity. Henderson can be improved in a well thought out and authentic way that celebrates the people, nature and history of this location”.
Interests include horse riding, family times, furry friends and being outdoors.
Nick Simmons
Nick Simmons is the Director and Manager for the Quest Apartment Hotels in Henderson and the CBD. He comes with twenty years’ experience within the hotel industry, 5-star hotels such as Shangri-La, Pullman, and Sofitel – also in other hotel environments such as casinos, conference hotels, golf courses, bush retreats and ski resorts.
Nick prides himself on being a leader with a proven ability to build highly effective teams who are dedicated to providing exceptional service delivery. Being grounded in the fundamentals of a quality experience for guests, he understands what it takes to be a great working partner in local business.
He has experience working on a number of advisory committees and associations. As a local to West Auckland, Nick enjoys spending time with his family and enjoys his role on the CPHBA board to bring the business community together.
Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones started his career as a Quantity Surveyor before moving on to Project Management and General Management in the construction industry.
Having worked in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, Stephen is now a Director and Shareholder of Canam, a group of construction related companies that have been established in West Auckland since 1955 and whose head office is based on Central Park Drive.
Stephen holds a MSc in Project Management, BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying and most recently completed the General Management Programme at Melbourne Business School.
Canam has had the privilege to construct some iconic projects in the community, such as the Waitakere Trust Stadium, Waitakere Civic Centre, Henderson Train Hub, and the Corban Green Community Facility to name a few. Stephen is now grateful for the opportunity to be part of CPHBA and help both local businesses and the community to thrive.
“Having lived and worked in West Auckland for over 10 years it is truly the place that I call home. Our son was born in the Waitakere Special Care Baby unit and now attends a local Catholic School and we feel a real connection to the area. With both my business and family settled in West Auckland I am focused on growing the community feel of the area, somewhere families feel safe to live and work, and a place that people want to visit for the fantastic facilities on offer”.
Lawrence Ponniah – Patron
Lawrence Ponniah barrister (35 years) with a broad range of general commercial and corporate litigation experience in New Zealand, Asia and the UK. Lawrence has links to a wide span across the business, political and community scene here in Auckland, NZ and Internationally.
With a Masters In Commercial Law (Honours) from The University of Auckland, in 2012 he travelled to Harvard University in Boston to complete a course in leadership. Lawrence completed his bar exams with The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, which is one of the four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong, and where they are called to the Bar.
A Trustee, together with fellow CPHB board member Tim Livingstone, of the West Auckland Business Club (WABC), Lawrence has put in years of efforts to create opportunities for businesses, particularly in the West, focusing on networking, cross selling and socialising.
As the former Managing Partner/Owner of a west Auckland law firm, Lawrence was instrumental in setting up CPHB and the Board has direct access to his wealth of experience, guidance and support.
“One of my goals in life is to make a positive difference to the lives of others. Accessing employment opportunities, we can provide a means for West Aucklanders to support a family to provide their children good prospects locally”.