Stephen Franks is a Wellington-based public law practitioner; long-time small forest investor, and former MP.  He was appointed as Board Chair in 2021 to replace the founding Chair Geoff Thompson on his retirement.  Stephen's background also includes managing or advising beekeeping, meat and dairy businesses and institutional reform.

Peter Davies-Colley - Less than 1,000ha representative (Elected October 2025)

Peter has been a member of New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) for over 40 years, and formally chaired the Forest Growers Levy Trust Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Committee.

He has worked across the full forest industry supply chain - from forest and harvest management to harvesting and sawmilling – with a particular focus on supporting small-scale forest growers.

Peter is a director of The Tree People Limited, his management company. He and his wife Nikki own their own forest and farm and have been levy payers on numerous occasions. He has had a long involvement in forest research and innovation, from the early collaboratives and cooperatives at the Forest Research Institute through to current research into harvesting innovation.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey University and is a long-time member of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.

Bert Hughes - Less than 1,000ha representative (Elected October 2021)
CEO and Forestry Director at Forest Enterprises Growth Limited (FEG).

Bert is also a shareholder in FEG. FEG’s subsidiary, Forest Enterprises Limited (FEL) is a licensed Managed Investment Scheme manager offering investment in forests. FEG manages over 65 forests comprising 32,000 hectares for investors. FEL represents over 6,500 essentially small forest owners. FEG harvests about a million tonnes of logs and replants more than 1,500 hectares pa.

He is a Registered Forester with the NZ Institute of Forestry and a Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors and has the NZCF (Ranger Training) and a BBS (Massey).

Philip Taylor - Greater than 1,000ha representative
Managing Director, Port Blakely.

As Managing Director of Port Blakely’s New Zealand Forestry Division, Phil Taylor oversees the strategic direction of the company’s forestry, essential oils, barge and carbon operations across New Zealand.

With more than four decades in the forestry industry, he brings deep knowledge of the full forestry value chain.

Phil serves on the Forest Growers Levy Trust and is a member of the Executive Council of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, where he previously served as President. He is a respected voice in national forestry strategy, climate resilience, and research investment.

Phil holds a New Zealand Certificate in Forestry and a Bachelor of Forestry Science (First Class Honours) from the University of Canterbury. A Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, he was named New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) Forester of the Year in 2013. 

David Cormack - Greater than 1,000ha representative

CEO Wenita Forest Products Ltd

David assumed his current role with Wenita in 2009. After graduating from the University of Canterbury School of Forestry, he has taken on various senior roles in forestry, encompassing marketing, woodflow and forest management.

He is a Registered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry and also belongs to the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

David contributed his expertise to the New Zealand Forest Owners National Executive Council for six years and chaired its Biosecurity Committee up until 2019.

He lives in Dunedin with his wife Kirstin and loves the outdoor lifestyle that Otago has to offer.

Chris Barnes - Greater than 1,000ha representative (Elected October 2025)
Manulife Managing Director, New Zealand Timberland Operations

Chris Barnes is the Managing Director of Manulife Forest Management (NZ), where he leads the strategic and operational performance of Manulife’s forestry assets across New Zealand.

Chris began his forestry career in silvicultural research in Tasmania before progressing into operational leadership. He has since held senior management positions across Australia and New Zealand, leading large-scale temperate and subtropical forestry estates.

Chris is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) and serves on the Executive Council of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA). He is the Chair of AVA Timber, a joint venture log export business between Matariki Forests and Manulife.

Lees Seymour - Greater than 1,000ha representative (Elected October 2025)

Lees Seymour brings more than 40 years’ experience in the forest and wood products sector – from planting trees through to chief executive roles – as well as extensive international expertise. He has deep experience working with mana whenua, strong commercial and risk management skills and a long track record of creaing value across the forestry supply chain.

Lees also brings significant governance capability, having served as a director of profit and non-profit organisations within and beyond the industry for more than 15 years. He is chair of the Cawthron Institute, New Zealand’s largest private research organisation, which focuses on excellence in H1, H2 and H3 research and works with the marine and seafood sectors to mitigate risk, increase value and commercialise high-impact ideas and technologies for industry benefit.

He has strong connections in Te Ao Māori, working closely with Māori landowners, who collectively own the largest area of forest land in Aotearoa. He serves on the board of Ngā Pou ā Tāne and is currently supporting Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation as they harvest the second rotation of their whānau-owned forest.

Lees has also experienced the full cycle of forestry at a personal level, recently seeing a woodlot he planted with friends 34 years ago harvested. He has contributed extensively to industry organisations including NZFOA, NZ Wood and NZFIC.

He is proficient in Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga and holds a Bachelor of Forest Science from the University of Canterbury and a Master of Business Administration (Distinction) from Massey University. He has also studied at INSEAD in France and Stanford University in the United States.

Lees is passionate about an industry with immense potential that is often under-appreciated – and looks forward to helping change that through the work of the Forest Growers Levy Trust.

Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Hoturoa te tangata
Ko Pirongia te Maunga
Ko Kāwhia moana te moana
Ko Ngāti Hikairo te iwi
Ko Waipapa te marae
Tihei mauri ora!