Meet The Committee
President
Chris Linton 🇳🇿
Lawyer
Honorary Consul for Finland in Auckland
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Chris is a corporate / technology lawyer by trade, and a Celt by origin (her family hails from the Shetland Islands and Ireland – both with strong Viking connections).
Chris likes the Scandinavian approach to business, life, and family, and their outward-looking focus, finding that there are deep similarities between New Zealand and Scandinavia. Chris has advised Nordic companies on their business operations in New Zealand, and after meeting the Danish Trade Commissioner in 2005, she joined NZSBA.
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Her interests include family, swimming, and music.
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Email: chris.linton.nz@gmail.com
Tresurer
James Clague 🇳🇿
Founder & Funds Manager, Pacific Wealth Creators Ltd
A kiwi living in Tauranga, James founded Pacific Wealth Creators in 2000. NZSBA committee member since 2007 and past-President of 4 years.
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James met two long-time Swedish friends from Stockholm while backpacking Europe in 1988. This connection inspired an interest in the Nordic region - a region with a rich history of thinking independently and differently - and involvement with the NZSBA. From this have come friendships, knowledge, and connections.
Interests include value investing (naturally) running (slow), family and gardening.
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Vice President
Frank Olsson 🇸🇪
Former Swedish Honorary Consul of New Zealand
Chair of Auckland Chamber Orchestra
Frank has had a long career in banking, and he has lived and worked in seven countries.
Frank has a passion to bring people together and humanise business.
In addition to his long business career, Frank has written a book called "Learning to Dance - Corporate Style, how to humanise business and get more out of life", where he explains that by designing work to create personal pleasure and fulfillment for each and every team member moves us towards the state of dance rather than a slog.
Frank is a keen reader and tennis player.
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Email: frank@olsson.co.nz
Secretary
Jolene Gibbs Nielsen 🇳🇿
Business Development + Corporate Key Account Manager at Scan Global Logistics.
Jolene, a kiwi, has worked in the freight forwarding industry for approx. 25 years and ten of those years were spent working with Scan Global Logistics in Denmark.
During her time in Denmark, she married a Dane, learnt the Danish language, and enjoyed learning the Danish culture and traditions.
Jolene and her husband returned to New Zealand in 2014, where she continued to work with Scan Global Logistics, joined the Danish Association, and became a member of the NZ Scandinavia Association.
Interests include reading, gardening, and exploring our area in Kinloch (Taupo).
Email: jtgi@scangl.com
Committee Member
Linda Fransson 🇸🇪
International business development consultant
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After a couple of years abroad in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Linda is currently based in the Northern parts of Sweden together with her Kiwi partner and their two little boys. After her family's move to Scandinavia, she provides a valuable link to the region 'on the ground' for NZSBA.
Previously based at the Swedish Trade and Invest Council, Linda holds experience in strategic consulting and supporting companies to establish and grow internationally. With a passion for teamwork, she is excited to be a part of NZSBA to promote and facilitate networking and business opportunities between New Zealand and Scandinavia.
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Email: lindahelenfransson@gmail.com
Committee Member
Susanne Ingmar 🇸🇪
Runs Scandibunz, a bakery and lunch bar with Swedish roots in Milford, Auckland.
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With roots in Northern Sweden and a life-long obsession with food and culture from around the world, Susanne is alongside her British partner creating a bakery space serving mainly traditional Swedish treats and bringing a bit of 'lagom' to Auckland.
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Susanne found her place in New Zealand in 2011 after a few years of seeing the world, and she finds that New Zealand is just the perfect mix of British humour and Scandinavian focus on life-work balance. AND the nature is just amazing to boot.
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Interests other than food include family, traveling, reading, and exercise.
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Email: susanne@scandibunz.co.nz
Committee Member
Olli Lipsanen 🇫🇮
Olli is 56 years young, a software and metaverse sales leader, and a proud father of two adult boys.
Olli moved back to Finland from Auckland in 2021, but says he left at least half of his heart in beautiful Aotearoa, and so in 2022 he was 'super happy' to re-join NZSBA from his new base in Finland!
I love networking, innovative new business ideas, art, and happy people. My motivation to build the “bridge” for business and culture between our two countries, is very high!
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Olli, in addition to Linda, provides NZSBA with valuable insights and 'on the ground' connections in the nordic region and we are very happy to have him onboard again!
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Email: olli@projectum.com
Committee Member
Lisa Brouneus 🇸🇪
Lisa is from Sweden and immigrated to New Zealand in late 2008 after more than a decade in London.
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Lisa has spent the past 20 years or so working in financial services and investor relations in the UK and New Zealand and joined Milford as a Financial Adviser in Auckland in 2022.
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Lisa joined NZSBA in 2023 and is excited to reconnect with Nordic business and to help facilitate and promote partnerships between individuals and organisations in New Zealand and the Nordic region.
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Outside work Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, skiing and traveling, including returning to Sweden when she can to spend time with family and friends over there.
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Email: lisabrouneus@icloud.com
Committee Member
Finlay Stevens-Hunt 🇳🇿
Finlay, originally from Auckland, is a Freelance Senior Digital Product Strategist and Entrepreneur. He has worked with large corporates and tech start-ups both in Sweden and NZ. His passions are cycling, cross country skiing and writing.
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Email: finlay@lingon.co.nz
Committee Member
Sanna Rau 🇸🇪
Sanna leads strategic product development and design for organisations as a senior consultant. She has worked both for large organisations such as IKEA, ASB and MBIE, as well as small tech start-ups and emerging businesses in both Sweden and Aotearoa New Zealand. In her work she values sharing knowledge through mentoring aspiring designers and writing for the design community UX Collective.
There are good things about both countries, and Sanna wants to share the importance of understanding and learning from different cultures.
Sanna is a keen traveler (ideally by bicycle or train) and enjoys spending time outside, growing kai and repairing or making things.
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Email: sanna@lingon.co.nz
Committee Member
Mirka Ukkonen 🇫🇮
Mirka is from Finland, based in Auckland and has been going back and forth between New Zealand and Finland since 2019. Mirka has worked for the New Zealand and Finnish Governments and the European Commission. Her professional experience is in communications and stakeholder engagement, journalism, digital channels and content, leadership, and policy.
Mirka is a true globetrotter who has lived in six different countries. With a wide network of contacts in New Zealand, Finland and Europe, she is excited to support the growth and success of the NZSBA. Interests include travelling, languages, hiking, gym, dancing, and of course – sauna.
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Email: mirka.ukkonen@gmail.com
Get Involved!
We are always looking for new committee members to get 'stuck in'.
Want to find out how you can help? Contact Us Today!
Chris Linton, President: +64 21 885 559