Meet The Committee
President
Chris Linton 🇳🇿
Consultant, Duncan Cotterill.
Honorary Consul for Finland in Auckland
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.
Her interests include family, swimming, a lifestyle block, and music.
Vice President & 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.
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.
Past 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.
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
Christina Riisnes 🇳🇴
Honorary consul for Norway in New Zealand & compliance professional in the financial advice industry.
After completing a Master of Law (LLM) from Auckland University in 2010, Christina moved back to Oslo, Norway with her kiwi partner. She there worked as a corporate lawyer for six years. Christina and her family returned to Auckland in 2015 and are now enjoying a hectic family life with their three kids.
Christina greatly appreciates the similarities between New Zealand and Scandinavia, and says that she is happy to be part of an association that promotes and encourages networking and business opportunities between New Zealand and Scandinavia.
Email: christina.riisnes@gmail.com
Committee Member
Linda Fransson 🇸🇪
International business development consultant
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.
Email: lindahelenfransson@gmail.com
Committee Member
Kristin Smith 🇳🇴
Credit Analyst at Westpac New Zealand
Kristin moved to New Zealand with her kiwi husband in January 2018 and started her Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance and Marketing at AUT University.
As a student, Kristin was the Auckland representative of ANSA, a non-profit association for Norwegian students abroad that aims to voice the educational, cultural, political and economic interests of Norwegian students.
Kristin values good relationships and loves meeting new people. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and living a healthy lifestyle in her home in Tauranga.
Email: kristinsjem@gmail.com
Committee Member
Susanne Ingmar 🇸🇪
Runs Scandibunz, a bakery and lunch bar with Swedish roots in Milford, Auckland.
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.
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.
Interests other than food include family, traveling, reading, and exercise.
Email: susanne@scandibunz.co.nz
Committee Member
Max Johansson 🇳🇿
Policy Officer
Max graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce and Arts conjoint degree. Having completed internships with the United Nations and New Zealand Pacific Business Council, Max was eager to connect with his Scandinavian heritage and therefore joined the New Zealand Scandinavian Business Association's committee. He is now based in Wellington, where he is working as a Policy Officer.
Max is a keen Tennis player, and will more likely than not be found out on the tennis court.
Email: maxjohanssonnz@gmail.com
Committee Member
Sandra Smedhäll 🇸🇪
Sandra spent the last 16 years abroad, first studying in Singapore and then living and working in Hong Kong. She moved to New Zealand in 2019 with her kiwi husband and now calls Auckland's North Shore home.
Sandra has a Master's degree in International Business and is the founder, and Chief Strategy Officer of Kaizen Kiwi, a boutique consulting firm helping to grow businesses all over New Zealand through continuous improvement.
Sandra is passionate about reading, food, and wine, and she loves exploring new places and cultures. Joining NZSBA in 2022, Sandra is excited be a part an organisation. with such an important mission.
Sandra is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and is also on the board of NZ Sculpture OnShore.
Email: sandra@kaizen.kiwi
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!
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!
Email: 0lli.lipsanen@sulava.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