Newmarket Business Association

The Newmarket Business Association is one of 18 business associations around Auckland City which is largely funded by local commercial ratepayers. The association is not only focused on making Newmarket the premier commercial and retailing precinct in New Zealand, it wants to be a leader in what it does. Without doubt over the past five years it has become the highest profile business association in the country. It describes itself as an advocate, marketer, lobbyist, communicator, and conduit between business, the community and local authorities. Click here to meet the Newmarket Business Association Board Ashley Church General Manager ashley@newmarket.co.nz Ashley comes to the Association with a strong corporate background and significant political experience. Prior to joining the Association he was National Sales and Marketing Manager for Pulse Energy where he was responsible for increasing market share from around 400 customers, to almost 15,000, within 12 months. In other corporate roles he has been CEO of the Auckland Property Investors Association, National Sales Manager for Mercury Energy and National Sales Manager for Farmers Mutual Group. Ashley also brings considerable political experience to his role with the Association. After standing as the National Party candidate for Napier at the age of 22 he went on to spend 9 years as a Napier City Councillor - making him the youngest person ever elected to that Authority. During that time he was responsible for the ‘NapierLife’ Marketing program which was a key driver in reversing population decline and re-energising economic activity in Hawke’s Bay during the 1990s. His community credentials include past roles as Chairman of PropertyPlus, National Council Member of New Zealand Jaycees, President of East Coast Bays Jaycees, Executive Council Member of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, Creator and Organiser of the Hawke's Bay Summer Festival, and Organiser of the 1985 North Shore Telethon Centre. He is also a past Director of the Hawke's Bay Airport, Marineland of New Zealand and the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Louise Newman Marketing Manager louise@newmarket.co.nz Louise comes to us from electricity retailer Pulse Utilities where she was also Marketing Manager and where she worked with our GM Ashley Church. During her time at Pulse, Louise managed the Pulse Energy brand and was also instrumental in developing, and launching, the new “Just Energy” retail brand. The energy industry is one of the most competitive sectors in New Zealand with some of the bigger players losing significant market share despite their resources - yet during Louises time with Pulse, Just Energy has experienced unprecedented growth and has become the fastest growing energy retailer in New Zealand. This is due, in no small part, to Louises strategic approach to customer acquisition and her focus on 'campaign based' marketing - an approach which will prove extremely relevant as the focus of the Association moves to event marketing in 2011. Louise has a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing and Advertising.

Di Goldsworthy Membership Manager di@newmarket.co.nz Di’s involvement with the Newmarket Business Association began in 1995, when she was approached by Newmarket fashion retailer Diane Stephenson. Di had sold her successful hairdressing salon which employed 32 people and was planning retirement. However the challenge and opportunity to work with a precinct that was heavily fashion focused was irresistible. Her passion for fashion started at the age of 14 when she was a teenage model in school holiday fashion parades at department stores Milne & Choyce and John Courts. This led to bigger and brighter fashion shows such as the nationwide tour of the Gown of the Year. Between modelling jobs, she was employed by leading Auckland hair and beauty salon Kays. Di continues to coordinate and compere fashion shows for many of Auckland’s charities. She has judged Miss New Zealand competitions and has played a leading hand in the Auckland Racing Club’s Fashions in the Field.

Tash Stichbury Event Manager tash@newmarket.co.nz Tash comes to us from Heart of the City where she led the charge in preparing and installing the City's Christmas decorations in time for the Santa Parade at the end of November 2010, including hauling the famous Santa and his reindeers onto the Whitcoulls Building! She also Project Managed "Beautify Your City," a partnership with Auckland Council to educate businesses and residents about how to dispose of their rubbish and recycling correctly in the CBD and how they could "play their part" in keeping the City clean in preparation for the World Cup 2011. A Producer by trade, Tash is well known in the advertising and film industry as a 'can-do' person and with her people skills, ability to deliver a vision, knowing how to create and build the right team to get the job done - none is better suited at getting the events side of things up and running in Newmarket.