As an Associate with Neil Gaught & Associates, Lance brings deep expertise in aligning ambition with action, particularly in highly regulated, complex markets. He has founded, scaled, and advised ventures across sectors including marine, energy, aviation, advanced manufacturing, agritech, SaaS, telecommunications, food and beverage, and ICT—transforming bold vision into executable strategy. Known for uniting diverse, purpose-led teams, he helps organisations open new markets while driving meaningful impact.

Lance played a pivotal role in establishing the New Zealand Government’s global ‘Beachhead’ programme and led the successful multi-stakeholder transformation of Hobsonville Air Force Base into Hobsonville Point—now a flagship urban development. He has served as Chair of Export New Zealand (Auckland) and Chair of KEA – Kiwi Expat Association, and his contributions to international trade were recognised with the American Chamber of Commerce Supreme Exporter of the Year Award.

His work with NG&A reflects a shared belief in purpose as a strategic and unifying force that enables enduring value creation in a rapidly evolving world.

John’s impact is evident in two transformative appointments. At Waitakere Enterprise he implemented the Single Organizing Idea, repositioning and energising the agency to rank #1 in the public sector, #2 among small organisations, and #3 overall in the JRA Best Places to Work survey. Later, as Dean of Business and Information Technology at Manukau Institute of Technology, he lifted the faculty from 17th to 1st in national educational-performance rankings by championing Māori and Pasifika learner success under the guidance of Dr Ranginui Walker.

As an Associate at Neil Gaught & Associates, John brings the same systems thinking, strategic discipline, and talent for building high-performing cultures to drive clear market leadership. Industry insight, innovation, and trusted relationships are hallmarks of his approach, enabling teams to thrive and deliver lasting impact.

As an Associate at Neil Gaught & Associates, Di helps organisations put purpose at the centre of their brand communications. Her recent portfolio spans technology, healthcare, sustainability and education, guiding teams at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Essano, PreKure, BlueHalo, AsBuilt Digital, Datacom, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Fusion5, TEC and Diversity Works, alongside FMCG and start-up ventures. She also advises national and local governments, economic-development agencies, not-for-profits, tertiary institutions and public figures—shaping cohesive narratives that align vision, values and action.

Earlier in her career Di held communications roles at Visa International (UK) and served as Marketing & Sponsorship Manager for the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, where she led a nationwide rebrand for the NZ Chambers network that earned an international award for marketing creativity. She later became a Senior Strategist at Richards Partners before founding her own consultancy, Brandwell, collaborating with like-minded change-makers while balancing her most meaningful role: motherhood.

Driven by the belief that purpose-driven businesses can bridge society’s most pressing gaps, Di helps leaders “connect clearly, message boldly and lead meaningfully,” ensuring every brand story delivers measurable impact for people, planet and profit.

As an Associate at Neil Gaught & Associates, Grant brings visual communication craft, UX discipline, and AI-informed insight to the Single Organizing Idea (SOI®) framework. His focus is on translating an organisation’s articulated purpose into cohesive identity systems and intelligent digital communications. He actively explores AI systems and adaptive design techniques to streamline production while preserving creative integrity.

Working alongside the NG&A team, Grant shapes creative briefs and leads multidisciplinary teams—designers, developers, and copywriters—through concept to execution. Known for his relentless attention to detail, he pushes every project beyond expectations—refining, questioning, and perfecting until the outcome meets his uncompromising standards of clarity, craft, and impact. His hallmark is clear, cohesive storytelling that threads purpose through every touchpoint, from brand identity and systems to interface micro-interactions.

An ever-curious observer of behavioural sciences and the arts, he draws on a wide range of influences to create work that resonates both culturally and commercially. Based in Auckland, Grant balances client work with ongoing experimentation into how design and emerging technologies can drive meaningful, purpose-led change.

She has led transformational initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand, including shaping the country’s destination management agenda, authoring the national Destination Management Guidelines, and leading an award-winning programme that strengthened the leadership and strategic capability of New Zealand’s regional tourism sector.

Kiri is known for navigating complexity, aligning vision with action, and building trusted relationships across government, industry, and communities. Her bold, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach draws on systems thinking to deliver integrated strategies that create lasting value.

Through her consultancy, Kiri draws on 30 years of experience in tourism and economic development to support governments, destinations, and tourism stakeholders to design and implement place-based strategies that deliver meaningful outcomes for communities, the environment, and the economy.
Internationally, she contributes as both a thought leader and practitioner, supporting destinations and organisations to realise the full potential of their core purpose. Her work with NG&A reflects a shared belief that placing purpose at the centre of strategy is key to achieving long-term, positive change.