Board appointments
The role of the independent Electoral Oversight Panel is set out in the Constitution. Details of how they undertake their role and responsibilities are set out in the Electoral Oversight Panel Charter.
In brief, their role is to support shareholders with their decision to vote on director elections or re-elections by overseeing relevant Board processes, obtaining assurance on appropriate consideration of any shareholder nominees, and reporting to shareholders on the integrity of these processes in accordance with the Charter.
Relevant Board processes include those that consider Board competency requirements and composition, Board succession planning, director recruitment, shareholder nominations and other relevant matters.
Shareholders may nominate potential directors at any time. Shareholder Nominee Information can be found here and the nomination form here. If the Board undertakes a recruitment for a new Director, a specific call for shareholder nominees will be made detailing the specific competencies required.
The Electoral Oversight Panel
Steven Fyfe (Chair) - Based in Wellington, Steven is a Company Director and Business Adviser.
Steven had a 30 year executive career in New Zealand banking with The National Bank and ANZ. Steven was Chairperson of The Co‑operative Bank (2012 to 2018) and was appointed to the Electoral Authority in August 2020. Current governance roles include Victoria University Foundation, MOTU Economic Research Trust, Financial Markets Authority and NZ Symphony Orchestra.
Steven was appointed to the Electoral Authority in 2020 and transitioned to the Electoral Oversight Panel on 4 July 2024.
Ross Wilson - Based in Wellington and of Ngāi Tahu and Scottish descent, Ross is a former union leader, lawyer, president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and former director of the The Co‑operative Bank (2010 to 2012). His governance experience includes Chair of the Accident Compensation Corporation and Worksafe New Zealand; and director of Centre Port Limited Wellington and KiwiRail. Ross is Chair of the Unions Aotearoa International Development Trust (UnionAID) and the Major Arc Media Trust, a director of Maritime New Zealand, and a Trustee of iti Kōpara – Public Governance Aotearoa.
Ross was appointed to the Electoral Authority in 2016 and transitioned to the Electoral Oversight Panel on 4 July 2024.
Dame Karen Poutasi - Based in Kāpiti, Dame Karen is medically qualified with a specialty in public health medicine and has held a range of senior management positions in New Zealand, including that of Director General of Health and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. She has held governance roles in Presbyterian Support Central, Basketball NZ, Network for Learning, and Waikato DHB. Dame Karen was awarded the Queen's Honour of DNZM in 2020. Most recently she has been the inaugural chair of Taumata Arowai/The Water Services Authority and Chair of Health New Zealand.
She is currently on the Board of RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group and chairs Kāpuhipuhi/Wellington Uni-Professional.
Dame Karen was appointed to the Electoral Oversight Panel on 3 July 2025.