Please click on the tabs below for more information about our team.
Allan Dawson - Managing Director
BAgSc, M.N.Z.I.A.S, M.N.Z.S.H.S
Formerly a field consultant with MAF and with experience as a private consultant, Allan has been involved in the kiwifruit industry since 1979. As a grower of both ZESPRI Green and Gold kiwifruit, Allan has a vested interest in ensuring that he stays up to date with the latest industry developments, and maintains an active interest in all areas of the company.
| Contact Allan: | Extension 700 | Mobile 0275 902 393 |
Tracey Chinnery - Grower Services Team Leader
Tracey is the most recent addition to our Grower Services Team. Tracey and her husband are experienced kiwifruit growers themselves, owning a high producing orchard north of Katikati which has recently been converted to G3. Tracey has a finance and international business background and is excited to have the opportunity to work with Growers and help them obtain potentially high returns from new variety conversion.
| Contact Tracey: | Extension 715 | Mobile 021 664 276 |
Richard Allen - Grower Services Representative
DipHort, DipAg, DipBus
Richard comes to Aongatete with a wealth of experience in the horticultural industry and has Diplomas in Agriculture, Horticulture, and Business Studies. Between 1982 and 1996, Richard developed several orchards in Tauranga and Whangarei, including his own in Bethlehem. He has worked previously in both grower services and orchard management.
| Contact Richard: | Extension 710 | Mobile 0275 307 909 |
Andrew Dawson - Grower Services Representative
BCom(Fors), PGDipCom, National Certificate in Horticulture
Andrew has a commerce degree and a post-graduate diploma in marketing from Lincoln University. Prior to joining our Grower Services team Andrew worked for Carter Holt Harvey in a number of roles, including managing a small warehouse team and in customer services. In 2008 Andrew completed the Horticultural Cadet Programme at BOP Polytechnic.
| Contact Andrew: | Extension 703 | Mobile 0275 940 247 |
Aaron Hokopaura - Grower Services Representative
Aaron joined the Aongatete team in 2012. A grower himself, Aaron was runner up in the BOP Young grower of the year in 2015.He has also recently completed the Hort Leadership program
| Contact Aaron: | Extension 716 | Mobile 021 809 152 |
Nell Dawson - Operations Manager
Nell originally trained as a physiotherapist at Otago University. Since leaving her physiotherapy practice in Katikati a number of years ago she has been involved in other forms of health management. Prior to joining Aongatete, Nell was the manager of Matua Lifecare in Tauranga. She now brings her management experience to Aongatete as Operations Manager, overseeing production within the packhouse.
| Contact Nell: | Extension 719 | Mobile 0275 494 998 |
Clive Exelby - Packhouse Manager
Clive comes from a farming background in the south of the Waikato. After moving to Katikati in 1985 Clive was employed as Production Manager by Katipak. He has experience in both citrus and avocado packing, but the wealth of his knowledge is focused around the kiwifruit industry. As Packhouse Manager, Clive oversees the packing process for all fruit on site.
| Contact Clive: | Extension 712 | Mobile 0275 827 207 |
Stan Johns - Coolstore Manager
Stan was originally employed at Aongatete in 1989 as a forklift driver in the coolstores. Stan is responsible for overseeing the operation of both the conventional and the controlled atmosphere stores, ensuring that fruit quality is maintained prior to shipping to the market.
| Contact Stan: | Extension 707 |
Janice Whitehead - GlobalGAP & Internal Auditor
National Certificate in Horticulture
Janice is one of Aongatete's longest serving employees, having started working for the company in 1985.
After moving to Katikati from Gisborne, she started working in the orchards, but was quickly moved into the
packhouse and trained as a QC. With a great deal of experience working with kiwifruit, Janice now acts as
Aongatete's GlobalGAP inspector and internal auditor, ensuring that individual orchards and the packhouse itself
meet all required standards.
| Contact Janice: | Extension 701 | Mobile 0275 11 4443 |
Simon Penness - Chief Financial Officer
Simon has headed finance departments in the leisure and retail industries, and has a great deal of financial management experience in
expanding and developing companies. Simon is responsible for the company's accounts, which includes overseeing the Kiwifruit Pool and making
payments to growers. He also heads up the office administration team, which includes Julie Cunningham (Accounts & Payroll).
| Contact Simon: | Extension 704 |
