Consumer Board

Robert Aitken, Dunedin

First elected to the Board in 2019.

Chair. Robert is Professor of Consumer Behaviour in the Department of Marketing at the Otago Business School, University of Otago. Robert has extensive experience as a Chair and Executive Member of not-for-profits, including the Fortune Theatre Trust, Third Age Trust, Age Concern Otago, Age Concern NZ and Save the Children. His current research focuses on marketing ethics, vulnerable consumers, especially older consumers and children, and sustainable consumption. Robert is committed to ensuring that consumers get a fair deal and believes that this starts with getting reliable, informed and objective information to help them make the consumption choices that suit them best.

Kate Tokeley, Napier

First elected to the Board in 2017.

Deputy Chair. Kate is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law at Victoria University of Wellington. She teaches consumer law and policy. She is the author of academic articles and chapters in books on consumer law and policy issues. Her publications cover topics such as online auctions, consumer guarantees, tobacco regulation, unfair contract terms and responsible lending obligations.

Elizabeth Tennet, Nelson

First elected to the Board in 2019.

Liz has extensive experience working on consumer rights issues. She was for seven years CEO of the national office for Community Law. She is a former Labour Member of Parliament. Her career has focused on advocacy for social and economic justice. She has extensive governance experience, having served on many boards, often as chair. Liz also has business experience, including working to budgets and being accountable to members.

Tom Harris, Waitemata

First elected to the Board in 2022.

Tom has been serving the Waitemata community for many years and is the General Manager for the Waitemata Community Law Centre. He leads a talented and passionate team of lawyers and non-legal staff that are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring individuals in our community have an access point to justice and quality legal services.

Tom is proud to serve as a trustee on executive boards which affords him the opportunity to support services that help the marginalised and disadvantaged.

Tom is also an adviser to many government agencies including the New Zealand police and courts as well as many social agencies.

Emily Mabin Sutton, Auckland

First elected to the Board in 2024.

Emily is the GM of the not-for-profit Climate Club Aotearoa. She has a decade of experience in technology, AI and strategy. She actively campaigns on the right to repair, decarbonisation and various consumer issues.

Emily is deeply passionate about shifting the defaults of the market to better meet customer needs (like, “How come my dishwasher broke after 2 years and it’s cheaper to buy a new one?”) and increase the standards of New Zealand products. She is heavily involved in campaigning for intersectional climate and consumer issues.

Ron Scott, Bay of Plenty

First elected to the Board in 2024.

Ron is an economist and business owner specialising in strategic planning. Ron is a JP and chartered member of the Institute of Directors. His current governance roles are with Blind Low Vision, Workbridge, NZ Automobile Association, and BoP Regional Council.

Ron is the outgoing chair of the SILC Charitable Trust. He has a long-standing interest in helping consumers access services when they are not able to articulate their needs, or may not know what is available or what constitutes a good service, whether due to their age, an immediate health crisis or intellectual disability.

Jenna Whitman, Wellington

First elected to the Board in 2024.

Jenna Whitman is the Chief Information Security Officer for New Zealand's Innovation Agency, Callaghan Innovation. She is the founder and Chair of the Crown Research Institute Security Group (CRISG) and was formerly the deputy chair of the Government Information Security Forum (GISF).

Jenna is a self-described 'social justice warrior' and feels strongly about the importance of the consumer-centric and advocacy-based mission that exists with Consumer NZ. Particularly in an age where tactics such as greenwashing, mis/disinformation and poor competition impact everyday people. Being a consumer today means also living your life online, and it should be up to retailers and service providers to keep that experience as safe and private as possible for you the consumer.

Jenna promotes bringing in young leaders, experts and women into positions of governance and change to create a future-focussed strategic environment and better engage with relevant young audiences.

She has her Masters of Strategic Studies from Victoria University, a Diploma of Intelligence Analysis from the Royal New Zealand Police College and is a qualified investigator.