The PGDR ITO Board

Trevor Helm, Chairman, Trevor is managing director of TJ Helm Plumbing Ltd. Trevor began his industry as an apprentice Plumber/Gasfitter with the Manukau City Council. After completing his apprenticeship Trevor continued into business for himself & eventually amalgamating his own business along with his father's Plumbing & Drainage company into T.J. Helm Plumbing Ltd in 1987.

Governance involvement at a national level within Early Childhood Education saw him awarded life membership to the N.Z. Kindergarten Association. He was involved with the Auckland Master Plumbers, President of the N.Z. Society of Master Plumbers 2005, & was a Director of Masterlink.

Rod De Spong, Director, Rod holds Trade Certificate and Craftsman qualifications in plumbing and gasfitting. Retrained as an accountant, Rod’s career has involved auditing, management consulting, strategy and planning, business development, corporate finance and supply chain operations in New Zealand and overseas.

John Simmiss, Director, John is the founder of Simmiss Plumbing and Enviroflow Waste Water Treatment Systems Ltd. After serving as president of the Hawkes Bay Regional Association of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc, John was chairman of the national organisation from 1999-2005, and is currently a director. He also serves on the New Zealand Master Plumbers Council.

John Duncan, Director, John’s background is in aircraft engineering. He has held senior HR leadership roles and worked for the New Zealand Trade Development Board in international export development. Today, John is the principal of Platform Consulting Ltd, a human resources development consultancy.

John DeBernardo, Director, John is currently the Director of Gas Safely Ltd. He has over 32 years experience as a Craftsman Plumber and Gasfitter managing medium to large scale businesses. He completed his apprenticeship in 1980 and worked with Aquaheat Industres Ltd in Tawa. In 2008 he left Aquaheat and formed his new business Gas Safely Ltd providing technical and consultancy services to the commercial and industrial sectors of the gas and energy industries. John also holds directorships with Industrial Importing Co Ltd and Padova Properties Ltd.

Dr David Cullwick, Director, David is an independent business advisor and company director with interests in business strategy, marketing and innovation, and governance. He has led a wide range of assignments for national and internationally focused companies. David was the inaugural Professor of Marketing at Victoria University, and later a consulting partner in Ernst & Young. He held directorships for the NZ Wool Board and chaired the Hohepa Homes Trust (1996 – 2002) and NZ Film Commission (2006-2009). David is currently a director of Comvita, a NZX listed company and is based in Wellington.