Rachel is an award-winning entrepreneur and a former NZ Trade Commissioner. She presently sits on the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council and has received the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to food and hospitality. In 2018 she was named Maori Woman Business Leader and she's just been announced as a 2019 World Class New Zealand award winner in the Kea Awards which recognise inspirational, world-leading Kiwis who are making outstanding contributions to New Zealand’s economic, social and cultural development.

Rachel knows the value of NZ to potential customers - she's spent 20 years promoting Aotearoa as a world-class producer of food and beverages. She is currently the CEO of Kono NZ, a top-100 New Zealand food and beverage company, farming more than 1000ha of land and sea, and exporting to over 25 countries. Their brands include Tohu, Kono and Aronui wines, Tutu cider, Kono mussels, Kiwa oysters, and Annies fruit bars.

Kono also grows apples, pears, kiwifruit and hops, and is involved in sustainable seafood through its business Yellow Brick Road, which Rachel founded.

Rachel's governance experience includes Moana, Wellington Regional Stadium Trust, New Zealand Wine Growers, Aquaculture New Zealand, the Young Enterprise Trust, and Sir Peter Blake Trust.

"How to take your business to the world"