In an industry full of such passionate, creative people, we wouldn’t get very far if we didn’t have some of our own.
The Restaurant Association of New Zealand is powered by a diverse group of passionate hospitality leaders dedicated to supporting, advocating for, and growing our industry. Our people include an Executive Committee providing national direction, regional branch presidents representing local communities, the Education Trust guiding training and development, and a committed head office team based in Mt Eden. Together, we bring experience, insight, and a shared commitment to helping Aotearoa’s hospitality businesses thrive.
Here are the people who make the Restaurant Association what it is today.
Executive Group
At the heart of the Restaurant Association is a leadership team that lives and breathes hospitality. CEO Marisa Bidois, President Mike Egan, and Vice Presidents Steve Logan and Krishna Botica provide the overall direction and strategy for the Association, leading with experience, advocacy, and a deep commitment to strengthening connections across New Zealand’s hospitality industry.
Marisa Bidois
Chief Executive Officer
Mike Egan
President
Krishna Botica
Vice President
Steve Logan
Vice President
Education Trust Trustees
The Restaurant Association Education Trust is governed by a dedicated group of Trustees who support training and career development in hospitality. Their leadership ensures ongoing investment in industry education, including the Hospo Start programme and the management of our national headquarters in Mt Eden.
Tony Adcock
Chairperson
Mike Egan
Trustee
Krishna Botica
Trustee
David Meagher
Trustee
Jenny Jenkins
Trustee
Merv Ah Chee
Trustee
Warren Bias
Trustee
Branch Presidents
The Restaurant Association is organised into a network of 15 regional branches, each led by dedicated branch presidents who act as the organisation’s regional ambassadors. Our branch presidents serve as “eyes and ears” on the ground, providing a vital link between members and the Association, championing the organisation’s resources and suite of support systems. As ambassadors for local issues and activities within the industry, they leverage their intimate knowledge of regional dynamics to identify opportunities and address key pinch points, ensuring that members receive the assistance they need.
Read more about the Branch Presidents (bios) here.
Mike Egan
National President Wellington Region President
Krishna Botica
National Vice-President & Auckland Region President
Steve Logan
National Vice-President (Wellington)
Penny Campbell
Northland Branch
President
President
Lisa Quarrie
Waikato Branch
President
President
Nick Potts
Bay of Plenty Branch President
Ray Singh
Rotorua Branch
President
President
Prue Campbell
Taupo – Central North Island Branch President
Prue Barton
Hawke’s Bay Branch President
Sunny Grewal
Taranaki Branch President
Saulo Camillo Nunes
Marlborough Branch President
Brigitta Cropp
Nelson Branch President
Lisa Levy
Canterbury Branch President
Penelope Jones & Sam Gruar
Southern Lakes Branch Presidents
Industry Advisory Groups
Our Industry Advisory Groups bring together a diverse cross-section of hospitality professionals from across New Zealand to engage in collaborative, forward-thinking discussions. These groups meet quarterly in a think-tank style to address key industry challenges, explore innovative solutions, and provide strategic insights that inform the Restaurant Association’s initiatives. Supported by our partner Gilmours, each group focuses on a critical area—such as immigration, economic development, sustainability, training, or youth engagement—to help shape a resilient and thriving hospitality sector.
Immigration & Employment Relations
This group’s key objectives include facilitating discussions on immigration policies, regulations, and their impact on the labour market, including any challenges created by current policy. The group will provide insights and recommendations for improving employment relations and employment practices for both domestic and migrant workers. Further development of the industry accreditation programme, Hospo Cred, will be part of the group’s discussions. One outcome will be to look at how the RA can foster collaboration between government agencies, employers, and relevant stakeholders to address immigration and labour-related challenges – particularly around balancing government’s objectives around immigration policy with the needs of employers.
Bo Manoonpong
Lauren Vromans
Anna Wachulec
Ben Harper
Sunny Grewal
Chand Sahwarat
Arjun Gill
Ricky Lee
Margie Holmes
Jazz Steiner Nooyen
Gentiane Lupi
Katrina Toovey
Lisa Levy
Economic Development
This group is dedicated to addressing how we can enhance regional, national, and economic growth: identifying opportunities for the industry’s economic expansion and ideas around how we get there, promoting hospitality entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and telling people about the industry’s successes. The group will provide insights on how to stimulate our industry’s economic prosperity and promote resilience in times of economic challenges. Also the economic development group will consider other policy, including manager’s licensing and local/central regional development.
David Allott
Jared Johnstone
Steve Logan
Katherine Dippie
Sarah Kelly
Helen Kono
AJ Jagdale
Paul Steiner
Jon Hassall
Max Washer
Environmental Practice & Sustainability
What do we need to do to advance environmentally responsible practices and promote sustainability across the industry? Are best practice guidelines already in place to reduce environmental impact and enhance sustainability for hospitality, or is further development needed? What connections need to be developed between industry, suppliers, local and national government and other stakeholders? The expertise of the group members will provide insights on green technologies and how we can help members integrate eco-friendly practices into their operations. The Association’s food waste reduction pilot scheme – Kai Keepers – will be tested and discussed amongst the group (some of whom may be pilot participants). Ultimately, the RA seeks to drive long-term environmental stewardship and mitigate our industry’s environmental footprint, and this group will be a driving force to help us achieve those goals.
Kirsty McKay
Lisa Quarrie
Jane Dixon
Stephanie Mann
Gretta Carney
Asher Boote
Anna & Gareth Wilson
Chere & Bill Bailey
Dean Lewis
David Maucor
Francky Godinho
Training & Development Skills
Rangatahi Advisory Group
Head Office
Marisa Bidois
Cheif Executive
Nicola Waldren
General Manager
Sara Beillard-Gosai
Operations Manager
Samantha Feary
Office Manager
Karen Smith
Membership Engagement & Support Specialist – North Island
Michelle Stent
Membership Engagement & Support Specialist – South Island
Stuart McGechan
Te Tupu Tahi Co-ordinator & Membership Coordinator
Gilda Proietti
Hospo Start Manager
Chad Klyne
Hospo Start Facilitator/Co-ordinator
Mohit Sharma
Hospo Start Facilitator/Co-ordinator
Aynaz Nowparvar
Legal Advisor/ Manager
Allan Fursdon
Employment Relations Advisor
Jordan Grey
Senior Legal Advisor
Stephanie Keogh
Employment Relations Advisor
Nata Tolooei
Professional Development Specialist