Our Board
The UDL Board provides strategic direction and governance. It oversees management and ensures there are sufficient resources and finances to realise the company’s functions. Specifically, it:
- appoints the Commissioner taking into account candidates’ objectivity, qualifications (including legal and/or alternative dispute resolution qualifications), experience and personal attributes; and subsequently
- supports the development of skills of the Commissioner
- works with the Commissioner on succession planning
- approves the remuneration policy for Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
Our six-member Board is made up of an independent chair and four independent directors, following advice to the relevant Minister, and a future director.
UDL's Board
Deborah Hart | Independent Chair
Deborah Hart joined UDL as Independent Chair in November 2024. This follows experience as Executive Director of the Arbitrators and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand and Chair of the Consumer Advisory Council, amongst other roles.
Ruth Smithers | Independent Director
Ruth is the Chief Executive for FinCap and joins us as an experienced leader and manager in the not-for-profit and government sectors in health and social services organisations. Ruth was previously Deputy Chief Executive at Tui Ora, a large iwi-based health and social services provider in Taranaki. Ruth has also run her own management consultancy and serves on a number of boards bringing governance expertise to UDL.
Corey Hebberd
Corey Hebberd is General Manager for Te Tauihu iwi Rangitāne o Wairau, and a director at Manu Ora Health. Corey worked for electricity network company Marlborough Lines for over seven years. He also previously Chaired the Wellington division of the Cancer Society and sat on the Cancer Society national board. He served as a future director on the UDL board before joining as a director in 2023.
Kevin Angland
Kevin Angland is a customer transformation advisor at SAP, and a non-executive Director at Unity Credit Union and Banzpay. He spent several years as a director at the Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand, and GM Retail & Digital with Mercury NZ until 2021.
Richard Wills
Richard Wills joins the UDL board as a future director from December 2023 to December 2024. Richard was a co-founder at Flick Electric and specialises in general management, sales and marketing, startup operations and new business development.
Tony Dench | Independent Director
Tony has a wealth of experience across different roles, including law, accounting, property development, banking and wider financial services in both New Zealand and the UK. He is the Chair on numerous boards across Aotearoa and has spent time as a Chief Executive, and brings that experience to support UDL.