Our Team

Dr Jon Tanner

CEO of Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand

Jon Tanner has spent the last 20 years working in primary industry in New Zealand, Asia, Africa and Europe. Originally from a farming background, Jon has experience as a science manager, director of public policy and as a CEO of primary industry bodies. He was formerly CEO of New Zealand’s organic sector body and International Director at the NZ Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. Prior to that, he was Land Policy Manager with the UK’s Environment Agency and a Rural Advisor with the UK Department for International Development before taking on the role of WPMA Chief Executive Officer in August 2010.
Dr Tanner has considerable experience of working on sustainable land use around the world. He has advised land managers, firms and governments on technologies, practices and policies to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of primary industry.
Jon’s interests lie in enhancing the ability of sectors to add value to commodity products and to grow markets. He believes that firmly uniting effort across the sector and harnessing new knowledge will ensure that wood processing and manufacturing continue to be a strong contributor to New Zealand’s economic performance.
Jon holds Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Master of Science (Distinction) degrees in agriculture from the University of Reading (England) and a PhD (also from Reading University) based on a study of agro-forestry systems in Southeast Asia.

Jeanette Sutherland

Executive Assistant to Dr Jon Tanner

Jeanette Sutherland is an experienced Executive Assistant and an Associate Member of the New Zealand Institute of Management. Prior to entering the corporate world Jeanette achieved significant knowledge through involvement in both medicine and medical Practice Management. Jeanette is skilled in Professional Responsibility, Health Care Management, Interpersonal and Interprofessional Relationships, Forecasting, Analysis of Corporate Business Performance along with Strategic Planning.

As well as being the Executive Assistant to the CEO Jeanette also holds the position of Company Secretary for WPMA and also supporting the Wood Council of New Zealand (Woodco), providing administration and Board Governance.