Dr Arthur Grimes, our Chair, is Chairman of the Reserve Bank, a senior fellow of Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, adjunct professor of economics at the University of Waikato and a former director of the Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University. His Ph D is from the London School of Economics. He has won a number of academic prizes here and in Britain and he has published widely on economics in international academic journals.

Colin James, our Executive Director, a political commentator of 40 years experience, columnist in the Otago Daily Times and Management Magazine, author of six books, past chair of Motu Research, a senior associate of the Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University and a former editor of National Business Review, is a specialist in politics and government policy. He has correctly forecast 14 of the past 15 elections. He also has connections in Australian politics and the bureaucracy. www.ColinJames.co.nz

Stephen Toplis, is our specialist in the economy. Stephen has extensive contacts in the bureaucracy, the Reserve Bank and business. His background is as an economic analyst in the banking industry. He is head of research, wholesale markets, for the Bank of New Zealand.

Pattrick Smellie, Director, is a highly respected business journalist and co-founder of the BusinessDesk news service, which provides business news to all mainstream media outlets in New Zealand and the Australian Associated Press. Pattrick has worked on both sides of the media fence, as a press secretary to the then Minister of Finance, Roger Douglas, and for major corporate clients including Fonterra, Contact Energy, and The University of Auckland. He is a Harkness Fellow, former chairman of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and was The Australian newspaper's first New Zealand correspondent.

Jo Wills, Director, is a government relations expert and highly regarded business strategy advisor and facilitator. Jo has extensive experience of working with global and New Zealand corporate clients and advising boards, including holding a general management role with Fonterra for eight years. She is a member of an advisory group to the Business and Advisory Committee of the OECD, a director of the EEO Trust and is on the committee of The Wellington Club.

Australian connection: The Hugo Group has a working association with the International CEO Forum in Australia.

©The Hugo Group 2001 – Contact Hugo@thehugogroup.com