experienceupperhutt

Sonja is a Director of Rio Bravo Consulting Ltd and is a former Business Advisor for Grow Wellington and International Trade & Marketing Consultant for NZTE.

Sonja has worked with NZ exporters in the European market for eight years and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of economic development to the Upper Hutt region. Sonja is passionate about business growth and has a desire to see the Upper Hutt CBD succeed to provide Upper Hutt city residents with a unique shopping experience.

Sonja is also the Editor of the Main Experience newsletter, published monthly by Experience Upper Hutt.

Hellen was appointed Director of Experience Upper Hutt in January 2006 and continues to thoroughly enjoy the role. Though not born in Upper Hutt, Hellen has lived in the region for nearly 28 years and considers herself a local.  Hellen is passionate about Upper Hutt and enjoys working with liked-minded people.  Hellen has been in partnership in a business on Main Street, has also worked at CIT in its hey-day and has run her own catering business for a number of years.   

Hellen's background is in Hospitality and she was part of the original senior management team to run the beloved "Cake Tin".

Hellen was recently elected to the position of Upper Hutt City Councillor.

Jenny is currently the Chair of the Promotions sub-committee for Experience Upper Hutt.

As Manager of the Upper Hutt Leader for the past six years, Jenny is uniquely placed for her role on the promotions side of Experience Upper Hutt.   The Leader has, for over 70 years, been an interface between business and community and many of the City's promotions were sponsored and run by the Leader prior to the inception of Experience Upper Hutt.

Some of the City's events such as the Passports to Christmas Country and the Business Excellence Awards were initially joint ventures between Experience Upper Hutt and the Upper Hutt Leader.  With more and more businesses coming on board the Awards have now become a total Upper Hutt Event.  The promotions' team welcomes new people on board. "We are always looking for help and ideas."

Dave has been a founding member of Experience Upper Hutt since 2005 and is Director/Manager of Wheelers Shoes, an established retailer in Upper Hutt.

Dave is actively involved in the community in various sports codes and is passionate about the development of the region's young people.  Dave is also part of the security committee that pushed for the introduction of CCTV cameras to help safety issues within the CBD community.  "The potential for Upper Hutt is enormous if we all pull together.  The successful key to all good associations is bringing all its constituents together for a common cause and getting them all to sing from the same song sheet."

Dave was recently elected to the position of Upper Hutt City Councillor.

John Gwilliam is a founding member of Experience Upper Hutt and as an Upper Hutt City Councillor is one of the Council's representatives on the Board.

As a Barrister and Solicitor, John has been practising in the Upper Hutt region since 1986 and has owned his own practice, John Gwilliam & Co Limited, since 1992.  John's firm was the winner of the Best Professional Services award at the annual Upper Hutt Excellence in Business Awards 2009.

John brings to the Board extensive business and advisory experience.

Chris Wilson is the owner of Artrix Glass Studio which has been in operation for the last eight years.

Chris was recognised by Wearable Arts in the Illuminations Section in 1998 and received a Highly Commended in the Open Section in 2000.  Chris is aso a member of the Upper Hutt Sculpture Committee, has had a number of commissioned pieces outside the Upper Hutt region and is a great supporter of art in general.

Chris has been involved with Experience Upper Hutt since its incorporation three years ago and is the co-designer of Autumn Reflections.  Chris is also a member of the Promotions Committee.

Derek Still is the Manager of the Salon Club, situated on Main Street in Upper Hutt and has been heavily involved in the hairdressing industry as Chairman of the Wellington Ladies Hairdressing Association for two years, a Trade Certificate Examiner for two years and the Apprenticeship Committee. 

Derek is a strong advocate in regards to growing the Upper Hutt CBD and describes himself as a modern renaissance man.

Adrian Sparrow is Managing Principal of EIQ, the risk and review consultancy EIQ Ltd .  He is the former Director of Fair Trading at the Commerce Commission and has also worked at The Treasury and KPMG, as well as running Castrol Oils distribution for SE England and a stevedoring company near Brighton.

Adrian has worked with public and private sector organisations for many years and rings a range of experience and practical knowledge to the group.  Experience Upper Hutt is a good vehicle to make positive things happen in the city centre, and a strong business centre is essential for Upper Hutt to be a healthy community into the 21st Century.

Filipa is born and bred in Upper Hutt and very proud of it.

Filipa chose to become a Council Member of Experience Upper Hutt to help ensure that Upper Hutt stays a great place to live and shop in and she feels strongly that we should all be actively involved in our community.  

Filipa is currently the Store Manager of Number 1 Shoes on Queen Street and has previously had a strong involvement with the Upper Hutt Youth Council from 1999 to 2003.   As well as this, Filipa was the Youth Representative for the Upper Hutt City Council and Ministry of Youth Affairs where they held a 90 minute workshop at the Spirit of the Youth 2002 (a youth development strategy forum).  When Filipa worked in Lower Hutt and Tawa to develop her career, her involvement in the community lessened, however, it never felt like home until she came back to work in Upper Hutt.

Filipa’s using her experience with youth on the Experience Upper Hutt Board to represent the younger people of Upper Hutt.