our team

Jo Kelly

BCom, CS, MInstD

CEO & Founder

Jo Kelly is a highly experienced Company Secretary who has worked across a range of industries including private companies, publicly listed companies, public-sector, not-for-profits, and several of New Zealand’s largest major sporting events. Jo is also a Director of University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ).

Jo leads the IGS team of governance support specialists and provides advisory services, with a focus on helping organisations use governance to advance their organisation’s mission and purpose in a meaningful way.

Jo is also the Trust Manager of the Kelliher Charitable Trust. In this role she is responsible for supporting New Zealand communities through charitable grants and furthering economics through research and scholarships.

Jo has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland, and a background in both sports administration and accountancy, with a strong focus on strategy and stakeholder relations and a modern, pragmatic approach to governance.

Jo is based in Auckland.

Lenna Taylor

BA, PGDipComms

General Manager

Lenna holds a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature) from University of Auckland and a Postgraduate Diploma in Communications (PR) from AUT University. She is currently in her final stages of completing her MA (Psychology) from Massey University.

Lenna has a background in communications, research, and executive and governance administration. Her governance experience includes coordinating the Australian Institute of Company Director’s magazine and online publications as a communications executive, a board secretary and executive assistant to the Chair of publicly-listed, private and NFP entities, as well as a researcher specialising in executive search and director recruitment.

Lenna is based in Auckland.

Kylie Mooney

BA, Grad DipBus

Governance Support Specialist

Kylie is a skilled senior executive with experience on both corporate and not-for-profit boards.

Kylie’s previous roles were CEO and COO for the law firm Meredith Connell where she was responsible for IT, risk management, finance, HR, marketing and all operational functions. She has also worked as an independent contractor providing change management and project management support.

With a keen interest in governance, Kylie is currently on the Board for The Turner Centre, the Far North’s largest theatre and conference venue.

Kylie is based in Northland.

Rachel Nottingham

LLB Hons

Governance Consultant

As an advisor, board consultant and director, Rachel provides tailored and practical advice around governance, privacy and information, and strategy and risk management. Her expertise has been crafted from a career as a senior executive, legal counsel, and company secretary, advising across various sectors and industries, including education, infrastructure, and property.

Rachel is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, a 5+ year board member of incorporated society, CCS Disability Action Auckland Inc, chair of the advisory board of Reach (a telehealth care provider) and director of reterniti.com (an innovative start-up in the death tech sector). She gained a LLB Hons from University of Reading and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law.

Melissa Perkin

LLB

Governance Support Specialist

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland. She was admitted to the Bar as a barrister and solicitor, with a varied career in the legal sector, having worked in the courts, legal professional services organisations and in decision writing.

Melissa has particularly strong skills in risk management, stakeholder relationship management and policy generation; her varied governance background includes being committee secretary for a number of representative committees for the Auckland District Law Society Inc and as Executive Director of the New Zealand Bar Association.

Melissa is based in Auckland.

Lisa Willis

BSc, BA, LLB

Governance Support Specialist

Lisa is an enrolled (non-practising) Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and the Supreme Court of England and Wales. With extensive experience as a company secretary and governance professional, she has a proven track record in legal firms, member organisations, and corporate structures.

Lisa has held various senior roles in large corporate entities where she was a trusted governance advisor to executive and non-executive boards.

Lisa holds a BSc in Psychology (First Class Hons) from the University of Auckland, a BA in Economics, and an LL.B from the University of Otago.