SGS Management

Peter Hart
Managing Director for New Zealand

Peter joined SGS Australia in 2001 as the Australasian Manager for Pink Healthcare. In 2002 Peter’s role was extended to include the management of the Consumer Testing Services, Systems and Services Certification businesses. Peter was appointed Managing Director of New Zealand in January 2005.

Murray Roberts
Business Manager for Agricultural and Consumer Testing Services

Murray joined SGS in 1988 by way of an acquisition company Garry deJoux Ltd where he was a Director. Starting with SGS as Branch Manager for Timaru, he was then appointed Agricultural Services Divisional Manager in May 1989 and then NZ Business Manager for Agri. In June 2005 Murray was appointed NZ Business Manager for both Agri and Consumer Testing Services with the aim of integrating these two businesses to bring growth to the Food Laboratory and Auditing.

Peter Baxter
Business Manager for Wool Testing Services

After graduating from the University of Wales with an honors degree in physics, Peter spent 2 decades in a wide variety of materials testing, consultancy and management roles. Working in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia in disciplines as diverse as geotechnics and construction technology to raw wool, Peter gained wide experience in managing and expanding inspection and testing operations. He became affiliated with SGS Australia in 1990, representing them at IWTO conferences, and then joining SGS in New Zealand in 1993. Whilst initially in the role of quality consultant, in 1994 he was appointed technical manager in Wool Testing Services and assumed the role of business manager for wool in 1995. Among his numerous affiliations Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Quality Assurance (FIQA) and is both a Chartered Scientist and Charted Engineer. Peter has been active in research and development in the wool industry, having authored or co-authored more than 80 publications on wool metrology.

Dean Currie
Business Manager for Non Destructive Testing and Materials Services

Dean joined SGS in 1990 as a Metallurgical Engineer managing the Materials Laboratory. He was appointed in 1993 to Auckland Branch Manager and in 2000 was made Operations Manager for the NDT business. In 2002 Dean took over managing the entire NDT and Materials business and his responsibilities include 6 branches and inspections in the field. He brings with him 20 years experience in the industry with Metallurgical and Welding Engineering qualifications.

Vaughan Sandri
Business Manager for Oil, Gas and Chemicals (OGC)

Vaughan joined SGS in 2003 by way of an acquisition company Petroleum Engineering Services Ltd where he was a director. He was appointed Southern Regional Manager in 2004 and in June 2005 he was appointed to NZ Business Manager for the OGC business responsible for 8 branches nationwide. Vaughan brings 23 years experience within the industry.

Berin Wong
Chief Financial Officer

Berin Wong has been with SGS since May 2006 where he aims to build a world class finance and shared services function to support SGS business growth. Since returning from the UK in the early 90’s he has involved in a range of businesses from Start up to Large multinationals in a range of roles from IT to HR but primarily financial and commercial. This included Tyco Flow Control and Carter Holt Harvey and earlier spells at Housing NZ and Diagnostic Laboratories. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, an Associate of the NZ Institute of Management, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and holds a Degree in Commerce from Auckland University. He is based in the Auckland office.

Glyn Kessell
Human Resources Manager

Glyn started her Human Resources Career in Medical Publishing in 1985 and after 10 years with Adis International moved to Mercury Energy during the period when the electricity industry was going through Deregulation. Since then Glyn has worked in senior roles in the IT Industry, Manufacturing and Professional Consulting. Glyn spent two years in South Africa with VSA as a Management Advisor and prior to joining SGS was the HR Manager for GEO NZ Ltd, at the Auckland Central Remand Prison, the first and only venture into private prison Management in New Zealand.

Hugh McMillan
Business Manager for Minerals Services

Hugh started his career as a Research Technician with MAF where he gained a Diploma in Field Technology from Lincoln University. He moved to Australia for two years where he was employed by several Goldmines in Western Australia in a variety of technical roles. After returning to New Zealand he worked for CoalCorp (later to become SENZ) and completed a NZCS in chemistry. The CoalCorp Laboratories were acquired by SGS in 1995, where Hugh was employed by SGS in the role of Laboratory Manager of the Ngakawau Minerals Laboratory. He took over the New Zealand Minerals Business Manager’s position in 2007.

Mike Toxopeus
Business Manager for Industrial Services

Mike’s career started some 25 years ago when he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Marine Engineering Office from High School. Mike went on to serve in a variety of sea, shore and overseas postings, eventually being promoted to Commander and appointed as the Director of Marine Engineering; the head of branch of some 400 personnel. Highlights during his 20+ year career included; living and training in the UK for 2.5 years, commissioning of the ANZAC Frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and later serving as the Marine Engineer Officer (including operational deployments to East Timor and the Persian Gulf), and various positions within the Engineering Support organization including heading up an engineering inspection and auditing team.

Mike left the Navy in 2005, and after a short spell with a large electricity utility company, he joined SGS in 2007 as the NZ Industrial Business Manager, responsible for the current five business units within the Marine & Industrial and NDT & Materials teams. Mike is a Member of City & Guilds Institute and holds a MBA (Auckland), MSc - Marine Engineering (Plymouth University, UK), and BE(Mech) Hons (Auckland).

Julie MacDonald
Business Manager for Systems and Services Certification

Julie joined SGS in 2001. Her experience comes from various roles in Sales, Laboratory Management and Quality Systems Management.

She began her career with SGS in a Sales role for the CTS laboratory which quickly progressed into a Key Account role which included the CTS Food Auditing business. During this time she also assisted in the running of the CTS laboratory.  In 2004 SGS bought the SSC business back to NZ from Australian latterly external management. In 2005 Julie accepted the role of SSC Business Manager using her experience in Quality Systems and Sales to successfully grow and add new programmes such as Forestry to bring the business to where it is today.