Brett O’Riley is the Managing Director of advisory company OCGL. His governance roles include Executive Chair of Being Education, an edtech and school developer, Chair of the EMA Chinese Business Centre, and a director of infrastructure advisor GSD Corporation. Brett is also an advisor to several international companies including Tata Consultancy Services and Voluntas.

On ABAC, Brett leads the climate change and trade activity as part of the Sustainability Working Group. Brett is also a member of the ABAC voluntary carbon markets forum, and is involved with climate change activity in New Zealand. He was previously CEO of the EMA, New Zealand’s largest business association.

Brett has been involved in many government boards and advisory groups over many years. He is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, with post graduate qualifications from MIT and Singularity University. Brett returned to New Zealand in 2009 and has spent the last 15 years dedicated to the goal of growing the economy and businesses through innovation. This included roles as founding CEO of what is now NZTech, founding Deputy CE of the Ministry of Science + Innovation, and as CEO of Auckland’s economic growth agency.

Prior to that Brett worked internationally in the telecommunications and IT sectors for 20 years. Brett is also a director of World Bowls as Regional Director Oceania and is actively involved in local sports and community groups including Rotary.