Leadership Team

PATSY BASS
FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Patsy was born in Reefton and returned in 2018 after a successful career in Human Resources, Change, Project and General Management to contribute to the revitalisation of her home town.  She attributes roles with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Outward Bound New Zealand and some of New Zealand’s largest cooperative and not for profit organisations, with leading her back home to create a business with an intergenerational focus.

ALLAN HICKFORD
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Allan is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia/New Zealand, with 25+ years of commercial experience developed across a number of sectors.

He has a strong background in leadership, strategic growth and improving financial performance.

ANDREW NAIRN, M.Sc.
DISTILLERY OPTIMISATION SPECIALIST

Andrew moved from science/chemistry to a distilling career with Diageo in 2011, where he earned a reputation for exceptional quality, process efficiency and leadership, through to designing and running production.  Andrew most recently played a key role in the establishment of Borders Distillery, Scotland and is now supporting our optimisation and expansion plans.

STEFFAN AND NIGEL MACKAY
AMBASSADORS AND WATER PROSPECTORS

Steffan and Nigel are very proud of both their Scottish heritage and the culture of their home town. The twin brothers who were born and grew up in Reefton, are authorities on everything there is to know about the area, its people, and its rich history. Their ability as “water prospectors” has enabled them to find the location of local springs, assisting in the establishment of the water sources for the distillery.