Davinia Sutton

President

With the backbone of a Diploma in Interior Design and Bachelor of Arts in Spatial Design, Davinia has now been in the industry for 22 years – in business since the age of twenty-three and operating ‘Detail by Davinia Sutton’ for the past 15 years. Her design practice – based in Merivale, Christchurch – is a high-end bespoke interior architecture business with projects across New Zealand and Australia, specialising in the ‘hard spaces of the home’: kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, dressing rooms, media rooms and study areas to name a few.

Now an opportunity has arisen where she can give back to an industry that has grown her business and provided a launching pad for her successes. She has a passion for everything design and a sincere desire for the national body of the NKBA to be extended further – building on the foundations that have been created and grown to a level that it is truly respected amongst the industry and consumers alike.

Nicola Manning

Vice President

Nicola Manning established Nicola Manning Design in September 2002. NMD specialises in residential interior design, particularly large-scale renovation and new house builds, offering a full interior design service including kitchen and bathroom design.

A multi award-winning designer, Nicola has received many accolades over the years from the NKBA Excellence in Design Awards and other national awards programmes.

Having completed an Associate Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration from Rhodec International, a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration and a specialist NKBA Kitchen Course, Nicola Manning has a wealth of experience and industry knowledge.

Nicola is a Professional Member of the Designers Institute of New Zealand (PDINZ), a Member and Board Member of the NKBA and the Designers of NKBA Chairperson.

Marianne Gailer

Designers of NKBA (DNKBA) Representative

Hi there, my name is Marianne Gailer and I’m an Elite member of the Designers of the National Kitchen & Bathroom Association NZ, as well as a CKD and CBD Australia.

I have been in the kitchen and bathroom industry for over 20 years as an independent designer with my company Design by MG and am currently contracting to Kitchens by Design. I have won many awards in NZ and Australia and have been on the CDS board for several years in varied capacities. My current responsibility is organising events on the DNKBA committee however I have a definite passion for education and sharing knowledge throughout the industry.

I believe I can further develop the positive connection between suppliers, designers and the organisation to enhance the benefits of being associated with NKBA and thereby fostering and encouraging public confidence in the association. When I’m not 100% consumed by my latest projects I love spending time with family, fishing, hiking, biking and most importantly…having a good laugh every day!

Michael Hawkins

Manufacturing/Supplier Representative

Michael Hawkins has a solid background in the machinery industry, with a focus on manufacturing for the kitchen and furniture sectors. His work at SCM laid the foundation for his expertise. In 2009, he joined Blum to initiate Blum NZ, demonstrating his leadership and industry knowledge.

Michael’s drive for innovation shapes his professional journey, and he actively supports NKBA’s Kitchen and Bathroom Design students through Blum’s partnership with NKBA.

Hamish Ross

Auckland and Northland Regional Representative

Dr Hamish Ross, born in 1960 in Te Awamutu, is a former commercial lawyer and an internationally recognised America’s Cup legal expert, who with his wife Samantha, has owned for the past 10 years Elite Kitchens and Cabinets Limited, a 66-year old business based in Papakura, Auckland.

Hamish’s particular interest in joining the NKBA Executive Board is to help to support cabinetmaking businesses at a challenging time for the industry. He would like to see a voluntary programme of confidential benchmarking of business metrics to help to lift the industry for the benefit and advancement of owners, as well as business mentoring programmes to help assist members and their businesses. He has promoted the documenting of some basic industry standards we all work to with, to have a seal of approval from NKBA to assist its members as a recognised base minimum standard.

Hamish has been on several boards in New Zealand and overseas and is currently a member of the Auckland Maritime Foundation, a charity that manages Half Moon Bay Marina and gives around $500,000 a year to maritime related community charities and activities. He is a maritime conservationist and has been actively advocating for more marine reserves. He holds a doctorate (in law) as well as undergraduate degrees, including a business degree.

Hamish restores and races classic yachts in his spare time and is one of the founders and has been the Patron of the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand for several decades. 

Belle Bourne

South of Auckland to Wellington Regional Representative

Belle has been in the industry for 16 years, starting out as a Kitchen Designer after completing a Diploma in Interior Design. She spent 12 years as a designer and detailer, before deciding to tackle another aspect of the industry, going from Designer to Supplier.

Belle has been with Hafele NZ for over 5 years, and has moved into a new role as National Design and Specification Manager. Her background as a Kitchen Designer gives her a well-informed approach to supporting and working alongside designers and architects throughout the country.

Belle spent 3 years as Chapter Chair for the Wellington Chapter, and still offers her support to the chapter where she can. She is incredibly passionate about the industry and is in the second year of the New Zealand Diploma in Kitchen Design.

Reuben Bogue

South Island Regional Representative

Reuben owns and manages his own joinery business in Queenstown, Formatt Joinery, and currently sits on the Executive for the BCTF (formerly BCITO) and has served on the National Executive for Master Joiners.

Reuben's business trains BCITO apprentices, and he is assisting Waihanga Ara Rau in the Technical Advisory Group for Unit Standards in Joinery. He has over 20 years of business management experience from FMCG, Manufacturing, Heavy Industrial Engineering – servicing the construction industry, defence, automotive and off-highway equipment sectors.