Feast Marlborough Trustees

Nikki de Reeper is an experienced finance professional and has held senior roles within both the Marlborough wine and tourism industries. She has also developed a senior governance portfolio including being past President of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce.

Nikki is passionate about ensuring that regional food and beverage producers are given the opportunity they need to showcase their products and tell the compelling Marlborough Food story.

Nikki moved to Marlborough in 2000 with her husband Tony and three sons and is thrilled to live in a region with world-class food and beverage producers and feels spoilt for choice with what is available. She is excited to be serving on the Feast Marlborough Board and helping to put Marlborough Food on the world map. 

Dion is a passionate Food Producer and has been in the food sector for over 20 years. He owns Origin South Food Co. which specialises in 100% grass single origin lamb reared in either Southland or on the Kaikoura Coast. This long established family farm has been operating for over 100 years and Dion is now the fourth generation to be part of it.

When not talking lamb, Dion is also a keen fisherman and spends any free time out on the Marlborough Sounds in his commercial boat.

He is a passionate food advocate, a member of the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival Committee and an active Feast Marlborough Board Member.

Dion and his wife, Emma, live the sporty life in Blenheim with both them and their four children active in many local sports.

Cathie is a big fan of food. Living in Marlborough gives great access to some fantastic food, drink, and hospitality opportunities, which she loves taking advantage of.
Before she moved to Marlborough 10 years ago, she warned her husband she was “going to go all River Cottage” here, and she’s had productive vege gardens and fruit trees since then. Her own food production is strictly amateur, limited to a bit of jam making and alcoholic infusions. Very occasionally, her children will eat something she’s cooked.
Before moving to Marlborough, Cathie lived in Wellington, where she worked in communications, mostly in government agencies. She worked for several Cabinet Ministers, including several Ministers of Agriculture. She has a strong interest in the primary sector, especially in food production. She brings expertise in developing and implementing strategy, ensuring high-quality engagement, and a focus on

well-being, both economic and social.
Cathie now owns her own business, working as a communications consultant, helping companies and organisations in Marlborough and nationally to tell their stories.
Cathie is active in school, church, and community organisations in Marlborough. She has held governance roles in national organisations for over 20 years, and is currently Chair of the Mistletoe Bay Trust, a Trustee on the Marlborough Electric Power Trust, and a member of the Mistletoe Charitable Foundation, the Marlborough Heritage Trust, and the Friends of St Mary’s School organisation.

Fiona established the Feast Marlborough Charitable Trust in 2019 and was instrumental in putting together the foundation Board of Trustees and developing the strategic direction for the Trust. She stepped down from the Board on April 2020 to focus on other businesses but remains a dedicated supporter of Marlborough’s food and beverage sector and continues to advise the Board as required.

Fiona is an independent Management Consultant specialising in leadership and reputation management.
Having started her career with major global corporates, Fiona went on to senior corporate roles before establishing her own Communications Agency in Europe.

Fiona’s main business is, ‘fifteenminutes’, and within that, she is an author, public speaker, and adviser in reputation management and personal/ leadership brand. In addition, she has extensive experience in Governance and has served on the Boards of many national and regional organisations, both in New Zealand and Europe.

A passionate Marlburian and “kiwi of choice” having moved to New Zealand in 2001, Fiona is committed to developing the strong authentic profile of Marlborough through its food and beverage sector and believes that inclusion and collaboration are key to achieving this.

Fiona lives in Marlborough’s beautiful Southern Valleys on her boutique organic Pinot Noir vineyard, ‘The Quarters’ with husband Martin and her constant shadow – Molly the labradoodle. She is a mother to 3 daughters and a proud grandma of 3. Her happy place is cooking up Marlborough produce in her farmhouse kitchen with a glass of pinot in hand, and her joy is developing The Quarters Vineyard orchard and kitchen garden, keeping bees and growing the tribe of creatures great and small. 

Rob Simcic is a company director specialising in the New Zealand food sector and community wellbeing initiatives. Rob spent over fifteen years in ANZ Commercial & Agri Banking, most recently as a Food & Beverage Sector Specialist. A role dedicated to supporting the sector by connecting people across the food system and developing insights to inspire innovation and investment.

Rob firmly believes in the foundational role the Food & Beverage sector can play in improving social, health, economic and environmental outcomes for our communities via the sharing and implementation of collaborative, innovative and long-term thinking.

Today Rob dedicates most of his time to Nelson-based boutique food producer, Little Beauties. As Managing Director, Rob and the team are on a mission to create the world’s finest specialty dried fruits – bursting with New Zealand goodness, crafted with care and made to share.

Rob is a past Executive Committee member for Eat New Zealand – a nationwide collective and food movement dedicated to connecting people to our land, through our food; and, as Deputy Chair of Life Education Trust New Zealand – a charity that educates and empowers children to make healthy choices so they can live full and healthy lives.

Rob lives on a mixed orchard property in Tasman with his wife Niki and their four homeschooled children.