Penny Wilson
Executive Officer
P: (+64) 21 781 555
info@rnzpba.com

Penny was a piper in the Methven Caledonian Pipe Band for 31 years, the biggest thrill winning Grade 4 in 1983. For 20 years she attended Canterbury Centre meetings representing Methven, then after moving to Christchurch,  the Christchurch Metropolitan Pipe band.

Penny has served on two national contest committees in Christchurch, and was elected to the RNZPBA Executive, representing Canterbury, under the old regime, for seven years until it was disbanded in favour of the current management system.

At every national contest since 1988 she has assisted in the recording office collating results, plus serving on the judicial committee. She was a Director and Secretary for the Foundation, and Secretary for Christchurch Metropolitan Pipe Band.

Penny is a contributor to NZ Pipeband magazine, having written articles in the past, and continues as a proof reader.

She was elected as a Management Board member in 2007, and resigned in 2018 to be appointed Executive Officer.

Chris Stevens
Group Leader: Digital Group/Magazine Editor
P: (+64) 27 331 0313
chris.stevens@rnzpba.com

Chris has been a piper in the local scene since the early 1970s, twice being P/M of St Andrew’s College, then joining Canterbury Caledonian Society PB, and assuming the P/M role through the 1990s.

He joined the RNZPBA management team in 2001 with the Publication and Communications portfolio, and has been editor of NZ Pipeband magazine through most of the last 20 years.

Chris produced the Associations first website, which was latterly developed and hosted by other providers, and has developed and managed the membership database both manually, and online.

He has been on the national adjudication panel since 2002, and officiated at several contests in both NZ and Australia.  In the early 2000s, he was musical director of the St Andrew’s College Pipe Band, plus has directed the Canterbury Caledonian Society Grade 2 band.

He was awarded a Life Membership of the RNZPBA in 2021.

Liam Kernaghan
Group Leader: Promotions
P: (+64) 21 71 5108
promotions@rnzpba.com

Liam is passionate about pipe bands and has competed for almost two decades in contests across New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.  For three years, he was Editor of NZ Pipeband magazine, and in 2020, was admitted to the National Adjudication Panel.

Liam is one of New Zealand’s most prolific solo pipers, having won top positions at all major competitions in New Zealand,  and has also taken prizes in Scotland.

In his professional life, Liam has worked across public policy, strategic communications, corporate affairs and government relations, so he brings an extensive skill-set to the Promotions Group, and the RNZPBA Management team.

Geoff Hallberg
Group Leader: Education
P: (+64) 27 406 2551
education@rnzpba.com

Geoff lives in Christchurch and is no stranger to the pipe band movement. Starting piping when he was 13 in Dunedin, Geoff has amassed a number of high-profile solo and pipe band prizes, including the Silver Chanter at the annual Labour Weekend competitions. He was the Pipe Major of the City of Dunedin Pipe Band for seven years, winning the grade two New Zealand championships on three occasions. He currently competes with the current New Zealand champions, the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band.

Geoff has been passionate about piping and drumming education from early on, teaching at Summer Schools for over two decades and a regular at seminars around the country. Most recently he led the Mentor Programme for the RNZPBA, and is excited to take on the responsibility of Group Leader of the Education portfolio.

Mark Wilson
Group Leader: Contests
P: (+64) 21 910 262
contests@rnzpba.com

Mark became Contest Group Leader in 2019 after two years of shadowing the previous leader, Kerry Marshall.

He has had 25 years association with the band movement, including as a drum major, and in administrative roles,  as well as supporting his wife Karen (piper and previous Executive Officer of the RNZPBA) and daughter (tenor drummer for Canterbury Caledonian G1).

Mark has served 15 years with LandSAR from active field member, Management Team involvement and Group Secretary.

Bryce Gilchrist
Group Leader: Centres
P: (+64) 29 441 3800
centres@rnzpba.com

Bryce has a long history of involvement in the pipe band community, having played in Dunedin and North Otago bands, as well as City of Wellington G1, and Celtic Pipe Band in Nelson. As pipe major of the Celtic Pipe Band over a 10-year period, he led the bands evolution from a small group of learners into a multi-tiered organisation including two bands competing at Grade 4A and Grade 2, and wining two national titles.  While Bryce has since stepped aside as pipe major, he continues to play in the band and provides strategic input as band president. Banding has always been very much a family affair for Bryce, and he is grateful for the opportunities it has provided, including two of his children playing with SFU Pipe Band, enabling them to bring knowledge back to the local environment.

Bryce had a long career as a senior executive in the corporate sector with extensive experience in strategy, financial management, project management, human resources, and IT development. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds qualifications in production and management systems. These days however, he is fulltime developing the family property.

Bryce feels it is important we grow its player membership and its positive contribution to society, as pipe bands can help young people learn how to set goals, utilise self-discipline strategies, and experience success in a discipline. He is keen to see the development of smart learner programmes for bands, encouraging more family involvement, and believes Centres could play an important role to achieve this.