Professional Rugby

Brent is a Business Consultant, Independent Director and Cancer survivor.

He lives with his partner Wendy Palmer, has a daughter and two sons.

Brent grew up in Papatoetoe and was a keen rugby player from a young age up to his mid 20’s. He has maintained a life-long love of the game which has included various coaching and administrative roles.

After an education at Auckland Grammar, he started his professional life with an Arts and Law degree from Auckland University in the mid 1970’s.  At that time he toyed with a political career and even stood as a candidate against Prime Minister Rob Muldoon in one election.

He practiced law until 1992, specialising in media law and area of personal interest … he has even worked as an on-air host at RadioLive.

After a lengthy career in media, including as Chief Executive of MediaWorks for 11 years, he took on a role as a Director of NZ Rugby 2012  and was subsequently appointed as Chair from 2014 until this year.  He also served as Chair of SANZAAR from 2015 till 2020.  

Earlier this year he stepped down as Chair of NZ Rugby; a role which he has subsequently described as “a massive honour and a privilege“.

Brent holds directorships at Yellow Pages Group, and Devon Funds Management and is a former Executive Director of the Fred Hollows Foundation and has held non-executive roles at Hutchwilco, Market Pulse International Limited, Ports of Auckland and Finzsoft Limited.