28 Jul 2026 New Zealand Meat Board appoints Esther Guy-Meakin as chief executive

The New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB) has appointed Esther Guy-Meakin as chief executive.

 NZMB chair Kate Acland said Esther is a senior trade policy and advocacy professional with experience across the public and private sectors.

 “Esther has held senior roles spanning international trade negotiations, industry advocacy, strategic communications and government relations.

 “Her deep trade policy expertise and strong understanding of the red meat sector will be valuable to the Board as it continues its important work on behalf of New Zealand’s farmers and exporters.”

Esther’s trade policy expertise is grounded in a career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where she led goods negotiations in the RCEP and India-New Zealand free trade agreements, served as Legal Adviser to the TPP negotiating team, and represented New Zealand as a diplomat in New Delhi, India.

She has also held senior roles at Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association, leading trade advocacy and market access strategy for the red meat sector.

Esther will start her new role on 3 August.

She replaces Nick Beeby, who has been appointed chief executive of the Meat Industry Association.

Esther Guy-Meakin

For more information, please contact:

Sam Halstead
027 474 6065
sam@latitudesc.co.nz