Dr Brent Layton is a professional company director and independent economist with significant experience in
infrastructural issues including electricity, finance and banking, transport, science and technology and health.
With a PhD in economic history, Brent has significant academic and intellectual ability, and has maintained involvement
in academic activities over a number of years.
As Chair of the New Zealand Electricity Market rules committee, Brent oversaw development of the rules of the wholesale
electricity market.
He has been a director of M-Co and Transpower New Zealand Ltd, and is an economic advisor to the Commerce Commission on
the regulation of large electricity lines businesses.
Brent was formerly Chair of Trust Bank Canterbury and a member of the WestpacTrust New Zealand Advisory Board.
From 1984-1992 he was a director of the New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange. He played a major role in the markets’
establishment and its subsequent restructuring and sale.
Until recently, Brent was one of two external monetary policy advisors to the Governer of the Reserve Bank.
As Chair of the Lyttleton Port Company, he was involved in moving the company from one owned by several local
authorities to a publicly listed company.
Brent also has a wealth of experience in the area of science and technology.
He is currently Chair of Sastek Pty Ltd, a Brisbane-based hardware manufacturing and software development company and
was formerly Chair of AgResearch Ltd and subsequently its commercial arm, Celentis Ltd.
He also served as Deputy Chair of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd and was a director of
HortResearch Ltd.
Dr Layton also has significant expertise in health, having been Chair of Canterbury Health Ltd.
He has also sat on a number of committees for the Ministry of Health, Crown Health Enterprises and Regional Health
Authority.
Brent has a long record of advising the Government, in addition to the above, on the Public Trust, Quotable Value and
producer boards.
He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 1997.