Diane Foreman

Diane Foreman is an entrepreneur and business leader with a 35-year track record of creating and growing successful enterprises.

Her journey as a business leader led her to become the CEO of Trigon Industries, a family-owned plastic packaging giant, with manufacturing plants in Hamilton, Henderson (NZ), Seattle, and Atlanta (US), Cambridge, Telford (UK) with sales offices in Australia, Germany, Japan and Singapore. Diane skilfully negotiated the sale of Trigon to US packaging giant Sealedair Corporation (NYSE).

Subsequent to the sale of Trigon, Diane founded Emerald Group. Under Emerald, she established Emerald Foods Ltd acquiring a dairy company, expanding from its primary focus on organic milk to becoming a world leader in the manufacture of ice cream. Diane steered the company to become an international franchising powerhouse with over 1,000 outlets worldwide, earning accolades as New Zealand Manufacturer of the year, and Franchisor of the Year.

Her contribution and success with entrepreneurial ventures were recognised when she was named New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009, leading to her role as a judge on the global stage and chairing the prestigious events across New Zealand, London, and the UK. Along with being inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2024.

Diane’s strategic vision established Emerald Group Ltd as a cornerstone investor in the New Zealand healthcare sector. Together with several of New Zealand’s most high-profile investors Diane built and developed Healthcare Holdings into one of the country’s foremost private hospital groups including the build of Ascot Hospital and the acquisition of the Mercy Hospital Group. Separately Diane expanded into the Australian private hospital market by acquiring a chain of 3 private hospitals holding the roles of Non-Executive Director and Chair.

Diane’s experience includes governance, strategy, opportunity assessment and capture, and successfully scaling by taking New Zealand companies to international markets. Her success in achieving award-winning outcomes showcases her ability to drive value through innovation and leadership – over her career negotiating New Zealand and off-shore deals in excess of ½ billion NZ$.

Diane’s passion to explore and recruit New Zealand’s most talented people led her to co-found Emergent, a recruitment firm where she maintains a significant stake and board position.

Currently, as the Chair and principal shareholder of Chelsea Group Ltd, Diane oversees a diverse portfolio of commercial, residential, tourism and rural property developments across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.

A co-founder of International Winning Woman, Diane has also contributed to the NZ Business Round Table as a member and Co-Chair. Her contributions to manufacturing and business earned her a CNZM in 2012.

Diane is also an accomplished author, with bestsellers “In the Arena” and “Dare to Compete” under her belt. Diane’s biography is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit and her ability to navigate and lead businesses towards success and innovation.

Diane’s vision for New Zealand to reach its full potential; to punch harder and faster and to ensure sustainable infrastructure and commercial outcomes that will build and maintain prosperity for its people. In addition to leading commercial enterprises and her drive for achieving commercially viable operations, Diane sees public-private partnerships as an enabler for New Zealand to achieve outcomes ahead of what would normally be delivered through disparate entities acting in isolation.