NZFIA Board

Des Walsh is the Director/CEO of Central Forklift Group. He started the business along with his business partners back in 1996. Des has been involved in in the Forklift Industry ever since he left school and started on the tools as an apprentice technician. Des did his apprenticeship with Cable Price and worked up to middle Management before leaving to be involved with setting up and starting Central. 

Des lives in Wellington with his wife and they have 3 adult children.  Des enjoys multiple sports, but these days mainly golf, skiing and a bit of cycling.

Dexter is Managing Director of Northern Forklifts Ltd. He got into the forklift business in 1982, intending to gain some management experience and then return to the concrete industry. Somehow this never happened, and his short stay grew into a lifetime interest.

He’s a self-confessed machinery junky who is happiest checking out now and exciting industry innovations and is excited by the progress of the forklift industry into sustainable materials handling equipment.

Dexter relaxes on his lifestyle block in northern Auckland with a couple of old tractors and a 1988 Isuzu 4x4 farm truck, to keep him occupied.

Blair Elliot is currently the National Rental Manager for AB Equipment Ltd. Blair brings over 35 years’ experience in the Material Handling Industry having spend all this time with ABE. Blair would say his veins run with hydraulic fluid and heavy equipment is certainly his passion.

Blair has extensive knowledge in the Material Handling, Construction Equipment and Forestry sectors having spend time as a Product Manager, Sales Manager, Rental Manager and Branch Manager.

Blair lives in Auckland and is a keen SCUBA diver and fisherman. 

Jamie TeRangi is currently the South Island Territory Manager for the Continental Industrial Tyre Division at AB Equipment Ltd. Jamie has a passion for forklifts and technology with Health and Safety being of the highest priority. Having a total of 10 years’ experience selling Material Handling solutions and 10 years in the industrial tyre space, he has a great all-round knowledge of the forklift industry.

Jamie lives in Christchurch with his wife (Victoria) and 2 children, Scarlett and Lilly. Loves all kinds of sport, with fishing, rugby and camping with the family as his standouts.

Brendan is currently the Regional Director of Oceania for the well-known Global Parts company TVH.

With 7 branches across Oceania and 1 manufacturing operation In Brisbane TVH has a clear focus on attachment manufacturing, and replacement parts and accessories supporting the Materials handling, Agricultural, Construction, and Industrial sectors.

With a career spanning 25 years, 15 of those with TVH, Brendan was previously the Managing Director for TVH's New Zealand Operation and has held previous roles within TVH including, National Sales and Marketing functions.

Away from work, Brendan enjoys traveling NZ and abroad and is a keen fisherman, who enjoys spending time with family and friends.