David Downs

David Downs was appointed to the Trust Board in 2024. He has had a successful career in the private and public sector and is now CEO of the New Zealand Story Group, an ambitious government-funded organisation marketing New Zealand to the world. He also acts as a consultant and is a director on several boards, including as chair of the Icehouse, and the Hi-Tech Trust. David is an ex-comedian, TV and radio actor, semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, cancer survivor and a published author of the books No.8 Re-wired, No.8 Recharged, A Mild Touch of the Cancer, and Silver Linings. David is an ambassador for the Malaghan Institute and a living example of the effectiveness of advanced cancer treatment – CAR T-cell therapy.