Tristan Roberts

About Me

“Tristan is an experienced independent director with a proven track record across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and the US. A self-made high-net-worth entrepreneur and philanthropist, he has built a diverse and successful career spanning law, pharmaceuticals, government, FMCG, and tech. He is widely recognised for turning bold ideas into commercially successful ventures and guiding businesses through complex turnarounds. He is a Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand (MInstD), the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), and the United Kingdom Institute of Directors (MIoD), reflecting his commitment to governance excellence across the Australasian and international landscape. Tristan is also a Full Member of the New Zealand Institute of Intelligence Professionals (NZIIP), the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO), the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). A licensed Investigator under the NZ Ministry of Justice, he draws on a career grounded in operational, criminal, and strategic intelligence. He continues to advise a select group of government and corporate clients on mission-critical matters requiring discretion, analytical rigour, and sound judgement. His expertise spans threat assessment, geopolitical risk, corporate fraud, due diligence, and intelligence-led investigations, often in high-trust environments. With education in law, accounting, and criminal profiling, and holding a TS security clearance, Tristan is globally respected for his investigative expertise in complex fraud and cybercrime. He has received international recognition for solving high-profile corporate and government cases. Following the successful sale of his company to a major US tech firm, he transitioned into philanthropreneurship. Among his notable ventures, he played a pivotal role in supporting Brianne West to scale Ethique from a struggling start-up into a global, sustainable brand operating in over 22 countries. He also led negotiations with multiple parties that culminated in its strategic acquisition by a US private equity fund in 2020, delivering an exceptional outcome for stakeholders. That same year, he joined the board of Bumble and Bumble Capital and co-founded Insprie Labs with Brianne West. Together, they have invested over USD $45M of their own capital into building a next-generation business accelerator, offering non-predatory funding, hands-on operational support, and access to a global expert network. Tristan has served as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer with St John, a Senior Station Officer in the NZ Fire Service, and, since 2014, an Honorary Fisheries Officer. He is a three-time New Zealander of the Year Medal recipient (2012, 2017, 2022) and a semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year. His media representation is managed by 5WPR (US) and Impact PR (NZ). ”