Tony Balfour takes over as chair of the Lottery Commission from Mark Todd, who is retiring after seven years on the Board
New Zealand Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has appointed Tony Balfour as the new chair of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission Board.
Balfour will join the Board on 1 May, following the retirement of Mark Todd, who has served on the Board since February 2019.
“Mr Balfour brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the role, with a distinguished career spanning governance, business strategy, and community engagement,” said van Velden. “He also brings strong commercial acumen and executive level experience. His appointment ensures strong and effective leadership within the Commission, which plays a vital role in supporting community initiatives through lottery funding.
“The New Zealand Lotteries Commission is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, and Mr Balfour’s leadership will further enhance its ability to meet these goals. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Todd for his service over the past seven years, and for chairing the Board since 2024. I wish him all the very best.”
Balfour will serve on the Board alongside Kim Gordon (deputy chair), Erica Hodgson, Talia Anderson Town, Trish Oakley, Steve Bayliss and Angela Dixon.
The New Zealand Lotteries Commission Board is the government-appointed body responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction, and policy of Lotto NZ.