Our owners work in the business.

Anyone with a shareholding in the Foster Group must work in the business. We have 14 employees with company shareholdings among our different business units.

What this means:

  • We work as a team through every aspect of this business – from high-level decision making to everyday operational decisions.
  • Fosters clients have a direct connection with the Group’s owners.
  • We have a personal commitment to making every Fosters project a success.
  • Within Fosters, decisions are made locally, quickly, and with a lens on long term relationships.
  • Our company profits are invested and spent locally.

20% of Fosters is owned by the Foster Group Trust.

This means that 20% of our profit is invested back into the community. A large portion of this money is given to the Foster500, an initiative that empowers our staff to contribute to their communities.

The Trust also owns 20% of Foster Develop.

Meet the Foster Group Board

Sacha Coburn COO and co-owner of Coffee Culture, the boutique coffee business with 20 locations across New Zealand, Sacha is also the co-founder of a leadership development business, The Company You Keep.

A natural business leader and sought after motivational speaker, she brings a blend of experience, insight, and drive to the Fosters board.

A former lawyer, Sacha also holds a Master’s in Education from Waikato University. She is a Prime Minister's Business Scholarship winner and graduate of the OPM programme at Harvard Business School. Chairperson Leonard Gardner A major shareholder and director of Fosters, Leonard joined Fosters in 2003 as a Chartered Accountant. In 2004 he was appointed to the role of commercial manager and two years later became a director and shareholder at Fosters.

Leonard’s strengths lie in his ability to integrate the worlds of business and community. A great leader and communicator, he is adept at bringing stakeholders together to achieve optimal outcomes.

Community, family, and people are his passions, and Leonard brings a personal touch to all those he collaborates with. Director Tim Strawbridge Tim has been at Fosters since 2002, when he commenced as a quantity surveyor. In 2007 he became a shareholder in the business.

Well-respected for his commercial acumen and technical thinking, Tim has a huge depth of industry knowledge and experience. He is results-driven and has an ability to find solutions under the most challenging of circumstances. Director Adam Findlay Joining Fosters in 2003 as an apprentice, Adam's rise to Director is a reflection of his talent, passion and leadership capabilities.

Optimistic and motivational, he's a natural leader, quick thinker and a hard worker with high standards of quality and excellence. Director James Grafas After doing his trade as an electrician, James worked in HR & Recruitment for 20 years, including serving as CEO of one of New Zealand’s leading recruiters. He co-founded Good Trust, a charity funding water projects in Cambodia since 2009 and founded James People, which helps companies attract great people, mostly for leadership roles. Currently, James serves as a board member and chairperson for several businesses in kiwifruit, residential construction, and technology. He is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and joined the Foster Construction Group board in early 2026. Director arrow_forward Leonard-Gardner Tim-Strawbridge Adam-Findlay Adam-Findlay Tim-Strawbridge James-Grafas James-Grafas
Meet the rest of our team
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