Simon was raised on the family farm in Waitahuna and schooled in Dunedin where he was head boy of John McGlashan College.  He completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree at Otago University and worked for a large Dunedin accounting practice for a number of years.

Simon was recently appointed an Associate of Shand Thomson.  He has a strong background of working with farming and agribusiness families with their annual accounting, taxation and business planning needs.

Simon's areas of expertise include commercial advice to small to medium enterprises and rural business advice. Simon also has valuable experience in working with clients on their succession planning issues.  He enjoys the additional challenges that succession planning in the rural sector presents.

Simon is married to Catherine and they have two young children, Elloise and William. They enjoy holidays in Central Otago and Napier (Catherine's home town) and Simon enjoys all sports, particularly rugby, and dabbles in Twilight Cricket during the summer months.

From 1999 to 2002 Simon and Catherine lived in the UK.  During this time he was a CFO in the rail industry and this provided him with considerable commercial experience in a rapidly changing industry.

Simon's rural upbringing and interest in the agricultural sector combined with his commercial experience in both London and Dunedin brings a strong business skill set to the firm.