Katherine Evans has over 25 years' experience managing complex international legal, regulatory, and commercial issues, and is known for her strategic approach to governance, legal and intellectual property management. She has led Zespri's legal and intellectual property function for 18 years supporting Zespri’s growth over that time frame from approximately NZ$1B to over $6B, including the commercial launch of the Zespri SunGold and Zespri RubyRed varieties and associated brands. Zespri Group Limited is New Zealand’s largest horticultural exporter, responsible for the sale of kiwifruit to more than 50 countries around the world. Zespri is 100 percent owned by current and former kiwifruit growers and has a global team of 900 working across the entire kiwifruit lifecyle and supply chain from cultivar development to consumers across Asia, Europe and the Americas. In 2020, Katherine established a dedicated intellectual property team working alongside the legal team and focused on the strategic lifecycle management of Zespri’s extensive portfolio of kiwifruit cultivars, research outcomes and brands to deliver value to Zespri and the wider New Zealand kiwifruit industry. Prior to joining Zespri, Katherine worked as general counsel of a New Zealand software business and biotechnology research company, in addition to her earlier private practice experience in technology and IP at leading law firms in New Zealand and Canada. Katherine is ranked in Legal500's GC Powerlist for Australia and New Zealand and has previously been acknowledged as corporate lawyer of the year for the Corporate Lawyer Association of New Zealand.