Headquarters:
16 Takutai Square, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010
Year founded:
1861
Number of employees:
5,500
Phone:
0217 125 45
Email:
chris.poledniok@westpac.co.nz
Website:
westpac.co.nz
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/westpac-new-zealand-limited
Chris Poledniok
National Manager, Third Party Channel
Tania Ropati
Business Development Manager
Chen Wang
Business Development Manager
The BDM Team
Chris Poledniok is the head of the third party channel at Westpac New Zealand, bringing over 15 years of banking experience. Now in his third year leading the channel, he has been instrumental in shaping Westpac’s third party strategy, strengthening adviser relationships, and driving sustainable growth. Previously, he served as national manager of the MMM channel, leading a high-performing team focused on tailored lending solutions across New Zealand. Chris is passionate about strategic thinking, building trusted partnerships and creating real value through third party relationships.
National Manager, Third Party Channel
Chris Poledniok
With over 35 years in banking, Tania Ropati is renowned for her strong relationships, trusted advice and proven results. She spent 21 years as an MMM with BNZ before joining Westpac, where she has excelled as a BDM for 14 years. Tania has been named Loan Market BDM of the Year for nine consecutive years, won PAA BDM of the Year in 2015 and 2017 and was a finalist in the 2025 NZ Adviser Awards. She is passionate about supporting advisers, adding value to their businesses and helping them succeed.
Business Development Manager
Tania Ropati
Chen Wang brings over 13 years of lending experience, including a decade with Westpac as a mobile manager and BDM. He is recognised for his hands-on, responsive and reliable approach within the adviser channel. Chen excels at simplifying complex lending scenarios into clear, practical solutions, supporting advisers with confidence. His expertise spans residential, business and construction lending, making him a trusted partner for challenging cases and a valuable resource for adviser training and support.
Business Development Manager
Chen Wang
Petra Wensor
Business Development Manager
Based in Tauranga, Petra Wensor is a business development manager with over 20 years of banking experience. Since starting her career in 2001, Petra has held diverse roles across call centres, commercial banking, branch operations and as a mobile mortgage manager. She is known for her strategic thinking, relationship-building and commitment to adviser success. Petra works closely with partners to deliver tailored solutions, bringing energy, insight and a passion for supporting the adviser network to every interaction.
Business Development Manager
Petra Wensor
Nicky Skinner
Business Development Manager
Nicky Skinner, based in Christchurch, was honoured as NZ Adviser’s BDM of the Year. With over 20 years of banking experience – including roles as bank manager, private banker and senior lender – she brings deep expertise to her work. Nicky supports mortgage advisers with product knowledge and deal presentation skills, focusing on building strong, trusted relationships. Her collaborative approach and dedication make her a valued resource, consistently praised for her guidance and support in helping advisers achieve outstanding client outcomes.
Business Development Manager
Nicky Skinner
Sarah Radonich
Third Party Support Manager
Steph Leeson
Business Development Manager
Margaret Leau-Sulusi
Business Development Manager
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Sarah Radonich is a Third Party Support Manager (relief BDM) at Westpac, building strong relationships with mortgage advisers across New Zealand. With 15 years of banking experience, she supports a wide range of regions and communities, working alongside a team of experienced BDMs. Sarah is known for her responsiveness, collaboration and focus on delivering efficient, results-driven experiences for advisers and their clients, always striving for the best possible outcomes.
Third Party Support Manager
Sarah Radonich
Steph Leeson immigrated from the UK 14 years ago and began her Westpac career as a specialist lender. Now a business development manager, she supports mortgage advisers across Auckland and Northland, offering expert guidance and support. Steph is highly regarded for her lending knowledge, responsiveness and collaborative approach. Her dedication was recognised nationally as a finalist for the 2025 NZ Adviser BDM of the Year award, reflecting her impact within the Third Party Channel.
Business Development Manager
Steph Leeson
Margaret Leau-Sulusi brings over 20 years of banking experience to her role as business development manager, having started with Westpac in 2005. Her background includes lending support, senior lending roles and branch management. Margaret partners closely with mortgage advisers, providing product expertise and strategic guidance to drive strong client outcomes. Known for her collaborative style and responsiveness, she is passionate about building trusted relationships and delivering customer-focused results.
Business Development Manager
Margaret Leau-Sulusi
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
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Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
“We also maintain open lines of communication with advisers so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly”
Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand
“We’ve invested heavily in resourcing and process improvements to reduce friction and speed up approvals”
Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand
Westpac NZ is one of the country’s “Big Four” banks, offering a comprehensive range of financial services, including retail, business, agribusiness and institutional banking. It also provides wealth management and KiwiSaver services through its subsidiary BTNZ. The bank serves individuals, businesses and the New Zealand government.
IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company.
“We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.”
Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate.
“Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”
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Resourcing has been treated as a deliberate lever for growth. ANZ has expanded assessor teams, trained them to combine technical expertise with empathy, and equipped them with the market knowledge to make faster, more reliable decisions.
Advisers depend on turnaround times that meet client expectations.
“We’ve invested heavily in resourcing and process improvements to reduce friction and speed up approvals,” says Hayley Burgess, ANZ head of mortgage adviser distribution. “We also maintain open lines of communication with advisers so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly.”
People development follows the same philosophy. New hires are chosen for both skill and attitude, and training goes beyond technical proficiency. Programs cover credit assessment, economic literacy and client engagement, with equal weight on empathy and communication. Advisers often work with clients under stress, and ANZ expects its people to balance expertise with human understanding.
