Mike Skilling


Mike has built a distinguished career in New Zealand’s banking and agribusiness sectors. He currently serves as an Independent Director at SBS Bank and is Chairman and Director of its private wealth arm, FANZ. His banking career began in 1980 with Rural Bank and National Bank, before joining BNZ in 1995 to lead its Rural Business division. He was later appointed General Manager Agribusiness and spent eight years on BNZ’s Executive Team, leading BNZ Partners (business banking).

After BNZ, Mike became Group General Manager of one of New Zealand’s largest rural retail businesses, overseeing 98 stores and 1,300 staff. Today, he sits on multiple boards across diverse sectors, contributing deep governance expertise, commercial leadership, and strategic insight.

A champion of innovation and education, Mike co-founded The Icehouse in 2000, developed agribusiness-specific leadership programs at BNZ, and played a key role in launching Agonline, PGG Wrightson’s online stock trading platform, in 2009.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science (Farm Management and Valuation) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Banking. Mike is a Chartered Director with the NZ Institute of Directors and a Senior Fellow of FINSIA.