The Attorney General and policy-shaper who topped last year’s list remains at Number 1.

An Otago Law & Business graduate, he subsequently blended his community involvement with both business and law. He co-founded the Dunedin Community Law Centre, worked for Anderson Lloyd (when it was Anderson Lloyd Caudwell and then entered business working as manager of biotech company Blis Technology.

Apart from his key legal role, David Parker has also been a key figure handling trade issues at a tense time regarding the future of the World Trade Organisation, given the US criticisms of the WTO.

His role has been central within the WTO itself as he has worked hard to ensure the US grievances about the inadequate enforcement of WTO rules are met.

Should the WTO fail, then agreements like the Comprehensive & Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and a trade deal with the EU and others become even more important and – once again – David Parker sits amid that grouping too.