Tech Leaders to Know: Peter Ashworth
- Pri Mills
- May 26
- 3 min read
Clarity, Curiosity & Code: The Peter Ashworth Way
With over 25 years in the tech industry, Peter Ashworth has built a career that bridges deep technical knowledge with commercial insight and people-first leadership. Originally from London, Peter now calls Hawke's Bay home, where he lives with his wife and their energetic cocker spaniel puppy.
From Lockheed Martin to global product management roles and eventually the CTO seat, Peter’s journey has been shaped by a mix of natural curiosity, purposeful problem solving, and a commitment to building strong teams and lasting solutions.
"Innovation should serve a clear purpose. Technology should be leveraged not simply because it is new, but because it drives meaningful value and improves the way a business operates."

From Curiosity to CTO
Peter's journey into tech began with a degree in High Performance Computing and a transformative placement at Lockheed Martin. What started as a student role evolved into leadership opportunities that laid the foundation for a future in software engineering and management.
His path wasn’t linear—he took time to study for an MBA while working full-time, allowing him to shift from managing engineering teams to product ownership, and eventually to the executive level.
"Completing my MBA gave me a broader commercial lens, and helped me feel ready to take on a Chief Technology Officer role."
Leadership in Aotearoa
Peter believes that leadership in New Zealand has a unique character: it's deeply relationship-based.
"Being a tech leader in New Zealand is as much about the people and relationships as it is about understanding the technology. Building trust and strong working relationships is essential for long-term success."
Mentorship plays a major role in Peter’s leadership approach. He enjoys helping team members grow, make mistakes, and ultimately deliver better outcomes.
On Innovation & AI
Peter is cautiously optimistic about the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs), particularly their potential to assist developers in writing and understanding code.
"We’re still early in the hype cycle, and there’s a risk of poor implementations. But long-term, I see huge potential in combining AI with great human problem-solvers to create amazing solutions."
His guiding principle? Start with the problem, not the technology.
Building Great Teams
Peter values curiosity, resilience, and pragmatism in his hires. To him, being a great engineer isn’t about writing perfect code—it’s about solving the right problem in the right way, with others in mind.
He fosters a culture of learning by encouraging safe experimentation, open dialogue, and making room for mistakes.
"Leadership is not about being the smartest person in the room; it's about setting a clear direction and enabling others to succeed."
Advice for Future Leaders
Peter advises aspiring leaders to take their time.
"Don’t run before you can walk. Master your technical craft, then develop your people skills. Leadership takes both."
Unwinding & Perspective
Outside of work, Peter recharges in nature. Long walks, hiking, and beach time with his wife and dog provide the space for clarity and fresh ideas.
From engineering excellence to quiet mentorship, Peter Ashworth leads with clarity, humility, and a sense of purpose. His influence in New Zealand's tech ecosystem continues to grow, and we’re grateful to have him as part of the Dev Day Aotearoa whānau.

Peter Ashworth receiving the Inspirational Tech Leader Award at Dev Day Aotearoa 2024
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