Remote, but not removed
Roxanne Salton’s life as a digital leader in the south
A technology leader swaps the big-city rush for alpine balance, commuting between boardrooms and bike trails in the Southern Alps.
Roxanne Salton, Chief Digital Officer at TSB, isn’t the kind of tech executive who stands still for long. With a background that cuts across sales, digital transformation and technology leadership, she’s built a reputation as a forward-thinking agent of change. Now, she’s bringing that mindset south, relocating to Queenstown while continuing to help reshape the future of banking in New Zealand.
“I’ve always loved the South Island,” says Salton, who now splits her time between Queenstown, Auckland and New Plymouth. “We have a home in Wanaka and planned to retire there. But the opportunity came earlier. My husband got a job in Queenstown, the timing was right, and it just made sense.”
A new base for impact
Salton’s role at TSB involves rebuilding the technology department with a clear focus on modernisation and customer-centricity. While the work remains national, the decision to relocate to Queenstown was a lifestyle-led choice with strategic benefits.
“At this point, Queenstown is the perfect place. It has the airport, incredible scenery, and it’s a great stepping stone before we eventually move to Wanaka,” she says.
For nearly a year now, she’s managed a three-and-a-half-hour commute each way. It involves flights to Auckland, then to New Plymouth, but she considers it a worthy trade- off.
“At the end of the week, it’s still around seven hours of travel, but I get to live in Queenstown. That’s the price you pay to live in paradise.”
A lifestyle shift with perspective
Originally from Canada, Salton finds Queenstown’s seasonal rhythms familiar and its scenery unbeatable. She cycles, walks the dogs, and explores nearby towns like Arrowtown and Glenorchy. But it’s not just about lifestyle. It’s about clarity.
“In Queenstown you just get to sit outside, have beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, great food, and really appreciate time,” she says. “There’s less of that daily rush you get in big cities.”
Initially, she and her husband worried Queenstown would be “too touristic.” But living there revealed something deeper.
“It does have a tourism aspect, of course, but there’s a huge, fast-growing Kiwi community here too. We completely got that wrong at first.”
Strengthening tech in the regions
Salton is passionate about building New Zealand’s tech capability. She’s actively involved with Technology Queenstown and Queenstown Resort College, helping to create networks, nurture young talent and develop skills in the region.
“I’m a firm believer that growing regional tech capacity is critical for the whole country. Tech can be done from anywhere.”
She’s particularly focused on connecting the North and South Island tech sectors, and on finding ways to stop the ongoing brain drain of younger professionals heading offshore.
“There’s so much potential to increase local salaries, create more opportunities, and retain brilliant people, especially if we can show them they don’t have to leave to do meaningful work.”
Remote and ready
Between the lake views, alpine air and growing local community, Queenstown is proving to be more than just a backdrop. For Salton, it’s a place where personal values and professional ambitions align.
“I love bike riding. We love the outdoors. And now my daughter is at university in Dunedin, so we’re already planted in the South.”
From leading digital transformation to passionately helping build a regional tech ecosystem, Salton is showing how impact doesn’t always come from the centre. Sometimes, it comes from the edge. Connected, committed and overlooking the Remarkables.