27 May, 2013

Two new appointees to Northland Inc board

The chief executive of a Bay of Islands indigenous event and project management service and the chief financial officer for an international education consultancy are the latest additions to the Northland Inc board.

The appointments of Manaaki Solutions Chief Executive Karleen Everitt and Cognition Education’s Auckland-based Chief Financial Officer Sarah Petersen to the board of the regional economic development and tourism body will take effect from Saturday 01 June. Their appointments take the number of directors to six.

Since October last year the organisation has had a directorship of four, including Northland Inc Executive Chairman Colin Mitten.

The regional council’s Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Nicolson says the latest directors were chosen from a pool of a dozen hopefuls after a lengthy appointment process based on the particular skills they bring to the board. He’s also pleased the new appointees have strong links to the region.

“Karleen and Sarah round out a team which already boasts a huge and varied experience locally, nationally and internationally and I’m thrilled to see a board of such high calibre in place.”

The two new appointees will be paid $13,125 each annually, with the length of their appointments to be determined shortly.

Mr Nicolson says a big part of the directors’ roles will be to give effect to the regional council’s objective of building a business-friendly environment that encourages business and employment opportunities in Northland.

Karleen Everitt (Te Aupouri/Ngaphui) lives at Paihia and her company is based there, while Sarah Petersen was educated in the Far North and maintains interest in a family farm and businesses in and around Kaikohe.

New directors’ biographical details:

Karleen Everitt

· Masters in Management Auckland University Business School, currently studying towards PhD in Indigenous Business Leadership

· Northland small business owner – indigenous event and project management service Manaaki Solutions ­– since 2006

· Experience in – and links to – Maori economic development locally and nationally

· Member of the Tai Tokerau Maori AgriBusiness Forum, former director of Te Aupouri Asset Holding Company and Te Aupouri Fisheries Trust

· Worked extensively in health sector at planning and funding level in Northland.

Sarah Petersen, CA

· Bachelor of Management studies, University of Waikato

· Chartered Accountant since 2002 and experience within private practice

· Member of the Professional Conduct Committee for the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, Trustee for Make-A-Wish New Zealand, and former member of the Executive Committee for Auckland Export

· Experienced in establishing start-up operations and partnerships in international markets

ENDS

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