Appointment Of AGMARDT’s Associate Board Member

3 May 2013

Media release

Appointment Of AGMARDT’s Associate Board Member

AGMARDT has announced the appointment of James Allen as an Associate Board Member to join its Board of Trustees.

AGMARDT is an independent not-for-profit trust that aims to foster and encourage leadership, innovation and research capability within the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors of New Zealand.

AGMARDT Chairman Jeff Grant said that the purpose of creating the Associate Board Member position is to provide an emerging agribusiness leader with an opportunity to observe and experience governance in action within an innovative agribusiness environment.

“I would hope that when James has completed his 18 month term as an Associate Board Member, he would have received the experience and training to be able to take on future governance roles in agribusiness and beyond,” said Mr Grant.

“Following a very successful first term for an Associate Board Member in 2011, we received 45 applications for this second term role of Associate Board Member, which clearly demonstrates the desire of people to take on governance roles and make a contribution to agribusiness.

“Developing emerging good leadership and governance skills is going to be paramount given the importance of agribusiness to the economy. AGMARDT intends to support initiatives focused on growing leadership skills and good governance.”

James is a Managing Director of AgFirst Waikato, an agricultural consultancy business servicing the greater Waikato region and based in Hamilton.

After graduating from Lincoln University in 1995, James joined AgFirst Waikato as a consultant in 1996. James continued to build his skill base by completing a Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme followed by a Masters in Agribusiness in 2005.

James is currently Chairman of AgFirst New Zealand, and has held roles as past President of the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management and was a previous chairman of New Zealand Young Farmers. James was also a grand finalist at the Young Farmers Contest in 1999 and again in 2002.

The AGMARDT Associate Board Member:

• Will be appointed for a fixed term of up to 18 months starting 1 May 2013.
• Will attend AGMARDT Board meetings and participate fully in discussion without having decision making authority.
• Will be given the opportunity to attend an Institute of Directors governance course or similar course.
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