Three new appointees to help guide Northland Inc

Three new appointees are to join Executive Chairman Colin Mitten at the helm of the region’s newly-integrated economic development and tourism body Northland Inc.

Under changes which took effect on 01 July, ownership of both Enterprise Northland and Destination Northland transferred back to the regional council as a Council Controlled Organisation – Northland Inc - to ease audit, management, administrative and other costs.

At the same time businessman and Northland Port Corporation Chairman Colin Mitten was appointed as Executive Chairman to both chair the Northland Inc board for two years and act as Northland Inc’s CEO pending the appointment of a board and new chief executive.

At their monthly meeting in Whangarei recently regional councillors agreed to appoint David Caselli, James Parsons and Russell Shaw as directors effective Monday 01 October.  Mr Parsons and Mr Shaw are Northlanders and Mr Caselli an Aucklander.

Council Chairman Craig Brown says the newly-formed four-strong team boasts a huge and varied experience locally, nationally and internationally.

“My fellow councillors and I believe this team is ideally placed to deliver economic development in Northland’s key economic sectors, current and potential markets as well as the potential to grow future leaders into these areas.”

“It will also ensure a good understanding of the issues and opportunities for Northland, a strong Northland economic development focus, and both as individuals and a collective, there’s a serious commitment to Northland’s success,” he says.

Mr Brown says the new board will also be responsible for recommending potential investments to benefit the regional economy and create jobs.

“It will do this by recommending eligible projects to the regional council for funding via the council’s Investment and Growth Reserve Fund.”

Mr Brown says the three directors will be paid $13,125 each annually, however, the length of their appointments is still to be determined.

“My fellow councillors and I would also like to express our very real thanks to the four people who have been supporting Mr Mitten as temporary directors during the transition period - Irene Durham, Bill Shepherd, Andy Britton and Rawson Wright.”

Ms Durham and Messers Britton, Shepherd and Wright had served as the most recent trustees of the former Northland Regional Council Community Trust and had also been directors of Destination Northland.

Their time assisting Mr Mitten will officially end on Sunday 30 September.

Meanwhile, Mr Brown says the hunt for a new fulltime Chief Executive for Northland Inc will be Mr Mitten’s next focus now his fellow directors have been appointed.

New directors’ biographical details:

David Caselli
• Experience in developing export markets, such as China, joint ventures, business and market expansion, risk management, corporate finance and equity fund raising
• Member of the Institute of Directors (NZ) and New Zealand China Trade Association
• Current directorships include: QiYiTang (Shanghai) Trading Limited, I Grow New Zealand Limited, HFZT Limited
• Currently employed as a senior consultant at MartinJenkins Limited
• Considerable experience as an economic development advisor to local government and its Council Controlled Organisations (including UNISA, Whangarei, Enterprise Northland, ATEED, Auckland Council, Dunedin City, Waikato etc.)
• Involved with Northland and Auckland’s Major Regional Initiatives (marine sector and food innovation respectively) and interests and experience in the food and beverage, forestry, agri-business, and mineral sectors.

James Parsons
• Member of the Institute of Directors (NZ) and Strategic Leadership Programme Alumni (Millbrook based leadership programme)
• Current directorships include: Beef + Lamb New Zealand Limited, New Zealand Meat Board, Pastoral Genomics Ltd, Kaitaia Veterinary Services Inc, Trevar Ltd (370ha hill country sheep and beef farming business)
• Large amount of governance experience and a thorough understanding of the pastoral farming sector, Northland and Northland’s economic development potential and needs

Russell Shaw
• Infrastructure specialist and asset manager with national and international experience (predominantly in utilities e.g. energy/electricity generation and transmission, including renewable energy, but also water and wastewater)
• Currently employed as Chief Executive of Top Energy Group
• Member of the Institute of Directors (NZ); various engineering institutes NZ and UK
• Experienced in venture capital and business start-ups, change management, and strategic and operational business reviews.