14 May 2018
Competenz Chief Executive Fiona Kingsford has been appointed to a new ministerial advisory group to provide independent advice about the forestry sector and how Government and industry can work together to deliver outcomes for New Zealand.
The Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group, announced By Forestry Minister Shane Jones on 11 May, is made up of ten forestry experts who will provide industry perspectives and advice to help meet New Zealand’s forestry goals, including the One Billion Tree programme.
“The group has been selected for their expertise in a wide range of disciplines that I believe are necessary to deliver New Zealand’s forestry goals,” Mr Jones said.
“They will provide direct industry perspectives on a range of topics, including research, commercial and conservation forestry, local government, farm-forestry, wood processing, education and research.
“The group will provide insights on the performance of the overall forestry system, along with advice on future trends, risks and issues.
“I have initially tasked the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group to focus on supporting Te Uru Rākau to deliver the One Billion Trees planting programme.
“The group will be chaired by Dr Warren Parker, Chair of the New Zealand Conservation Authority and the former Chief Executive Officer of Scion and Landcare Research. Warren brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and is well-placed to chair the group.
“I’m excited to work closely with the advisory group, and hear the insights they will provide, as we look to the future and drive transformational and sustainable change in the forestry system.”
Dr Warren Parker
Dr Parker is the Chair of the New Zealand Conservation Authority and the former Chief Executive Officer at Scion. Prior to that he was Chief Executive Officer of Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. He has been a board member and director of several technology development firms and research and industry consortia, and is currently a member of the Predator Free 2050, Farmlands Cooperative, Genomics Aotearoa and Quayside Holdings Boards, and the Advisory Board for Griffith Enterprises.
James Palmer
Mr Palmer is the Chief Executive of Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Before this he held various positions at the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and between 2005 and 2008 he served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity. In the early 2000s he was an adviser and senior private secretary to the deputy Prime Minister.
David Rhodes
Mr Rhodes is currently Chief Executive Officer for the Forest Owners Association (FOA) - the peak industry body representing the owners of New Zealand's commercial plantation forests for all aspects of planation forestry. He is the Forest Growers’ Levy Trust Secretariat, a member of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations, the Forest Stewardship Council and the Chair of the UN Food and Agriculture Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries.
Robert Green
Mr Green is the CEO of Timberlands Ltd, a forest management company servicing to the Kaingaroa Timberlands Partnership. Previously he held the CEO position (2011- 2016) and Director for Sales and Contracting (2009 – 2011) of VicForests, Australia. Before this he was a Divisional Manager for Snavely Forest Products in San Francisco, USA. Mr Green brings extensive experience in hardwood and softwood, plantation and natural forestry, as well as experience in primary and secondary processing, import, export and distribution.
Gina Solomon
Ms Solomon (Ngāi Tahu / Ngāti Kuri) is a Director of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. She was appointed to this position by the Minister of Conservation after consultation with the Minister of Māori Development. She has extensive community and iwi involvement and is a committed conservationist. She sits on a number of boards and trusts including the Kaikoura zone committee for the Canterbury water management strategy, Nelson/Marlborough Conservation Board, the Kaikoura Marine Guardians Te Korowai o Te Tai o Karokura, and the Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust.
Henare Walker
Mr Walker is the General Manager of Summit Forests New Zealand Limited (Summit Forests). Summit Forests is a New Zealand is a registered subsidiary company of the Sumitomo Corporation, manages the harvest of approximately 600,000 tonnes per annum from it forest estate primarily in Northland. Prior to his current position Mr Walker held a range of roles in the finance sector.
Dr Charlotte Severne
Dr Charlotte Severne of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāi Tūhoe, is a geologist, former chief scientist for oceans and Māori development at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and most recently Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and Communities at Lincoln University and Massey University's Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori and Pasifika. She has a number of Tūwharetoa governance roles including chair of the Lake Rotoaira Trusts (Forest and Lake) and deputy chair of the Opepe Farm Trust. She is a ministerial appointment on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Science Board.
Brian Stanley
Mr Stanley was the General Manager (Fibre) at Oji Fibre Solutions and is the incumbent Chairman of WoodCo and the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association. He has an extensive senior management background in the forestry and pulp and paper industries in New Zealand including periods in NZ Forest Service, Tasman Pulp & Paper Company Limited and the Carter Holt Harvey group.
Fiona Kingsford
Ms Kingsford is the CEO of Competenz – the primary industry training organisation for a range of industries supporting the forestry sector. Her career with Competenz has included positions such as General Manager of Organisational Development, General Manager Trade Training, and General Manager Strategy and Transformation before being appointed to CEO in January 2016. Ms Kingsford has an Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Business Studies, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Auckland.
Neil Cullen
Mr Cullen is the current president of the Farm Forestry Association and a lifelong farmer. He has a wealth of practical experience of land management and he brings a deep understanding of both farming and forestry and insights into what is required to persuade landholders to convert more land into forest.
