High Flying Trustees Appointed To Enterprise North Shore
February 5, 2004

The North Shore City Council has strengthened the board of the city's business development agency, Enterprise North Shore, by appointing four new trustees who are community leaders with proven track records in the finance, export and education sectors.

Peter Burn, Warren Kitchin, Malcolm Shotter and Professor Ian Watson were chosen from a high calibre group of applicants to join chairman Maurice Boland, Rex Chandler, Les Probert, Mark Watt and city councillor Tony Barker on the nine-member board.

North Shore City Councillor Andrew Williams, who chaired the council's sub-committee charged with appointing the trustees, says the board is a powerful line-up with sound experience, skills and knowledge in commerce and governance.

"The new trustees bring complementary skills and experience to Enterprise North Shore, particularly in the areas of finance, exporting and education.

"This vast knowledge and impressive, global network of contacts will greatly assist the board and the wider community as we seek to secure investment to continue to grow our thriving economy," says Councillor Williams, who points to the 2003 Quality of Life Survey which reports that North Shore City's economy grew by an average of six per cent over the period 1998-2002.

The interviewing panel for the appointment of the trustees comprised Councillor Williams and Mayor George Wood, assisted by Deputy Mayor Dianne Hale and the chairman of Enterprise North Shore, Maurice Boland.

Mr Boland, a long-term Northcote resident and leading North Shore City businessman, says he is delighted with the calibre of the new trustees.

"Peter, Warren, Malcolm and Ian, with their many attributes, will assist the board at a time of rapid economic growth," he says. "Enterprise North Shore helps businesses to grow, creating jobs for local people and enhancing the quality of life in our city."

The four new trustees:

* Peter Burn is a Beach Haven resident and a former senior executive with Air New Zealand, including the role of Vice President - Sales Air Cargo, The Americas, UK and Europe. A former Birkenhead City Councillor and Onewa Community Board Member, he has also chaired the Board of Trustees at Westlake Boys and served as a trustee on the board of Birkenhead College.

* Warren Kitchin is managing director of Swiftlink NZ Ltd, an Albany-based corporate security and IT firm. Also a former executive at Air New Zealand, he was Deputy Chairman of the Tradenz Aviation Training Joint Action Group and has built careers in the export and IT sectors.

* Malcolm Shotter lives in Birkenhead and is a former regional manager for the ANZ Bank, responsible for an area stretching from Devonport to Kaitaia. A Past President, Commodore and Patron of the North Shore Rowing Club, this community-minded businessman serves as a mentor to local entrepreneurs.

* Professor Ian Watson is the founding principal of Massey University's Albany Campus with a distinguished career bringing together the business and education sectors. Recently retired, this Browns Bay resident will build on those links to help North Shore City's knowledge-based economy to grow further and increase opportunities for the secondary and tertiary education sectors.

Councillor Williams has paid tribute to retiring trustees Margaret van der Walt and Lynne Walsh, saying the women have been instrumental in driving Enterprise North Shore's aim of supporting, promoting and encouraging business growth, investment and employment in North Shore City. "We're grateful for their considerable contribution and wish them well for the future," he says.

Enterprise North Shore was established in 1993 as an independent, charitable trust to work as North Shore City's economic development agency. The council-supported agency promotes the city as a great place for business and supports the implementation of local and regional strategies to create a vibrant and buoyant economy. For more information on Enterprise North Shore, people are invited to visit the website www.enterprisens.org.nz.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

The core role of Enterprise North Shore

As the city's economic development agency, Enterprise North Shore advocates for business and facilitates, promotes and encourages business growth, investment and employment in the City. Enterprise North Shore supports North Shore City's commercial enterprises, large and small, mature or start-up, to establish, flourish and prosper.

Enterprise North Shore provides a wide variety of services. These include:

* Supporting the implementation of local and regional economic development strategies

* Supporting the development of an enterprise culture in the city

* Providing a key source of information about doing business in the city

* Supporting and encouraging businesses looking to invest and grow in the city * Supporting the development of local, regional and national industry clusters

* Supporting business networking opportunities

* Providing business advice, mentoring, coaching and referral services

* Assisting with access to venture capital

* Assisting international trade

* Providing support with applications for Government funds and assistance

* Supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce and employment

* Encouraging, recognising and celebrating business excellence

In addition, Enterprise North Shore manages a unique but extensive array of alliances with industry organisations, business agencies, experienced business mentors, funding, financial and legal services and a range of investment opportunities, to help provide precisely what North Shore City businesses need to thrive and prosper.

Central government has acknowledged the importance of economic development as one of the four well beings integrated within the Local Government Act 2002.

ENDS

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