INZ appoints business manager

June 20 2008

Irrigation NZ

News Release for immediate use

INZ appoints business manager

Canterbury based business development manager Christine Coughlan has been appointed to the new position of business manager with Irrigation NZ (INZ).

Over the past seven years Coughlan’s career has been agriculture focused with long term contracts promoting the agricultural industry and more recently facilitating engagement between science organisations, science and industry and science and the community.

Building trust and developing relationships has been essential in developing new and growing collaborative opportunities between research organisations with industry, government, local authorities and the wider community.
As a result of this Coughlan has an excellent working relationship with many key players that will be of value in her role of INZ Business Manager, INZ vice chairman John Donkers said.

“I have great pleasure in welcoming the appointment of Chris Coughlan to the newly created position of INZ Business Manager. Chris’ appointment significantly increases the resource base of INZ and will complement the skills and experience of chief executive Dr Terry Heiler.

“This leadership team will enable INZ to more effectively address the issues affecting INZ members. I am keen to see INZ utilising the skills and experience of our business manager in advocating agriculture to improve the wider public perception of sustainable water use in irrigated agriculture,” Donkers said.

With her appointment Coughlan will bring to INZ proven project management skills and an understanding of the present and growing importance of water and irrigation to the agricultural industry and NZ's economy as a whole, together with a successful record in engaging community and industry by developing an interactive format to ensure good transfer of information.

Coughlan’s most recent role as facilitator with Linc Resource involved working with CRI’s, Lincoln University and agriculture industry groups and organisations to develop new collaborative opportunities around science with her most notable achievements including successful industry/research FoRST bid -$ 5.2M over 3 years “Smart Seeds” and successful science/community engagement on environmental issues for Canterbury (including water) “Hot Science with Kim Hill”.
The INZ business manager role will include the ongoing development of INZ membership in both the farming and corporate sectors and supporting the work of the chief executive to increase the involvement and support of the wider industry in INZ work.

“INZ is an exciting and progressive organisation with equally exciting opportunity that will be a good fit with my previous role with Linc Resource.

“It will be full on assault with the clear message to all sectors of the value of irrigation to the whole community,” Coughlan said.

Coughlan and husband Tom live on a lifestyle property with their four children at Tai Tapu (Central Canterbury).
The couple is a partner in Canterbury Fresh, a boutique lamb meat company producing and processing lamb for both the domestic and US export markets.

The appointment becomes effective immediately

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