IoD governance award for Canterbury woman

IoD governance award for Canterbury woman

Christchurch senior manager Katherine Allen has won an Institute of Directors award that puts her on a governance board of Ronald McDonald House South Island for a year.

The First Steps in Governance Awards are given annually to aspiring business and community leaders by the Institute of Directors. Seventeen people vied for the 2018 Canterbury IoD governance award.

Katherine, who lives in Spreydon, is South Island Operations Manager for Thrifty Car Rental. Until recently she was national retail manager for Orderings Garden Centres responsible for nine garden centres, 200 staff and a multi-million dollar turnover across New Zealand. Previously Katherine was a cave guide at Waitomo and Westport, then later responsible for 11 Bivouac Outdoor stores and 150 staff.

IoD Canterbury Branch committee members Jane Cartwright, and Ronald McDonald House South Island trustees Jock Muir and Stuart Leck selected Katherine for the one year governance board internship. “We liked her strategic focus, especially in relation to sales, innovative thinking, systematic approach to things, ability to build teams and desire to be a director. She was well grounded probably due to her great love of the outdoors.”

Ronald McDonald House South Island is an independent registered charitable trust established to help and support the families of children who are receiving medical care. It is managed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, a small staff and many volunteers.

Having worked in several senior management positions in different industries and been involved with Oxfam NZ, Katherine said she now felt she could make a valuable contribution at governance level.

“Working with the board of Oderings Garden Centres, I have already had the opportunity to develop my understanding of a director’s role in the governance and direction of the business,” Katherine said. “The current chairperson of the board is Richard Ballantyne. Through attending board meetings and one-on-one meetings with Richard, I aspire to follow his leadership skills.”

“Becoming a director is the next step to working in a strategic management role.”

Institute of Directors chief executive Kirsten Patterson said: “The IoD is very committed to equipping and inspiring our up and coming younger members for directorships. Only people under 40 years can go for the First Step in Governance Award. They have to be motivated to further their business experience and want to gain insight into good governance. Katherine has proved she’s committed to upskilling herself for a governance role. ”

For the Award Katherine will receive a governance Internship with Ronald McDonald House South Island, mentoring from an experienced director, IoD training valued at $850.00, and a year’s complimentary membership of the Institute of Directors with free attendance to IoD Canterbury Branch functions.

About the First Steps in Governance Award

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