Ellerslie Flower Show Pays Tribute To Outgoing Chief Executive
The Ellerslie Flower Show Charitable Trust today paid tribute to outgoing Ellerslie Flower Show Chief Executive Cath
Handley and thanked her for successfully staging the 10th Anniversary event.
The 10th Anniversary Ellerslie Flower Show was held from November 23-28 at the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens in
Manukau City.
Earlier this year the show was sold by its founders, the Rotary Club of Auckland, to a consortium of event managers who
set up the Ellerslie Flower Show Charitable Trust to run the event.
Handley, who was appointed Chief Executive in 2002, managed the sale process and was then contracted to commission and
deliver the 10th Anniversary show for its new owners.
"Cath deserves the highest praise for the professionalism and creativity she brought to the event," says Ellerslie
Flower Show Charitable Trust Chairman Steve Bramley.
"Obviously the show went through a period of uncertainty because of the sale process but Cath and her team spent many
long hours putting in the hard yards to pull together a fantastic show against the odds."
"Cath was instrumental in managing the transition process and we thank her for staying on to make this year's show
happen."
Bramley says the board is delighted with the success of this year's event and will spend the next month undertaking a
comprehensive review process with key industry and corporate stakeholders to determine the Ellerslie Flower Show's
future direction and strategies.
Handley says she has enjoyed her role as Chief Executive over the past two years.
"It has been the most natural job in the world and it has been an honour to have been involved with this iconic event.
The show addresses so many of my interests and I have thoroughly enjoyed my association with all of the industry
stakeholders, locally and internationally."
"Having fronted the sale process, my role as Chief Executive was to deliver the 10th Anniversary show on behalf of the
new owners to ensure a solid platform for the event's future success."
Handley, who is a director of WaterCare Services Ltd, says she is considering extending her board appointments and
options to work strategically with other organisations once she has completed her post-show obligations with the Trust.