21 April 2005

Growth and Innovation Advisory Board heads into second term

Eight new members have been appointed to the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board. Minister for Economic Development, Jim Anderton announced today. They come from backgrounds as diverse as information technology, Pacific business development and banking.

The Board provides independent advice to economic ministers. Ann Sherry, CEO of Westpac New Zealand, will chair the board during this second term in operation.

“Ann Sherry is a respected member of New Zealand’s business community with a strong track record in banking and in the public sector, together with a commitment to the promotion of sustainable enterprise and corporate social responsibility. I am pleased that she’s agreed to take up this role.

“I’m also pleased that we’ve again been able to bring together a strong group of talented and respected individuals with an interest in innovation and New Zealand's ability to sustain long term economic growth. Innovation is the key to sustaining growth and must become part of our way of life, not isolated in small areas of the economy. Between them, the Board members contribute a wide range of experience,” Jim Anderton said.

As CEO of Westpac New Zealand Ms Sherry has responsibility for Westpac operations in New Zealand and seven Pacific countries. Prior to this she was CEO of the Bank of Melbourne. As First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra she was responsible for advising the Prime Minister on policies and programs to improve the status of women in Australia.

Ms Sherry will replace the founding chair Rick Christie, who will continue serving as a GIAB member.

The new appointments are:

- Mark Billinghurst, Director of the Human Interface Technology at the University of Canterbury
- Wendell Dunn, Foundation Professor of Entrepreneurship and head of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Auckland
- Margaret McLeod, Principal of Wellington Girls’ College
- Peter Maire, founder and President of Navman New Zealand
- Russell Marshall, Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission
- Peter Menzies, company director and consultant
- Pauline Winter, businesswoman and chair of the Pacific Business Trust.

Re-appointed for a second term as GIAB members were Peter Biggs, Rick Christie, Brian Easton, Theresa Gattung, Craig Norgate, Stephen Tindall and Ross Wilson.

The Growth and Innovation Advisory Board (GIAB) was established in May 2002 to provide the Prime Minister and economic Ministers with informed perspectives on the promotion of the Government’s growth and innovation framework.

Mr Anderton said GIAB’s objective was to foster active discussion between the public and private sectors about growth and innovation and New Zealand’s economic direction.

In particular, he said he looked to the board to:
- Provide Ministers with an independent view, informed by members’ own expertise and feedback from networks, on what the strategy should be
- Identify, articulate and provide business feedback on New Zealand's economic strategic economic issues
- Act as a sounding board for policy groups
-Articulate long-term innovation and growth goals for business, innovation and wider community networks.
- Receive feedback from business on perceptions of how the economic development strategy is progressing and new opportunities for government and private sector actions.

ENDS

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