Hon Jim Anderton
Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity
Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Forestry
Associate Minister of Health
Associate Minister for Tertiary Education
5 August 2008 Media Statement
NZ Fast Forward board members appointed
Seven outstanding people have been appointed to the New Zealand Fast Forward board, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton
said today.
Jim Anderton said he was delighted with the calibre of the new board members, which matched the potential of the up to
$2 billion investment to boost innovation in our food and pastoral agriculture sectors.
"These people will help facilitate the investment of the single biggest boost to innovation in our history. They will
play a hugely important role in maintaining our global leadership in food production."
The board members are: Bill Baylis, Bill Falconer, Robin Fenwick, Richard Janes, Kevin Marshall, Mike Matthews, and
Jacqueline Rowarth.
The board will be chaired by Bill Falconer.
New Zealand Fast Forward is an initiative set up with $700 million from Government, to be allocated over the 10-15-year
life of the fund. The Government contribution is to be matched with private sector investment.
Already seven industry groups have committed to be cornerstone investors, each putting in at least $10 million in the
next five years.
Jim Anderton said the board members all had a long association with different sectors in New Zealand's primary
industries.
"They understand the importance of innovation, of maintaining our global leadership in food production, and of applying
knowledge - new technologies and new products - to our primary industries."
He said the New Zealand Fast Forward initiative had been warmly embraced by the primary industries sector.
"There is clear and overwhelming recognition of the timeliness of this initiative."
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elected representatives. We do not believe they are election advertisements within the Electoral Finance Act, and nor
was the Act intended to apply to them. However, because some people are confused about the Act, and because the
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Biographies:
Bill Falconer is a professional director, including in the meat and wine industries. He is also chairman of the Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiversity and multiagency organisation Nutrigenomics NZ, which works in food effects on
health.
Bill Baylis is an experienced company director and has had a long involvement in the primary sectors, including fast
moving commercial goods, meat, seafood and rural services.
Robin Fenwick is an experienced company director whose business interests promote sustainable development. He also has a
background in the food and beverage sector.
Richard Janes is an experienced director, with a long career primarily in the agribusiness sector, with a focus on new
products and market branding.
Kevin Marshall has a long history with the dairy industry, and more recently with innovation projects in the kiwifruit
and wool industries.
Mike Matthews brings professional qualifications and experience in food science and technology, with a strong focus on
application and commercialisation in the dairy industry in New Zealand, Japan and the United States.
Professor Jacqueline Rowarth is a experienced agricultural researcher and currently director of agriculture at Massey
University.
ENDS