NZ US Council Strengthened By Board Appointments

NEW ZEALAND UNITED STATES COUNCIL

(www.nzuscouncil.com)

Media Release, 28 November 2006

NZ US Council Strengthened By Board Appointments

Four new directors have joined the Board of the New Zealand United States Council.

Council Chairman Rt Hon Jim Bolger said Stephen Collins (Business NZ), Fiona Cooper Clarke (Fonterra), Mike Hearn (American Chamber of Commerce) and Cam Wallace (Air New Zealand) joined the Board which now reflects the key stakeholders in the relationship with the United States.

"I am delighted to welcome these new Board members at a time when the relationship with the United States is enjoying significant development and when we have a lot to do to organise the second US NZ Partnership Forum in Auckland next September. I thank them and our existing Board members for their commitment and energy".

Stephen Collins is President of Business NZ and a past President of the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce.

Fiona Cooper Clarke is General Manager, Trade Strategy at Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, a long time supporter and sponsor of the Council. Fiona replaces Philip Turner who departed recently to take up a new assignment as Fonterra's Regional Representative in Japan.

Mike Hearn is Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand

Cam Wallace is General Manager, New Zealand and the Pacific, Air New Zealand Ltd, a major sponsor of the Council.

The Council's full Board endorsed at the AGM on 22 November is as follows:

Rt Hon James B Bolger ONZ, Chairman

Michael Barnett, Chief Executive, Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Stephen Collins, President, Business NZ

Fiona Cooper Clarke, General Manager, Trade Strategy, Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd

Mike Hearn, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand

Mark Jeffries, Chief Executive, Meat & Wool New Zealand

Peter Lennox, Group General Manager, Americas, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Philip Lewin, Chief Executive, Positively Wellington Business

Nick Main, Chairman, Deloitte

Fran O'Sullivan, columnist

Cam Wallace, General Manager, New Zealand and the Pacific, Air New Zealand Ltd

Carl Worker, Director, Americas division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Further appointments have also been made to the Council's Advisory Board. A new logo for the Council and a new Maori name - Kāhui o Aotearoa me Amerika - were also adopted at the AGM.

Ends