Seven Directors appointed to Food and Fibre CoVE Board
The Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) has appointed seven Directors to its board.
Announced today, Prue Younger, Turi Ngatai, Wiremu McMillan, William Beetham, Sandy Scarrow, Glen Harkness, and Ben Allomes will join the board.
CoVE Chair, Mark Paine says that the Consortium members had nominated an impressive range of high-profile candidates.
“The seven successful Directors bring years of experience in their respective sectors, specialist expertise, energy, and extensive networks to the table. This will ensure the Food and Fibre CoVE delivers the excellence and innovation in vocational education that we are seeking."
In September, Taradale's Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) was selected as New Zealand's new centre of vocational study for the food and fibre industry.
EIT's Food and Fibre CoVE is a collaboration between the primary sector and vocational education system made up of 54 organisations across the food and fibre sector including industry associations, tertiary providers, Māori, employers, employees and standards-setting bodies.
Prue Younger is the CEO of FICA (Forest Industry Contractors Association), the CEO of Eastland Wood Council, and the owner/director of Public Impressions, a Marketing & Communications agency based in Gisborne/Tairāwhiti. Prue is also a trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Trust and has been appointed in several chair roles, including the NZCT Regional Advisory Group, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti, and Connext Trust.
Turi Ngatai MNZM (Ngai Te Rangi/Ngāti Ranginui, Tauranga-Moana) is the Director Māori for the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, a member of the Kahui Kaumatua of Toi Ohomai and Māori Relationship manager for Seeka. Turi is a Director of the Māori-owned and operated Te Awanui Huka Pak and Chair of its investment company, Te Whāi Limited.
Wiremu McMillan (Ngāti Porou) is the Managing Director of William Consultancy in Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, an agribusiness consultancy specialised in providing service to commercial, industry, Māori-owned, and research and development businesses. Wiremu was Massey University’s first Māori PhD graduate, and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University.
William Beetham is the managing Director of Beetham Pastural in Masterton. He operates three large sheep and beef farms committed to building thriving rural communities. William brings extensive governance experience serving as a national board member of Federated Farmers, Meat & Wool Chair of Federated Farmers.
Sandy Scarrow holds the role of Horticultural Consultant/Managing Director of Fruition Horticulture in Tauranga. Sandy is a member of the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network, the NZ Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science and the Certified Practicing Agriculturalist.
Glen Harkness is the Executive Director, Strategic Projects and Partnerships at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. Glen brings a deep understanding of the tertiary education model, including the changes associated with the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE).
Ben Allomes is the managing Director of Hopelands Dairies/Allomes Farming in Woodville. Ben has been a farmer elected Director of Dairy NZ from 2011 to 2019. He represented the Dairy Industry on several groups, including working with TEC an MPI on Human Capability reviews, Primary ITO IPG – Dairy, OSPRI Stakeholder Council, and as Chair of the National Mastitis Council.
CoVE Establishment Manager, Arthur Graves said the new Directors are authorities in their field and well-connected and experienced in the food and fibre industry as well as the tertiary education sector.
"We are very fortunate, within this group of talented people, to also have deeply experienced Māori leadership with strong roots in industry and education to help lead the CoVE," he said.
“As an industry-led model, the Food and Fibre CoVE is an innovation in its own right. We are therefore, delighted to attract industry and education provider representatives who strongly support the vision and mahi of excellence in vocational education and training for the food and fibre sector.”
