New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) hopes to pave the way for sustained industry growth through the launch of its Future Leaders Committee.
The makeup of the inaugural committee was unveiled on Monday (9 March), with Shaun Vickers of Ballance Agri-Nutrients to act as the committee’s chairman. Rikki James of Cameron Farms will serve as treasurer, while Cody Bent of Trevelyan’s Pack & Cool has been appointed secretary. Zespri’s Mary Black, Seeka Kiwifruit Industries’ Campbell Wood and Bay Gold’s Keiran Harvey will all serve as committee members.
“We’re confident we have selected a group of passionate and motivated horticulture people who have very diverse backgrounds and different perspectives – a great combination for a strong, effective committee,” says NZKGI president Neil Trebilco. “As part of the Future Leaders Committee, the new members will bring their ideas, passion and knowledge of horticulture to the table to steer the Future Leaders Group into the future.”
Trebilco said the formation of the committee came at a pivotal time for the New Zealand kiwifruit sector. “The industry is expecting enormous growth in the near future, largely due to the successful production of the Gold3variety (marketed as Zespri SunGold),” he explained. “We need to keep developing our future leaders to ensure our industry’s future and growth is in good hands.”
