Five appointed to new Bishop Suter Trust Board
The Corporate Governance Committee approved a recommendation at its meeting last week to appoint five community members as trustees to the new Bishop Suter Trust Board.
Sara Chapman, Jane Evans, Donna Hiser, Ian MacLennan, and Craig Potton have all accepted the appointment as trustees.
Graeme Thomas, Corporate Governance Committee Chair, says, “We are pleased to welcome these five community members as trustees to the Suter Board. They have a great deal of experience to offer the community in their service to the Suter. It’s a great step forward for this iconic community treasure.”
Sara Chapman of Collingwood is a strategic planner with a long career in communications and brand identity. She is on the Tasman Bays Heritage Trust board and serves with Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade, Golden Bay Victim Support, New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and local cultural heritage organisations.
Jane Evans of Nelson is an internationally recognised artist and a former judge for The World of WearableArt. She is Patron of the Nelson Arts Festival and honorary life member of both the Nelson Art Society and the Adam Music Festival. Ms Evans also has a luxury accommodation business.
Ms Hiser, who lives in Richmond, is a member of the current Suter Trust Board. She has extensive governance experience, including having served on the Board of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Much of her career has been at senior management and board level in the information technology industry.
Mr MacLennan of Richmond is a chartered accountant and member of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, chairing the Audit and Risk Committee and is on the executive committee of the Nelson Centre of the NZ Cancer Society. He previously served nine years on the Council of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, chairing the Audit Committee.
Mr Potton of Nelson also sits on the existing Suter Board. He is a past member of the Nelson City Council, the Nelson Provincial Museum Board, the United Council, the Nelson Conservation Board, and the New Zealand Conservation Authority. He is a nationally recognised photographer and owns a publishing company.
“The calibre of the applicants is exceptional. The collective range of experience – from nationally recognised artists to owners and CEOs of top businesses to long-time community volunteers – is going to benefit the Suter for years to come. Each trustee also has a good deal of governance experience as well. The Council is very pleased to make these appointments,” says Pete Rainey, Chair of the Community Services Committee.
The new Board will also include a nominee representing Tangata Whenua selected by Ko Te Pouranga, the group representing each of the six recognised manawhenua Iwi trusts of Whakatu, as well as Maata Waka and Nelson Kaupapa Mori Arts. In addition, the President of the Nelson Suter Art Society will be an ex-officio member without voting rights.
The Nelson City Council agreed in October 2006 to begin the process to make the Suter Art Gallery a Council Controlled Organisation. The decision was made after extensive consultation with the community. The new Board will be seated after legislation to establish the new governance structure is passed by Parliament. This is expected to occur in July 2008.