NRC nominates three new port corp directors

Majority shareholder the Northland Regional Council wants to see a more professionally focussed Northland Port Corporation board – and fewer local government faces at the board table.

At an extraordinary Council meeting held in Whangarei today, (subs: Fri 11 Sept) Regional Councillors voted to nominate three new people as port corporation directors; Susan Huria, Colin Mitten and David Keys.

If elected, the trio would replace current directors Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth and Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff and see the current six-member board expand to seven. The trio’s nominations will be considered at the Port Corporation’s upcoming Annual General Meeting in October.

Mr Farnsworth says the Regional Council currently holds a 53.61 percent majority shareholding in Northland Port Corporation, which in turn has a 50 percent shareholding in the Marsden Pt deepwater port.

He says the strategic and pivotal role the port is likely to play in Northland’s future over the next few years means Councillors are particularly keen to ensure the Port Corporation has the right mix of appropriately skilled directors.

“With the three-year terms of two directors due to expire shortly Council has basically taken the opportunity to try to further broaden the professional focus on the board.”

He says the three successful nominees were chosen from a pool of 21 hopefuls who responded to a recent public call by the Regional Council for applications from would-be directors.

If elected, the three nominees would bring a wealth of experience to the directors’ table.

Ms Huria, from Silverdale, has a background in consulting, marketing and communications. She has a Diploma in Journalism and a Diploma in Business Marketing and is an Accredited Member of the Institute of Directors.

She also holds a number of governance appointments including Director, Radio NZ; Director, Ngai Tahu Development Corporation; Director, Housing NZ; Director, AgResearch; Member of Whitecliffe College Art & Design; Director, Manukau Leisure Services Ltd; External Member, Fonterra; Director, Watercare Services Ltd.

Mr Keys, from Kaeo, has a background in law, property and real estate. He has a Bachelor of Law degree (Hons), is a fellow and former President of the Property Institute of NZ and an Associate of AREINZ. He is a member of the Northland Emergency Services Trust and is currently employed as an Independent Property Consultant.

Albany-based Mr Mitten has worked in both the private and public sectors and has a strong background in funding and investments. He is currently employed as Trustee Director of the Establishment Board to drive Manukau Food Innovation Centre and worked previously as Consultant to Massey University to develop a business case for this.

Mr Mitten has also been retained by Manukau City Council to drive the integration of its economic development programme and is currently Deputy Chair of Enterprising Manukau. He has also chaired and been the director or CEO of a number of agencies, both in NZ and overseas.

Meanwhile, Mr Farnsworth says Regional Councillors had also today agreed that the Council’s Deputy Chairman Ian Walker should be nominated for another term.

“The Regional Council still holds a multimillion dollar share in the port corporation on behalf of its ratepayers and on that basis, we feel it is important to retain some local authority representation on the board, albeit a reduced one.”

Mr Farnsworth says assuming the Council’s nominations are confirmed as expected, Cr Walker would be the sole sitting local body representative on the board.

As sitting directors both he and Cr Walker had formally declared an interest and not taken part in today’s Regional Council discussion or vote.