Three new directors have been appointed to the board of Crown Research Institute Scion.
Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall said Nicole Anderson, Phil Taylor and Kiriwaitingi Rei-Russell have joined the board for a three-year term, starting July 10.
They will join existing members Greg Mann, Stana Pezic, Dr Jon Ryder, Steve Wilson and Brendon Green (Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāpuhi) for their first official meeting together in Rotorua on July 27.
Board chair Dr Helen Anderson said she’s delighted by the calibre of the new members.
“Their passion for sustainability, economic development and good governance aligns perfectly with Scion’s mission, and I am confident that their contributions will be instrumental in shaping our organisation’s future success.”
As a chartered professional director, Anderson (Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa, Te Aupōuri) has governance experience across a range of sectors, including strategic analysis, business planning and commercial development.
She is currently a director at Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Far North Holdings, Top Energy and is the chair at Northland Inc, Northland’s Regional Economic Development Agency. She has also recently become board chair at International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), the national authority for the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies and radiology services.
Taylor brings four decades of experience in commercial forestry. He has served on numerous boards and directorships, primarily focusing on research and development and community service organisations. He has international experience in forestry and governance and has held chief executive roles in forestry since 1999.
Currently, Taylor is managing director at Port Blakely in Canterbury, overseeing all of NZ Forestry’s holdings. He also serves on the board of both the New Zealand Forest Owners Association and the Forest Growers Levy Trust.
Kiriwaitingi Rei-Russell (Te Arawa – Ngati Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngati Wāhiao, and Ngati Awa – Te Pahipoto) has a legal and governance background with a strong focus on primary industries. An advocate for Māori economic and commercial development, she was the chief executive at Māori Investments for 10 years and is now the Head of Māori Alliances at Zespri based in Mount Maunganui.
Heavily involved in the kiwifruit industry, Rei-Russell holds directorships on Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Waiu Dairy LP and Putauaki Trust. She is also the deputy chair of the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Inc and was the first woman appointed to the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. She was also a Future Director to the board of Auckland lnternational Airport from 2016 to 2018.
