LIC
26/05/2014 13:19
DIRECTOR
REL: 1319 HRS Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited (NS)
DIRECTOR: LIC: Alison Watters elected to LIC Board
Dr Alison Watters, a scientist and dairy farmer with extensive experience in
governance, has been elected to the Board of dairy farmer cooperative, LIC.
LIC Chairman Murray King said the Board is delighted to welcome a candidate
of Dr Watters' calibre.
"Alison has an honours degree in agricultural science and a PhD from Massey
University and, with her husband Andrew, owns a 630 crossbred dairy herd in
the Wairarapa. She was Director of Human Nutrition at Massey University
between 2002 and 2005 before joining Fonterra as Technical Manager in 2006
and has, over the past 18 years, been involved in several governance roles."
Alison Watters is the first woman to be elected to the LIC Board, and Murray
King said that the diversity this will bring is overdue and very welcome.
"As a farmer cooperative we have always encouraged our shareholders - both
men and women - to seek representative and governance positions.
Traditionally men have taken up these opportunities although our Shareholder
Council has always benefitted from a number of women Councillors.
"Alison Watters' success in her election to the Board is an acknowledgement
of her professional and farming expertise - but the fact that she is a woman
will introduce a new and refreshing dynamic to Board discussions," Murray
King said.
Alison Watters' appointment was enabled by the retirement of longstanding LIC
Director, Bryan Guy, and she said she is "honoured to be representing the
central region together with Taranaki based director, Steve Poole.
"I am passionate about the primary industry and especially dairy.
"I left Fonterra in 2011 with the aim of consolidating my directorship career
and hoping to move from voluntary not-for-profit governance to full
commercial governance. I was aware that there are many opportunities for
commercial governance in NZ but I really wanted to apply for one that had a
primary industry focus, and I was delighted when the LIC opportunity arose.
"I realise that boards in general are needing to move to better gender
balance, but this wasn't my focus with my application to the LIC board;
rather I wanted to have the opportunity to apply my scientific training
together with my business/governance skills to ensure that LIC's strategic
investment in R&D continues to be innovative whilst still delivering
productivity and profitability on-farm, all within the context of keeping the
cost of products and services to a minimum."
Dr Watters' appointment takes effect from 1 June 2014.
Ends
Additional notes
Dr Alison Watters
o B.Agr.Sc (Hons), PhD - Massey University
o Owner, with husband Andrew, of 650 cow dairy farm in the Wairarapa
o Winners NZ Sharemilkers of the Year in 2003
o Member NZ Institute of Directors
Previous directorships
o Director of Human Nutrition at Massey University (2002-2005)
o Technical Manager at Fonterra (2006-2011) involved with commercialising new
innovations in foods and food ingredients.
o Chairperson (2005-2008) and Principal Change Manager for creation of the NZ
Dairy Industry Awards.
o Chairperson of the National Management Committee (2004-2006), New Zealand
Sharemilker of the Year Competition.
o Member Scientific Expert Review Panel for the Foundation for Research
Science and Technology
o Trustee for the Palmerston North Medical Research Foundation, with
committee responsibility for the dispersal of research grants.
Current directorships
o Member, Equestrian Sports New Zealand Eventing Board (2011-), responsible
for finances.
o Trustee, Carncot Independent School for Girls Board (2009-2013), and now a
member of the Nga Tawa Diocesan School Board of Trustees (2014-).
Personal
o Andrew and Alison Watters have two daughters, 17 and 14 years.
o The family live in Colyton near Feilding, and are involved in equestrian
sport - hunting, show jumping and eventing.
For further information contact Clare Bayly, LIC Communications Manager,
phone 027 499 8862.
End CA:00250883 For:LIC Type:DIRECTOR Time:2014-05-26 13:19:10
