Board

Mark Paine, Board Chair has a background in both horticulture and dairy, held academic roles and was a member of the Primary Sector Council. He was the Dairy Australia Principal Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Until 2017, he was the Strategy and Investment leader for People and Business at Dairy NZ.

Mark brings strong research experience and evaluative thinking. He is passionate about creating system-level solutions to address capability and workforce needs and strongly supports industry taking the lead in shaping those solutions.

Prue Younger is the CEO of FICA (Forest Industry Contractors Association), the ex-CEO of Eastland Wood Council, and the owner/director of Public Impressions, a Marketing & Communications agency based in Gisborne/Tairāwhiti. Prue is also a trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Trust and has been appointed in several chair roles, including the NZCT Regional Advisory Group, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti, and Connext Trust. As a business owner Prue brings seasoned experience in starting, growing, and developing a business. She has solid marketing, promotion, and event management background, as well as governance and relationship building capability.

Turi Ngatai MNZM (Ngai Te Rangi/Ngāti Ranginui, Tauranga-Moana) is the Director Māori for the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, a member of the Kahui Kaumatua of Toi Ohomai and Māori Relationship manager for Seeka. He is also a member of the WDCieb for Primary Industries. Turi is a Director of the Māori-owned and operated Te Awanui Huka Pak and Chair of its investment company, Te Whāi Limited. He is Deputy Chair of the Ngai Te Rangi iwi post-settlement governance entity and Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi and representative for Ngai Te Rangi at the Iwi Chairs Forum. He is a kaumatua, a grower and a member of several Māori trusts. He was instrumental in establishing the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Association and has been the joint CEO of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Turi priorities are to achieve excellence in vocational education and workforce opportunities for Māori.

Wiremu McMillan (Ngāti Porou) is the Managing Director of William McMillan Consultancy, an agribusiness consultancy specialised in providing service to commercial, industry, Māori-owned, and research and development businesses. Wiremu was Massey University’s first Māori PhD graduate. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, and the Chair of Atareta Puaninga Mc Millan Whanau Trust. He is also involved in various research and development initiatives. Wiremu has built extensive networks in NZ’s primary industries, Māori land entities, and Māori agribusiness. His focus is on supporting more Māori succeeding in all roles in all primary industries as Māori.

William Beetham is the managing Director of Beetham Pastural in Masterton. He operates three large sheep and beef farms committed to building thriving rural communities. William brings extensive governance experience serving as a national board member of Federated Farmers, Meat & Wool Chair of Federated Farmers. He also a member of the OSPRI Stakeholder Council, the Meat, Wool & Deer IPG Primary ITO, and a trustee of the Pukaha to Kawakawa Alliance and in the Governance Group/Wairarapa Economic Development. From 2017 to date he was the provincial President of Federated Farmers.

Sandy Scarrow holds the role of Horticultural Consultant/Managing Director of Fruition Horticulture in Tauranga. Sandy’s areas of expertise include horticultural consultancy, orchard management, and strategic advice, primary sector education, quality management, and environmental management. Sandy is a member of the NZ Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science and the Certified Practicing Agriculturalist. She is a founding member and trustee of the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust, a member of the Bay of Plenty Institute of Directors, the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network, and a trustee of the Sydenham Botanic Gardens.

Glen Harkness is the Executive Director, Strategic Projects and Partnerships at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. In his role, he oversees a range of significant projects – several connected to the primary sector – as well EIT’s marketing, communications and secondary/tertiary partnerships. Glen started in sport science before taking on several academic management and leadership roles. Glen brings a deep understanding of the tertiary education model, including the changes associated with the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE). He has strong networks across the Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology network. His focus lies on innovation and technology in education.

Ben Allomes is the managing Director of Hopelands Dairies/Allomes Farming in Woodville. Ben has been a farmer elected Director of Dairy NZ from 2011 to 2019. He represented the Dairy Industry on several groups, including working with TEC an MPI on Human Capability reviews, Primary ITO IPG – Dairy, OSPRI Stakeholder Council, and as Chair of the National Mastitis Council. Over the last ten years, Ben has also been involved in the Agricultural Health and Safety Council, Dairy NZ Retention and Recruitment Group, M + W Skills and Education Mentoring Group, Rural Leadership Development Steering Committee, NZ Ag Safety Forum, and as an AgITO tutor. In 2019, his farm won the MPI Best Employer Awards.

Chrissie Hape has over 35 years’ experience working in the government and community sectors and six years with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi.  Her career has predominantly focused on improving health, education, social and wellbeing outcomes for our families and communities through the strengthening of partnerships between government, community and Iwi.Chrissie was also interim Chief Executive for Takitimu Seafoods for the initial eight months after the purchase by the Kahungunu Assets Holding Company of which Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc is the 100% shareholder. The role was to oversee the transition of staff and processes from the previous company and implement the compliance requirements and company structure.

Chrissie is a Director for Health HB (Hawke’s Bay Primary Health Organisation) and the Deputy Chair of the NZIST EIT Board.