Governance Group
The Governance Group ensures our work remains on track to deliver positive outcomes to the primary sector.
The Governance Group sets the NZAGRC’s strategic direction and priorities, develops policies and expectations for management, identifies and manages risks, and monitors and evaluates the performance of the organisation. The Group meets quarterly and receives advice from the Science Programme, Stakeholder and Māori Advisory Groups, as well as input from periodic science reviews undertaken by independent technical experts.
Background
The NZAGRC is not a legal entity in its own right; it is hosted by AgResearch—one of our nine member organisations. From 2009 to 2018, governance of the NZAGRC was devolved from the AgResearch Board to a Steering Group comprising a representative from each of NZAGRC’s member organisations, and Government observers. In late 2018, an independent review of the NZAGRC recommended a more independent, skills-based Governance Group. This recommendation was adopted from 1 July 2020.
About the Governance Group
The Governance Group is responsible for:
- Approval of expenditure
- Ensuring relevance of the NZAGRC’s research to the primary sector and New Zealand
- Performance to contracted goals and the Strategic and Science Plans
- Financial performance
- Human resource development and constraints
- Intellectual Property advice
- Risk management
- Oversight of delivery of the Communications Strategy
The NZAGRC Director reports to the Chair of the Governance Group and, via them, to the AgResearch Board and Chief Executive.
The Chair and NZAGRC Director meet annually with the AgResearch Board and Chief Executive, reporting on NZAGRC performance against Key Performance Indicators negotiated with MPI and MBIE.
Membership
The Governance Group is made up of individuals with the knowledge, skills, experience and diversity needed to ensure NZAGRC is well-managed and performs effectively.
The Governance Group comprises an independently selected Chair and Director, an AgResearch representative (as the host organisation of NZAGRC), the Chairs of the NZAGRC’s advisory groups, and observers from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRC).
Current membership
Steve
Thompson
Gorvernance Group Chair,
Independent
Steve is a science and innovation broker with extensive governance and leadership experience in the research sector both in New Zealand and overseas. He has a PhD in Agriculture from Reading University in the UK.
Collier
Isaacs
Governance Group Director,
Independent
Collier brings broad senior executive and governance experience from across the primary sector, including developing and implementing integrated marketing, research, quality and production strategies.
Trevor
Stuthridge
Representative,
AgResearch
Trevor has extensive international executive and governance experience in science, innovation and technology organisations in the forestry, bioeconomy and clean technology sectors. He is Research Director at AgResearch and holds a PhD from the University of Waikato.
Nicky
Hyslop
Chair,
NZAGRC Stakeholder Advisory Group
Nicky is an experienced advisor and company director working in the farming community and wider sector. Her skills encompass governance, business planning, farm systems, agronomy, management and leadership. She also runs a sheep, beef and arable farm with her husband in South Canterbury.
Peter
Millard
Chair,
NZAGRC Science Programme Advisory Group
Peter is General Manager of Science at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. Peter has a PhD in plant physiology from the University of Leeds in the UK.
Chris
Koroheke (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Wai, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Tarāwhai)
Chair,
NZAGRC Māori Advisory Group
Chris is AgResearch’s Kaiurungi Ahuwhenua Māori where he works to strengthen relationships across the Māori agribusiness sector. Chris has extensive experience building relationships with iwi at both central and local government levels, in both environmental and commercial areas.
Colin
Reid
Observer,
MBIE
Colin is a Principal Investment Manager at MBIE and part of the Strategic Investments team that oversees research and science funding. Colin is from the UK and has a long career working with leading technology organisations across the public and private sectors.
John
Roche
Observer,
MPI
John is Chief Science Advisor at MPI. John is widely published and has held science appointments internationally and in New Zealand, including with DairyNZ. He has a PhD in animal nutrition from University College Dublin in Ireland.
Jeremy
Hill
Observer,
PGgRC
Jeremy is Chief Science and Technology Officer at Fonterra and a member of the PGgRc Board. He has been recognised internationally for his research in dairy science, sustainability and nutrition. Jeremy has a PhD in medical research from Hull University in the UK.
