Sam Robinson
AgResearch chief executive Dr Andrew West has announced the appointment of Sam Robinson as chairman of the Crown Research Institute’s board of directors. He succeeds Rick Christie who, after two three-year terms as chairman, has stepped down to focus on his increased workload elsewhere.
Robinson, who is new to AgResearch’s board, was chairman of the North Island-based meat company Richmond, before its acquisition by the Primary Producers Cooperative Society (PPCS), now Silver Fern Farms.
He is member of the Prime Minister’s growth and innovation advisory board, director of the Port of Napier, and was member of the Government’s food and beverage task force. Until recently, he was also the chair of the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT). He is sheep and beef farmer near Waipukurau in Hawkes Bay.
Andrew MacPherson
Andrew MacPherson has been appointed director of AgResearch. He was chief executive of the textiles research and development institute Canesis Network, which was acquired by AgResearch last year. Before then, he was chief executive of AgResearch’s fully owned subsidiary AgVax.
A trained veterinarian, he is chairman of the Johnes Disease Research Consortium and director of the Animal Health Board (AHB).
He owns an East Coast sheep and beef station, but lives in Wellington.
Jim Bolger
Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger has been appointed chair of the establishment board of KiwiRail, New Zealand’s public rail system. Previously known as Toll Rail, KiwiRail will manage New Zealand’s rail and ferry assets.
The other members of the board are Brian Corban, Mark Franklin, Ross Wilson, Brian Jackson, Linda Constable, and Ross Martin.
Bolger, appointed as member of the Order of New Zealand in 1997, is also chairman of Kiwibank and New Zealand Post.
