Dame Alison Stewart, who has a 40-year career as a strategic leader in academic, government, agribusiness, and industry research agencies, has been appointed as the Independent Chair of the New Zealand Vegetable Council.
Dame Alison was most recently CEO of the Foundation for Arable Research (2018-2025). She said she welcomed the opportunity to provide leadership and work with the commercial vegetable industry to ensure it receives the recognition it deserves.
"New Zealand’s vegetable growers put healthy food on New Zealanders’ tables 365 days a year and generate approximately NZD 1.1bn in revenue," said Dame Alison.
"They provide employment for nearly 10,000 people while at the same time playing a critical role as custodians of the environment. While there are many challenges, there are also many opportunities to grow better and smarter. This is why I jumped at the chance to be involved at this pivotal time in the New Zealand vegetable industry’s trajectory.
The New Zealand Vegetable Council Ltd (NZVeg) is the new national industry body representing New Zealand’s vegetable growers and exporters. NZVeg is a cooperative owned by vegetable product groups Onions NZ, TomatoesNZ and Vegetables NZ. The Board is comprised of representatives from each of the shareholders, as well as
HortNZ and Process Vegetables NZ. Potatoes NZ is separate but works with NZVeg to further the interests of the whole vegetable industry.
NZVeg was formed to provide pan-sector leadership, employ staff, and provide clarity for the Government and stakeholders on how to engage with the vegetable sector. The vegetable product groups maintain their control of levies but come together to support multi-sector and pan-sector projects.
"We are honoured to have a person of Alison’s calibre as Chair of NZVeg," said outgoing NZVeg Transitional Board Chair, Kevin Wilcox.
"I am confident that Alison, working closely with the Board and soon to be appointed chief executive, will ensure the new entity quickly comes up to speed, and delivers for levy paying growers in the key areas of industry strategy, Government relations and advocacy, and industry-good projects."
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