New port director brings experience
A port industry executive who helped in the post-earthquake rebuild of Lyttleton Port in Christchurch has been appointed a Port Taranaki director.
Kathy Meads joined the Port Taranaki board of directors in December as an independent director.
She is the second woman to be appointed to the Port Taranaki board in its history.
She has more than 30 years commercial and financial experience including senior executive positions at Telecom/ConnecTel and Nga¯ i Tahu Holdings Corporation, and extensive governance experience.
Meads helped settle Lyttleton Port’s 2011 earthquake insurance claim and oversaw operations throughout the post-earthquake rebuild.
She left the port company in 2016 to be an independent consultant.
Meads said she was looking forward to using her commercial, management and governance experience, disaster recovery experience, and valuable international shipping contacts, to continue Port Taranaki’s development.
‘‘I like the link the port has with the community through the Taranaki Regional Council as sole shareholder. I think that connection is very important, as it puts responsibility on the port to maximise its business to support the Taranaki region and economy.
‘‘I think it is on an exciting journey and I’m looking forward to playing a part in that.’’
Meads joined Charlotte Littlewood, a Taranaki Regional Council-appointed board member, as the only two woman on the board.
‘‘The port and shipping sector has been a male-dominated industry, but it is changing,’’ Meads said.
Meads has family ties through her husband, Andrew, with Taranaki.
The couple have four children, ranging in age from 24 to 14.