New president for RWNZ

Rural Women New Zealand has a new president and three new board members.

The new board members are South Island member Emma Higgins and North Island members Malvina Dick and Claire Williamson. They join the new president, national finance chairwoman Jenny Mcdonald, and South Island member Sharron Daviemartin.

“The new board is a great mix of experience and knowledge from within RWNZ and skills from outside the organisation which is vital to us being able to continue to strengthen and support rural communities,” says chief executive Liz Pennington.

“This new governance leadership team are wellequipped for the challenges facing rural communities and our organisation — after the year we have all had, continuing to have solid, innovative connection with people in rural communities is vital.

“Our new president, Gill Naylor, has been farming for most of her life, been a member since being a young mother, and has grown her governance and leadership skills in community groups that have supported her rural community and women and children across rural New Zealand.

“In saying that, RWNZ is not just about farming, it is about empowering all those who live in rural New Zealand and the challenges they face, be it in primary production, or for lifestyle, education, employment or business,” says Ms Pennington.

“Rural Women New Zealand is such a vibrant organisation and I am excited to be standing on the shoulders of those that have been empowering rural communities since 1925,” says Mrs Naylor. “I am inspired by the knowledge and skills that our newly elected board members bring to the table and I am looking forward to leading the new board and the organisation into the future.”