New CEO for Venture Taranaki
The new person at the helm of Taranaki’s regional development agency says she will bring a fresh perspective to the role.
Justine Gilliland has been appointed chief executive of Venture Taranaki (VT) following the announcement in July that Stuart Trundle would be retiring after more than two decades in the role.
Gilliland is originally from Taranaki and attended Sacred Heart Girls’ College.
After 20 years outside the region she moved back in September, with her husband and two children, to be the general manager of transitional economy at VT.
She comes from a background of managing a multimilliondollar budget at the Ministry of Primary Industries, running the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission, and establishing the one billion trees programme with Te Uru Rakau (Forestry New Zealand).
Gilliland has also been admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
Only the second-ever chief executive of the organisation responsible for the region’s growth and economic development, she will take over the role in March.
She will be in charge of employees and a budget roughly $4.5 million.
Gilliland said she shoes to fill.
‘‘I bring a fresh perspective. That’s being new to the role and also being new back to the region. Also, I guess, a different generation and just different perspective.
‘‘There are massive opportunities for the region and it’s about putting some new energy into those opportunities and challenges.’’
She said supporting the development of businesses and communities had been an important factor across much of her professional life and she was keen to see Taranaki continue to prosper in a sustainable way.
‘‘I am really looking forward to leading an organisation that supports these goals in real and practical ways, and to building on the momentum that Venture Taranaki has, while being able to work more directly with businesses had 20 of
big and community stakeholders is also appealing.’’
Venture Taranaki Trust chair Robin Brockie said about 50 people applied for the role but Gilliland’s experience, extensive connections and networks across the government and business communities were immensely valuable in the current environment.
‘‘It’s a significant appointment and decision,’’ he said.
‘‘The involvement that Justine has, and will continue to have, in the economic transition of our region further underscored her suitability for this role.’’
New Plymouth District Mayor Neil Holdom welcomed the announcement.
‘‘Ms Gilliland is a highly accomplished and capable professional who has moved her family back to Taranaki, which is absolutely the right place, at the right time, as Taranaki looks to crank the dial in terms of our response to the economic headwinds we are facing.’’