New role created to foster rural leadership
A new associate board member role at Rural Women New Zealand is seeking to develop the next rural leader, with one of the skills simply being a passion for their community.
The role was created as a way to “foster“emerging leaders and support the movement of more women on to boards, Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) national president Gill Naylor said.
“As an organisation, it also supports our succession planning and helps us achieve a broader balance of skills and diversity.”
Naylor said she saw the role as a “step up” and applicants did not need to have board experience to apply.
If they have the confidence to step up, the role could be the right fit for them, she said. A successful applicant would drive the vision, governance framework, strategic direction, purpose, outcomes and key results of the organisation.
But, most importantly, they would be passionate about the rural community.
“We come to offer an opportunity and in a really collegial manner, for women to be working largely with women.”
Naylor said due to the diverse work of
RWNZ, everyday was different.
The role would be appointed and not elected by current RWNZ members, and the role would not hold voting rights.
“We’ve made some great inroads into nurturing the next generation of leaders through our various scholarships and bursaries, annual business awards and activator programme over the years,” she said.
And as the organisation nears its centenary, Naylor said it was important to not only look back at all RWNZ had achieved in the past 100 years but to also look to the future.
RWNZ is not the first to think about catering to the next generation of rural women leaders. Dairy Women’s Network has a similar role with Southland’s Sarah Hopkins named as a new associate trustee.
Hopkins has been an advocate for the Southland region, with the lifestyle and career opportunities it has to offer. Speaking
with Stuff recently, she encouraged women in the agriculture sector to look at opportunities these organisations offer.
The successful candidate for the associate board member role at RWNZ would be appointed for a one-year term. Applications close on May 10.
Even though the role is fixed at one year, Naylor said it would be “wonderful” if the person appointed would want to stay involved with the organisation.