Fiona Cooper is an experienced professional with a strong background in diplomacy, trade policy, and business.
Fiona Cooper.
The New Zealand United States Council has appointed Fiona Cooper as its new executive director. An experienced professional with a strong background in diplomacy, trade policy, and business, Cooper will take up the position from March 1.
Cooper’s appointment comes at a time of renewed focus on New Zealand’s relationship with the United States as a critically important trading partner, a source of investment, and new technologies.
Cooper said she would be focused on promoting the US-NZ partnership, highlighting its importance and the opportunity to collaborate on global challenges during a pivotal election year.
“I am taking on this leadership role at a fascinating time, with the US presidential election this year and a range of challenging global issues that create opportunities for New Zealand and the US to work together towards our common interests.
“I look forward to advocating for the bilateral relationship in both countries. The US has long been a key partner for New Zealand,” Cooper said.
Council chair Rosemary Banks said Cooper would bring a depth of experience to the council. Early in her career she had a diplomatic posting to New Zealand’s embassy in Washington where she was responsible for trade relations with the US.
Cooper will be leaving her role for the past 13 years as the New Zealand director and secretariat manager for the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. This will be Cooper’s second term as executive Director of the NZUS Council, having previously held the position from 2014 to 2018.
In her recent career, Cooper has served as general manager for trade strategy at Fonterra, as head of corporate relations at the Bank of New Zealand, and as associate director of the New Zealand International Business Forum.
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