The Gisborne-based infrastructure company's owners, Eastland Community Trust, has appointed Jon Nichols and Wendie Harvey.
Eastland Group, the Gisborne-based infrastructure company, has two new directors. The trustees of Eastland Community Trust (owners of Eastland Group) have appointed Jon Nichols and Wendie Harvey to the Eastland Group board. They join chair Matanuku Mahuika and long-time directors John Rae and Tony Gray.
Eastland Group keeps essential regional infrastructure operating efficiently, including the port, the airport, and the electricity network. They are also contributing to New Zealand’s renewable energy generation with two geothermal power plants in Kawerau. They are also taking a leadership role within Tairāwhiti in emerging technology and opportunities for new forms of local power generation.
ECT chairman Dr Paul Reynolds noted Nichols and Harvey both “have specialist infrastructure experience, proven governance skills, financial acumen and strong regional connections. Importantly, they both have a deep commitment to the wellbeing and success of the people of te Tairāwhiti.”
The Eastland Group board underwent a review earlier this year, with two directors retiring by rotation and two resigning. With five positions now filled, Reynolds confirmed that ECT intends to appoint one more director in the coming months. “We will be looking for a local candidate who has national governance experience.”
Nichols and Harvey both live in Hawke’s Bay.
Nichols was a director at Napier Port from 2007 to 2017, through a period of sustained growth. He currently chairs Central Hawke’s Bay network company Centralines and is a director of Palmerston North Airport, where he chairs the audit and risk committee. Nichols is also independent chair of audit and risk at Hastings District Council and the Maungaharuru Tangitu Trust. As a consultant, he has led a number of significant infrastructure-based projects and has assisted clients in developing commercial strategies. Nichols is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a Chartered member of the Institute of Directors.
“Eastland Group embraces the concept of social license to operate, while maintaining its focus on generating returns that benefit the local community through the Eastland Community Trust. The company has a genuine emphasis on innovation and customer outcomes. I look forward to working with the board and the management team as they focus on the long term future of Tairāwhiti.”
Wendie Harvey has wide-ranging experience as a director, trustee, lawyer, executive manager and business consultant. Her governance experience encompasses the public and private sectors, local government and not for profit organisations.
Her current governance roles include chair of the health and safety committee for Aurora Energy, chair of the remuneration committee for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, chair of Hawke’s Bay Airport Construction, and council member of the Eastern Institute of Technology. Harvey is a director of Hawke’s Bay Airport, Electrical Training Company and Centralines. She was a director of Port of Napier for six years and Wairoa-based Quality Roading and Services (QRS) for seven years.
