NZ US Council Appoints Gabrielle Rush Assoc Dir

NEW ZEALAND UNITED STATES COUNCIL
(www.nzuscouncil.com)

Media Release, 25 June 2007

NZ US Council Appoints Gabrielle Rush as Associate Director

The New Zealand United States Council has appointed Gabrielle Rush as its Associate Director. Ms Rush, who is Auckland-based, will work to deepen the Council’s interaction with the business community and assist in organising the second NZ US Partnership Forum to be held in Auckland in September.

Council Executive Director Stephen Jacobi said “Gabrielle Rush brings considerable diplomatic, policy and legal experience to the Council. Her knowledge of New Zealand’s economic, trade and political relationship with the United States will allow her to make a significant contribution to the work of the Council.”

The New Zealand United States Council is a non-partisan body funded by both business and government to promote New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. The Council comprises a number of New Zealand’s leading business interests and works closely with the Government to achieve its goals.

Gabrielle Rush, a former diplomat, worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1994 – 2007. She was most recently Deputy Director of the Ministry’s Americas Division with responsibility for the US, Canada and Commonwealth Caribbean countries.

Ms Rush has an extensive background in international law and policy. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1994 and served in a number of positions in Wellington and abroad before returning to live in her hometown of Auckland in April 2007. In addition to her most recent role as Deputy Director of the Americas Division, Ms Rush has also served as a Senior Legal Adviser in the Ministry’s Legal Division and First Secretary to the New Zealand High Commission in London.

ENDS

About the NZUS Council/ Kāhui o Aotearoa me Amerika – www.nzuscouncil.com
The New Zealand United States Council is a non partisan body funded by both business and the Government to promote New Zealand’s broader relationship with the US. Two way trade with the US is valued at over $8 billion and the US is a leading source of investment, innovation and business ideas. The inaugural US NZ Partnership Forum was held in Washington DC 20-22 April 2006. The 2007US NZ Partnership Forum will be held in Auckland 9, 10 and 11 September 2007. The Council with the support of leading business interests continues to make New Zealand’s case for an FTA with the United States.

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NEW ZEALAND UNITED STATES COUNCIL
(www.nzuscouncil.com)

Introducing: GABRIELLE RUSH

Gabrielle Rush has been appointed Associate Director of the New Zealand United States Council effective 11 June 2007.
Ms Rush grew up in Auckland. She has a law degree from the University of Auckland and a Masters in Public International Law from the London School of Economics.
Ms Rush has extensive international law and policy experience. She worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade between 1994 and 2007 during which time she undertook a broad range of roles in New Zealand and abroad. In her most recent position as Deputy Director of the Americas Division, she was closely involved in efforts to strengthen New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. Ms Rush has also served as a Senior Legal Adviser in the Ministry’s Legal Division and First Secretary to the New Zealand High Commission in London and New Zealand Embassy to Ireland.
Prior to joining the Foreign Service Ms Rush worked for the Crown Solicitor’s Office in Auckland. She has also worked for the Law Faculty of the University of Hong Kong.
Ms Rush returned to live in her hometown of Auckland in April 2007 with her husband Sam and their two children. She is currently Principal of Rush Consulting providing international legal and policy advice to a range of public and private sector clients.

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