New chair to lead New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre

Mark Gilbert has been appointed as independent chair to the New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre (NZWRC) Ltd.

Mark will lead the NZWRC board, ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of the new national grape and wine research centre to be based in Marlborough.

New Zealand Winegrowers chair Steve Green says Mark’s appointment will ramp up the activities of the NZWRC, which is receiving $10.5m in funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment over three years.

“Mark is hugely experienced as an independent chair and I am confident under his guidance the research centre will quickly progress beyond the set-up phase to carrying out world-leading research for grape and wine production.”

Mark says he is looking forward to his new role.

“The innovation within the New Zealand wine industry is renowned and I’m looking forward to supporting New Zealand Winegrowers with their strategic vision around research.”

Mark was the former managing director of BMW Group New Zealand. Since retirement, Mark has become a professional director and sits on the boards of Auckland Transport, NZ Lotteries Commission, DEKRA NZ Limited (also known as VTNZ), Partmaster Limited and Appliance Connexion Limited. He also chairs the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council.

New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre (NZWRC) is run as a limited liability company, owned by New Zealand Winegrowers Inc. Although the centre is based in Marlborough, research will be national in focus.

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