Senior business leader appointed to chair FoodHQ

Sue Foley, a senior New Zealand business leader, has been appointed as the first independent chair of FoodHQ™.

Rangitikei resident, Ms Foley has accepted the role of independent Chair of FoodHQ, a role that was established to lead FoodHQ into the next phase of its activities, building on its success since it was established in 2013.

Sue’s most recent role as the Director of Corporate Affairs at Westpac New Zealand Limited provided her with extensive experience across corporate and governance affairs. Ms Foley’s career includes a period as Massey University’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor, External Relations, Toll New Zealand’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Chief of Staff for a Leader of the Opposition and TV3 Chief of Staff.

An award-winning television journalist who started her communications career at the Rangitikei Mail, Ms Foley is passionate about her home district and the wider Central North Island. Ms Foley serves on many national bodies including as Chair of the Sir Peter Blake Trust, an Isport Trustee and a committee member of the Rangitikei Racing Club – roles which she continues with today.

FoodHQ interim Chair Peter Landon-Lane welcomes Ms Foley to the Board.

“Sue brings to New Zealand’s food and beverage sector a wealth of knowledge and experience from corporates to central government to the small to medium-sized businesses that are the backbone of our economy.”

“In the last year, FoodHQ has begun to reposition itself with a more commercial footing and focus. Sue’s experience will greatly benefit FoodHQ as we help companies to access world-leading science and create value-added products that will grow the New Zealand economy.”

Ms Foley says New Zealand has a proud history of food and beverage innovation and recently there has been a significant effort to growing the sector through value-added products.

“I am very excited to be joining FoodHQ. As a country, we are on the cusp of realising the importance and potential of food and beverage to New Zealand Inc.”

“Through FoodHQ, we will help grow our international reputation as a provider of quality value-added products. We will support the development of partnerships and business growth with food and beverage companies both locally and from around the world,” says Mr Landon-Lane.

FoodHQ was launched in July 2013 by a coalition of partner organisations, with the objective of increasing the contribution of the food and beverage sectors to New Zealand’s GDP through the development of a food science innovation eco-system, centred at the Fitzherbert campus in Palmerston North.

FoodHQ was established by AgResearch, the BCC, Massey University, Plant & Food Research, Fonterra, Cawthron, ESR, the Riddet Institute, and the two local government supporters; the Manawatu District Council and the Palmerston North City Council, to work with food and beverage companies across New Zealand and internationally.

© Scoop Media