I am standing for a position on the Portage Trust because I believe in its fundamental principle – using its profits to benefit our people and communities.

As the most recent Annual Report states - “our greatest challenge continues to be how to redesign and remodel our rather unique commercial entity (i.e. a community-owned competitive business) so that it remains modern, relevant and profitable in an ever changing and fickle hospitality industry”.

I have a set of skills and experience which I feel can help us meet with this challenge:

• Past member of 3 boards which delivered services to their communities
• On the executive of Titirangi Ratepayers
• Former General Manager Operations of a  nationwide community health organisation
• A chairperson of  panels which allocated funds to communities
• Currently work as a contractor in social services and community health
• My education includes a Master of Business Administration
• A family man

 I am standing as part of the Future West team.

 

Top 5 Issues

1. Bottom-line is that the business must be run well and be profitable. Without this there are no funds to share with community organisations.
   So there are strategic issues which the board, along with senior management has to address to make sure that this continues to happen.
2. How to respond to supermarket competition.
3. Continuing to consider where it is best ( priority community needs, types of community organisations ) to distribute the funds.
4. To ensure the business is socially responsible - managing the sale of liquor and gambling opportunities with the need to respond to changing views about the availability of alcohol and
   to the consequences for people who cannot moderate the usage.

Personal Profile