Experience

• 

  Constellation Brands New Zealand

  • Marlborough, New Zealand

  • Area Manager - Inland

    • Dec 2020 - Present
    • Marlborough, New Zealand

    Started with Constellation as a Consultant in a part-time capacity in late 2020, before rolling into a full-time role as the Area Manager for the Inland Vineyards in June 2021. These vineyards cover approximately 1,000ha, split across 4 Business Units, with 35 full-time staff.Current projects include...• Development and implementation of a Leader Standard Work system for the wider Vit team.• Coaching and training our Vineyard Managers to embrace a 'Grow it Like You Own It' philosophy • Several other innovative blue-sky projects, looking at vineyard systems and technologies for the future.

• 

  Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative

  • Blenheim, New Zealand

  • General Manager

    • Oct 2013 - Aug 2020
    • Blenheim, New Zealand

    The Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative was formed in 2012 from a collection of grape growers, supplying wine to a single US company. Initially run through a Members Committee, was employed as the inaugural General Manager in 2013. The Cooperative has since grown into a structured organisation, delivering excellent results to its Members. Key achievements as GM:• Increased the size of the business from 5,000t in 2013 (revenue $8m) to 12,500t in 2020 (revenue $25m) while increasing the grape price paid to Members by 25%. • Took a business that sold wine to one client in the USA and negotiated further sales contracts with large international supermarket chains and online platforms in Australia, France, Germany and the UK. Increased the return from the wine sold in these markets by 17% in the last three years. • Winner of the Deloitte Top 50 fastest growing Agribusinesses in Top of South in 2015.• Spearheaded the development of the “Innovation Vineyard” project, in partnership with Farmlands, looking to roll out new and beneficial technologies to the vineyard industry

• 

  Seasonal Solutions Cooperative Limited

  • Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand

  • Chief Executive Officer

    • Dec 2005 - Sep 2013
    • Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand

    Seasonal Solutions is a labour Cooperative initially established by the Ministry of Social Development to allow the Central Otago horticulture industry to attract seasonal workers to the region. Although primarily designed to target NZ citizens and Working Visa holders, the Cooperative quickly expanded, being an early adopter of the Pacific guest worker programme, now known as the Recognised Seasonal Employee (RSE) scheme. Key achievements as CEO:• Grew the number of RSE workers coming to the business from 45 to Central Otago in year one, to over 1,000 workers annually, coming to operations in Central, Canterbury and Marlborough and to JV partners in Nelson and Hawkes Bay.• Worked closely with the World Bank and various Pacific governments to roll out the programme to potential employees and employers • Took an initiative operating on an annual $400k Government grant, to a stand-alone business with annual revenues of over $20 million.• Continued to grow the NZ local and back-packer placements run by the business with solid growth every year.• Sat on the national Labour Governance Group in Wellington for several years, working with industry and government stakeholders to develop and roll out a comprehensive RSE policy.

• 

  Crops for Southland/Southern Institute of Technology

  • Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand

  • Project Manager

    • Dec 1999 - Nov 2004
    • Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand

    Crops for Southland was a Southland District Council initiative promoting alternative land uses in the region. The role was jointly funded by the Southland District Council and the Southern Institute of Technology who were creating a Level 4 Certificate in Horticulture to train and provide the workforce to nurture the new crops being grown. Key achievements as GM:• Developed and began teaching the Level 4 Certificate within six months of beginning the role.• Developed a ‘New Crop Centre’ as a teaching and extension centre, where we ran education programs for those interested in these new crops. This included novel and interesting cut-flowers, various nut crops, fruits, vegetables and other arable crops.• Instrumental in the initial set-up and running of the Southern Farmers Market.

• 

  HortResearch

  • Lincoln & Central Otago

  • HortResearch (now Plant & Food)

    • Dec 1992 - Nov 1999
    • Lincoln & Central Otago

    Working in various research programmes including Plant Breeding of new pip and stonefruit varieties, Plant Physiology including rootstock assessments as well and insect physiology work